Lesson 4 - Literary Devices & Dance Composition

Compositional elements are the foundation to a dance piece, just like bricks and mortar are the foundation for a house. They give a piece development, meaning, and direction. They inform the audience of whether or not the piece is abstract or conceptual.

What are compositional elements?
How can literary devices can help us understand choreographic forms in dance?
How can choreographic forms and the elements of dance help you to express key messages of your dance work? 

Creating, Presenting and Performing

A1. The Creative Process:use the creative process the elements of dance (body, space, time, energy, and relationship), and a variety of sources to develop movement vocabulary;

A1.4 develop possible solutions to movement problems using specific guidelines for performance

A2. Choreography and Composition: combine the elements of dance in a variety of ways in composing individual and ensemble dance creations;

A2.1 demonstrate an understanding of choreographic forms, structures, and techniques in arranging and performing a series of movement phrases

Reflecting, Responding and Analysing

B1. Critical Analysis Process: use the critical analysis process to reflect on and evaluate their own and others’ dance works and activities;

B1.1 use the critical analysis process to identify and describe a variety of dance forms

B2. Dance and Society: demonstrate an understanding of how societies present and past use or have used dance, and of how creating and viewing dance can benefit individuals, groups, and communities;

B2.2 explain how dance exploration can contribute to personal growth and self-understanding 

Foundation

C3. Responsible Practices: demonstrate an understanding of safe, ethical, and responsible personal and interpersonal practices in dance activities

C3.2 demonstrate collaborative skills during the rehearsal and performance processes

C3.3 identify and follow safe and ethical practices in dance activities

Learning Goals

(Unpacked Expectations)

At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• identify various choreographic forms 
• use the compositional elements terminology when speaking or critiquing about dance
• use choreographic forms to enhance the message of their duets
• work collaboratively with their partner to integrate new learning into their dance piece

Readiness

Students will have completed their solos and have worked on their duet and they should now have an understanding of how a movement phrase comes together. By completing the previous activities, students will access their prior knowledge about composition and they will be able to identify and explore various compositional tools.

Terminology

Compositional Elements 
Repetition
Motif
Theme and Variation

Materials

A Children's Storybook (Example in lesson: The Three Little Pigs)
Post-It Notes and Markers
5 or 6 Children's Storybooks
Student Collages
CODE resource: Compositional Elements // Éléments de composition

Whole Class > Reading The Three Little Pigs  

Explain to students that you will read them the story Three Little Pigs and, as a class, you will  investigate how literary devices can help us understand compositional elements in dance. Direct students to listen for ways the author creates tension, builds excitement, suspense, and anticipation. Prompt: What techniques does he/she use? How do these relate to dance?

Read The Three Little Pigs. Ask students to consider how the author is using techniques discussed above and explore some of the following examples:  

E.g. #1: "I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow the house down" - anticipation/suspense is built through the use of repetition

E.g. #2: The repetition of the Wolf visiting each Pig's house - this is called a motif in dance (a re-occurring movement that links the storyline together)

E.g. #3: All the Pigs lived in a different building but were threatened by the wolf -  this is called theme and variation in dance.

E.g. #4: Notice how the author uses the format of beginning, middle and end - this is used in dance composition as well.
 

Assessment for Learning (AfL)

Students' knowledge of literary devices will assist students in making the connection to the compositional tools, forms and structures in dance. The minds on activity can be used as a diagnostic piece.

Assessment as Learning (AaL)

Look at each students' collage as a check in to assess students understanding of the lesson.

Differentiation (DI)

Students who are visual learners may also need the storybook photocopied for them so they can read along or put the book under a document camera so students can follow along.

Quick Tip

Go to www.artsalive.ca for further information about compositional elements.

Students should know the terms Interpersonal and Intrapersonal and should be encouraged to use these words on the collage. 

Link and Layer

Students have now completed a solo and a duet and have an idea of how to compose a dance work. Students will be able to better articulate and explicitly state using dance vocabulary what forms they are using in their dance work.

Hyperlinks in the Lesson

storybook/storybook.htm

www.artsalive.ca

https://artsonline.tki.org.nz/Teaching-and-Learning/Pedagogy/Dance

Whole Class > Discussion of Choreographic Forms and Compositional Elements

Handout BLM #7 to students and go through the various tools. You may want to print off this chart as well: https://artsonline.tki.org.nz/Teaching-and-Learning/Pedagogy/Dance to explore the various compositional elements and to become clear about the differences. Discuss with the class what role compositional elements play in dance.

Key Questions for Discussion:

What are compositional elements?
What are choreographic forms?
How can choreographic forms help to develop the form and structure of your choreography?
How might implementing choreographic forms assist in making your dance piece more effective? 
What choreographic form(s) will you choose to help communicate the message of your piece?
How do compositional elements work together to make a dance piece effective?

Small Group > Storybooks

Put students into small groups of four or five and handout a children's storybook to each group. As they are reading the book have students put a post-it note on any literary devices that relate to compositional elements and/or choreographic forms. Afterwards, instruct students to share one or two connections that the group made and give specific examples using text from the storybook.

Pairs > Exploring Compositional Elements and Making Artistic Choices

Encourage students to continue producing and revising their duet. Ask student to build on their duet using the choreographic forms and compositional elements learned. Refer to Compositional Elements // Éléments de composition for a list of compositional forms. Encourage students to make choices about the title of the work, music, costuming, performance space, audience location, entrances and exits, etc.

Whole Class > Reflection

Invite students to discuss how The Three Little Pigs exploration helped them to learn about dance composition.

Individual > Collage

Instruct students to identify compositional forms that were used in their duet and find a creative way to embed these concepts into their collage. Encourage students to also use images and words to document the process of working with someone else. (i.e., successes, challenges, self-learning)

Whole Class > Handout of Summative Rubric of Character Duet

Go through PDF #6 again to ensure students understand the criteria for the final presentation of duets.  Allow time for students to seek clarification and ask questions