DANCE GLOSSARY

AB: A two-part compositional form with an A theme and a B theme; the binary form consists of
two distinct, self-contained sections that share either a character or quality (such as the same
tempo, movement quality, or style).

ABA: A three-part compositional form in which the second section contrasts with the first
section. The third section is a restatement of the first section in a condensed, abbreviated, or
extended form.

Abstract: To remove movement from a particular or representative context and (by

manipulating it with elements of space, time, and force) create a new sequence or dance that
retains the essence of the original.

Accent: A stress or emphasis on a specific beat or movement.

Aesthetic Criteria: Standards upon which judgements are made about the artistic merit of a
work of art.

Alignment: The body’s organized response to gravity and the need to find balance. Synonym:
posture.

Anatomy: Structural make-up of an organism/individual (skeleton, muscles).

Audience Etiquette: Parameters of acceptable behavior for audience members at performances.

Axial Movement: (see Nonlocomotor Movement)

Balance: The ability to maintain one’s stability.

Call and Response: A structure that is most often associated with African music and dance
forms, although it is also used elsewhere. One soloist/group performs with the second
soloist/group entering “in response” to the first.

Canon: Choreographic form that reflects the musical form of the same name, in which
individuals and groups perform the same movement/phrase beginning at different times.

Chance: A choreographic process in which elements are specifically chosen and defined but
randomly structured to create a dance or movement phrase. This process demands high levels of
concentration in performance to deal effectively with free association and surprise structures that
appear spontaneously.

Choreographic Principles: Compositional elements in dance; factors to be considered to attain

aesthetically satisfying dance composition (intent, form/design, theme, repetition).
Choreographic Structures: The specific compositional forms in which movement is structured
to create a dance (AB, ABA, ABAB, canon, variation, retrograde, call and response, chance).

Choreography: Describes a dance sequence that has been created with specific intent.

Classical: Dance that has been developed into highly stylized structures within a culture.
Generally developed within the court or circle of power in a society.

Contemporary: Dance as it is being explored by current choreographers.

Core: Muscular and skeletal structures in the center of the body, including the abdomen, spine,
and pelvis.

Downstage: At or toward the front of the performance space.

Dynamics: The expressive content of human movement, sometimes called qualities or efforts.
Dynamics manifest the interrelationships among the elements of space, time, and force/energy.
(See also Movement Quality).

Elements of Dance: Energy/force, space, time.

Energy/force: the quality of movement; how a movement is performed (e.g., smooth,
sharp, free flow, bound flow, strong, light, sustained, percussive).
Space: where bodies move in a dance (e.g., levels, directions, pathways, sizes,
relationships).
Time: Including tempo, rhythm, duration, speed.

Elevation: The body’s propulsion into the air away from the floor, such as in a leap, hop, or
jump.

Ethnic: Dances that have been created and used by a specific group within a culture, when they
are performed outside the original culture.

Folk: Dances that are created and performed by a specific group within a specific culture.
Generally these dances originated outside the courts or circle of power within a society.

Form/Design: A principle of choreography/composition; organization and sequence of sections

of a dance into an overall whole.

Genre: Type or category of dance (e.g., ballet, modern, jazz, tap, ballroom, hip-hop).

Improvisation: Movement that is created spontaneously, ranging from free-form to highly

structured environments, but always with an element of chance. Provides the dancer with the
opportunity to bring together elements quickly, and requires focus and concentration.
Intent: The purpose of an artistic work.

Initiation: Point at which a movement is said to originate. This particularly refers to specific
body parts and is generally said to be either distal (from the limbs or head) or central (from the
torso).

Kinesiology: The study of anatomy in relation to human movement.

Kinesphere: The movement space, or the space surrounding the body in stillness and in motion,
which includes all directions and levels both close to the body and as far as the person can reach
with limbs or torso. (Also known as Personal Space)

Kinesthetic: Refers to the ability of the body’s sensory organs in the muscles, tendons, and
joints to respond to stimuli while dancing or viewing a dance.

Levels: The height of the dancer in relation to the floor. For example: sitting on the floor would
be low level, kneeling could be middle level, and standing or jumping would be high level.

Locomotor Movement. Movement that travels from place to place, usually identified by weight
transference on the feet. Basic locomotor steps are walk, run, hop, jump, skip, leap, gallop,
crawl, and roll.

Movement Problem: A specific focus or task that serves as direction for exploration in
composition.

Movement Quality: The identifying attributes created by the release, follow through, and
termination of energy, which are key to making movement become dance. Typical terms
denoting qualities include sustained, swing, percussive, collapse, and vibratory; and effort
combinations such as float, dab, punch, and glide. (See also Dynamics).

Movement Study: A short piece of choreography based on a specific idea.

Movement Theme: A complete idea in movement that is manipulated and developed within a
dance.

Musicality: The attention and sensitivity to the musical elements of dance while creating or
performing.

Narrative: Choreographic structure that follows a specific story line and intends to convey
specific information through that story.

Nonlocomotor Movement: Any movement that is anchored to one spot by a body part using
only the available space in any direction without losing the initial body contact. Movement is
organized around the axis of the body rather than designed for travel from one location to another
(twist, bend, shake, vibrate, swing, push, pull, kick, rise, fall). Also known as Axial Movement.
Performance: Execution of dance movement in class or on stage.

Personal Space: See Kinesphere.

Phrase: A brief sequence of related movements that has a sense of rhythmic completion.

Physiology: Physical and chemical processes that are required for life activities (cellular level).

Projection: A confident presentation of one’s body and energy to vividly communicate

movement and meaning to an audience; performance quality.

Retrograde: A choreographic device in which dance movements or phrases are performed

backwards.

Rhythmic Acuity: The physical, auditory recognition of various complex time elements.

Stage Left: At or toward the performer’s left when facing downstage.

Stage Right: At or toward the performer’s right when facing downstage

Style: A distinctive manner of moving; the characteristic way dance is done, created, or
performed that identifies the dance of a particular performer, choreographer, or period.

Technique: Proper execution of skills within a given dance form.

Tempo: The pace at which a piece of music or dance is performed.

Theatrical: Dance genres primarily developed for the stage (e.g., jazz and tap).

Theme: The content that informs a piece of choreography; may be taken from the movement
itself, or from other sources (e.g., ideas, images, emotions); a phrase or sequence of movement
around which a dance is constructed.

Upstage: At or toward the back of the performance space.

Variation: A choreographic process in which known and defined elements (e.g., specific
movements, movement phrases) are separated from their original relationship and restructured in
a different pattern; male or female solo in a classical ballet.

Warmup: Movements and/or movement phrases designed to raise the core body temperature,
practice technical skills, and bring the mind into focus for the dance activities to follow.
For terminology as it relates to specific genres see the following resources:

Marcus R. Alford and Marsha Poser Cohen: Jazz Danceology: Teaching and Choreographing
Jazz Dance

Al Gilbert: Al Gilbert’s Tap Dictionary: Encyclopedia of Tap Terminology and Related

Information

Gail Grant: Technical Manual and Dictionary of Classical Ballet