• AB: A simple choreographic form with two distinct, self-contained movement sequences.
  • ABA: A simple choreographic form with three sections having two contrasting themes, A and B, followed by a repeat of the first theme in the third section.
  • Abstract Movement Compositions: Movement phrases that are inspired by an intangible source. The focus of the composition is the mood and physicality of the movement. The viewer will be able to create their own interpretations from the movement.
  • Beginning, Middle, End: Occurs in all movement compositions. The beginning must attract the viewer and build interest, the middle must
    take them on a journey, and the end must reveal the significance of what has happened.
  • Call and Response: Where one soloist or group performs with the second soloist or group entering in response.
  • Canon: Similar to a round but all dancers join in at the end (coda).
  • Contemporary Movement: A term that in Canada is often used interchangeably with Modern dance.
  • Counterpoint: A compositional form where two independent themes danced simultaneously.
  • Dance Critique: A written analysis of the writer's connection to the movement composition. A dance critique describes, analyzes and evaluates the elements of dance and elements of composition that are used in the dance piece.
  • Duet: A movement phrase performed by two dancers.
  • Elements of Dance: Five fundamental components of dance, which include the following:
    • Body - The instrument of dance. The term body may also refer to the body’s position or shape (e.g., curved, straight, angular, twisted, symmetrical, asymmetrical) also, how the body is moving (e.g., using locomotor or non-locomotor movements).
    • Energy - The force with which the body moves (e.g., light, strong, sustained, sudden).
    • Relationship- The way in which two or more things are connected to or associated with one another (e.g., dancer to dancer, dancer to object, right arm to left arm).
    • Space - The physical area in which the body moves; also, the area surrounding the body.
    • Time - An element of dance involving rhythm, tempo, accent, and duration. Time can be based on measured beats, as in music, or in body rhythms, such as breath, emotions, and heartbeat.
  • Free Movement: Spontaneous and expressive movement where the body is free of dance technique vocabulary.
  • Fugue: Requires more than one dancer; one dancer repeats the theme while the other dancer(s) perform variations on the theme.
  • Instrumentation: When the dancer performs the movement with different body parts.
  • Inversion: A movement or movement phrase that places the body upside down.
  • Modern Dance: Usually refers to 20th century concert dance that developed in the United States and Europe. Rebelling against classical ballet, modern dance consists of angular, contracted, and twisted movements that use swing and rebound in the body.
  • Mood: Refers to the emotional state that accompanies each series of movements.
  • Narrative Movement Compositions: Movement phrases that tell stories; literal or metaphorical.
  • Repetition: A movement, idea or motif that is repeated.
  • Retrograde: When the dancer performs the movement backwards (e.g., like a movie running backwards).
  • Rondo: A movement composition where there is a recurring chorus or refrain. There is a definite feeling of return in this form. Rondo is often found in poetry and music (e.g. ABACADA).
  • Round: The theme is repeated with new dancers joining in after certain intervals. The original dancer finishes first and goes on to repeat the movement theme or begins a new theme (e.g. Row Your Boat, etc.).
  • Size: Demonstrated when movements are condensed or expanded.
  • Showcase: A performance where dancers perform dance compositions.
  • Slow Motion: When a movement and/or movement phrase is performed slower than the original tempo.
  • Solo: A movement phrase performed by one dancer.
  • Sonata: When the original theme is performed, then the second theme, then the two themes are performed together.
  • Source for Inspiration: The stimulus that inspires movement; e.g. visual art, sculpture, poetry, sounds, nature, etc.
  • Stage Directions: The terminology associated with the parts of a stage; centre stage, upstage, downstage, stage right, stage left.
  • Staging: Perform movements at a different place on the stage and/or with a different facing to the audience.
  • Suite: A multi-movement work that makes up of a series of contrasting dance movements. The most typical suite has a moderate beginning, a slow second part, and a fast, lively third section.
  • Tempo: Perform the movements faster/slower or stop moving.
  • Theme: The unifying subject or idea of dance compositions.
  • Theme and Variation: A movement composition form where an initial phrase of movements is altered in a number of ways; for example: repeating some movements, slowing down/speeding up movements, inverting the levels, performing the movements with a lighter/heavier quality, put into space differently, etc.
  • Transformation: Altering a dance sequence by changing one or more of the elements of dance (e.g. maintaining the steps but changing the direction or pathway, or converting a solo into an ensemble piece); can also be achieved by using exaggeration or distortion.
  • Trio: A movement phrase performed by three dancers.
  • Quality: Vary the energy and dynamics in the movement.

Compiled from the following sources:

  • Arts Alive: http://artsalive.ca/en/dan/dance101/glossary.asp
  • Beatty, Patricia. Form Without Formula: A Concise Guide to the Choreographic Process. Toronto: Underwhich Ed., 1985. ISBN 0886580374
  • Blom, L. & Chaplin L. (1982). The Intimate Act of Choreography. Pittsburg, PA: University of Pittsburg Press.
  • Ministry of Education - Ontario: Glossary of Dance Terms (updated 2010)
  • Minton, S. (1997). Choreography: A basic Approach Using Improvisation. Winder, ON: Human Kinetics.