Choreographic Features• To help the Choreographer to convey their

Theme or Idea to the audience, they can use a range of different tools.

• These are called the

Choreographic Features.

Choreographic Features• There are 4 main types:

1. Elements of Dance2. Choreographic Devices3. Choreographic Structures4. Visual/Aural Designs

Elements of Dance

BODYLocomotorMovements that travel

through space

Non-Locomotor

Movements that stay on the spot

Body PartsThe parts of the body doing the movement

Body BaseHow the body contacts

with the floor

Body ShapeThe angles/shapes that

the body parts make

Elements of Dance

RelationshipsIndividual

Relationship with the audience

PairRelationship between

2 peopleGroup

Relationship between the whole group

ObjectsRelationship with

certain props

Environment

Relationship with stage and set

Elements of Dance

ENERGYWeight

How the dancer uses or resists Gravity

FlowHow much restriction a

dancer puts on the movements

QualityThe type of movement

they perform

Elements of Dance

SPACEPlaceWhere the focus of the

piece is.

RangeThe use of the area and how

big the movements are

DirectionWhich way the performers face

Level The height of the movement

and performers

FocusWhere a performer

looks

PathwayThe direction of travel

in space

Elements of Dance

TIMEAccent

The emphasis in the movement

DurationHow long a move or movement lasts for Rhythm

The underlying beat in the music

TempoHow fast or slow the

movement or music is

BeatThe timing of the music

Choreographic Devices• A Choreographic Device is a method applied

to a phrase that changes or develops the phrase.

• They help to develop a Motif (signature move) or add interest to a dance performance

• The Devices include:

Choreographic Devices

• Canon – movement exactly repeated by each dancer in turn, as in a Mexican wave.

• This canon could be a single step that is repeated, a phrase that starts one count later, or a phrase that starts after a certain period of time.

Choreographic Devices• Augmentation –

making a movement larger in space and in time.

Embellishment - adding detail to a movement e.g. hand/arm

Choreographic Devices• Fragmentation – breaking the

movements into separate parts, which are then used in a different place or order

• Insertion – putting new material into a movement (i.e. a leap or turn)

Choreographic Devices• Instrumentation – using another part of

the body to perform the same movement

• Inversion – turning a movement upside down

• Retrograde – doing or performing the movement backwards, like rewinding a film

Choreographic Devices

• Watch ‘Mauri’ again, focusing on how the choreographer has used a specific Choreographic Device.

• In your books write down 3 ways that he used:# Canon # Augmentation# Embellishment # Fragmentation# Insertion # Instrumentation# Inversion # Retrograde

Choreographic Structures• These are the ways that movement is

organised to give form to a dance work.

• It is how a dance is put together after you have used the Choreographic Devices to create movement.

Choreographic Structures• Accumulation – Successively

building on sections of movement. (i.e. A; AB; ABC …)

• For Example:• Turn, • Turn Kick, • Turn Kick Gallop, • Turn Kick Gallop Leap

Choreographic Structures• Binary Structure: two movements

or movement phrases used in a sequential two-part form (i.e. AABB)

• Movement type A would be choreographed, then it may be repeated using the same theme/movements with slight variation.

• Movement type B would then be a complete contrast of this. This may then be repeated.

Choreographic Structures

• Canon – in the structural form where one or two themes or motifs are repeated in succession.

• For example: Kura with the wave movements

Choreographic Structures• Rhondo: Reoccurring and contrasting

sections (i.e. A B A C A D A E A)

For Example a Hip Hop dance – has the same chorus but

different verses.

Choreographic Structures

• Chance: a random structure

• Narrative: a storyline

Choreographic Structures• Theme and Variation: An

original phase with a variation of speed/space.

• Unison: Movement at the same time

Choreographic Structures

• Watch ‘Kura’ again. Pick out specific times where the choreographer has used different Choreographic Structures.

• Think about why he has done this at that point – what was the purpose.