Big Ideas
Big Ideas
Elements of dance and compositional skills
skills that guide a choreographer in the creation of a dance (e.g., selecting movement and motifs, phrasing, stating a theme, applying elements of dance and principles of design)
are the foundation of choreography.
Dance offers unique ways of exploring our identity and sense of belonging.
Choreographers use the dancer’s body as an instrument to translate movement ideas
requires dance literacy, which is the ability to read, write, notate, or otherwise communicate using dance language, vocabulary, and/or symbols
from abstract to concrete.
Choreographers communicate through creative expression in dance.
Choreographers collaborate through critical reflection, creative co-operation, and the exchange of ideas.
Content
Learning Standards
Content
elements of dance
body, space, time, dynamics, relationships
- body: the primary instrument of expression in dance; what the body is doing (e.g., whole- or partial-body action; types of movement, such as locomotor and non-locomotor)
- space: where the body is moving (e.g., place, level, direction, pathway, size/reach, shape)
- time: how the body moves in relation to time (e.g., beat/underlying pulse, tempo, rhythmic patterns)
- dynamics: how energy is expended and directed through the body in relation to time (quick/sustained), weight (strong/light), space (direct/indirect),
and flow (free/bounded) - relationships: with whom or what the body is moving; movement happens in a variety of relationships (e.g., pairs, groups, objects, environments)
skills specific to a technique
examples in modern dance: suspend, fall, breath, weight, oppositional pull, swing, contraction, spiral; examples in hip hop: grooving, isolations, rhythm, foot patterns, body rolls, freestyle; examples in ballet: positions of the feet and arms, turnout of the legs, barre and centre work, including plié, tendu, fondu, rond de jambe
, genre, or style for example, classical, contemporary, culturally specific
kinesthetic and spatial awareness
choreographic forms and structures
the shape or structure of a dance; the orderly arrangement of thematic material (e.g., AB, ABA, rondo, canon, theme and variation, call and response, narrative)
choreographic devices
methods applied to change or develop movement (e.g., level, dynamics, retrograde, repetition, body part)
principles of design
unity, variety, repetition, contrast, sequence, climax, proportion, harmony, balance, transition
dance notation
the codified, symbolic representation of dance movement and form
the role of dancers, choreographers, and audiences in a variety of contexts
local and intercultural performers, movements, and genres
traditional and contemporary First Peoples worldviews and cross-cultural perspectives communicated through movement and dance
ethics of cultural appropriation
use of a cultural motif, theme, “voice,” image, knowledge, story, song, or drama, shared without permission or without appropriate context or in a way that may misrepresent the real experience of the people from whose culture it is drawn
and plagiarism
safety protocols
procedures to prevent harm or injury to self and others, including, for example, environment, biomechanics, clothing, and footwear
Curricular Competency
Learning Standards
Curricular Competency
Explore and create
Explore, design, and create dance compositions
Demonstrate kinesthetic awareness
the body's ability to coordinate motion and its awareness of where it is in time and space
of dance elements
Experiment with dance elements individually and collaboratively
Express a range of meanings, intents, and emotions using a variety of stimuli
the starting point for creating movement; stimuli for dance compositions can be auditory, visual, ideational/thematic, tactile, or kinesthetic
Select and combine dance elements to create movement phrases
Explore how production elements
for example, music, costume, props, lights, set design
support the expression of intent and meaning in dance compositions
Create and perform movement motifs
gestures, movements, or phrases that can be repeated and developed
, phrases, and dance compositions in large-group, small-group, and solo contexts
Use choreographic forms and structures to express intent and meaning
Consider audience and venue while composing, rehearsing, and performing
Reason and reflect
Use the language of dance to describe dance works and support personal interpretation of artistic intent
Develop composition skills to create, repeat, and perform a choreographed dance that communicates an idea
Reflect on rehearsal and performance experiences
Give, receive, and apply constructive feedback
Reflect on the influences of social, cultural, historical, political, and personal context on dance
Demonstrate respect for self, others, audience, and place
any environment, locality, or context with which people interact to learn, create memory, reflect on history, connect with culture, and establish identity. The connection between people and place is foundational to First Peoples perspectives on the world.
Communicate and document
Use technical vocabulary to describe, document, and respond to rehearsal processes, compositions, and performances
Express personal movement preferences, cultural identity, perspective, values, and emotions in choreography
Use dance to communicate and respond to local issues
Anticipate audience impact and make design choices
movement, music, theme, costume
Connect and expand
Demonstrate application of dance elements, principles, techniques, and language
Create personally meaningful dance works
Explore contributions of key dance innovators from a variety of genres, contexts, periods, and cultures
Explore First Peoples perspectives and knowledge, other ways of knowing
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, gender-related, subject/discipline-specific, cultural, embodied, intuitive
, and local cultural knowledge to gain understanding through movement and dance
Make personal and community connections through dance
Consider personal safety, injury prevention, and physical health when planning, rehearsing, and performing choreography