The Technical & Expressive Nature of Dance

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The Technical Expressive Nature of Dance

• Dynamics

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Dynamics How we move

• The use of differing graduations of energy to
  perform a movement is often described as adding
  dynamic quality to movement.
• You have to be able to describe movements in
  terms of dynamics

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The SIX dynamic qualities

• Sustained slow, smooth, continuous, even
• Percussive sudden, sharp, choppy, jagged
• Swinging sway, to fro, pendulum,
  
  undercurve
• Suspended stillness, balance, high point
• Collapsed fall, release, relax
• Vibratory shake, tremble, wiggle

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Practical Bit!! Walking with Dynamic Qualities

• Get in to twos
• Create a series of walks up to 16 counts (basic)
• Add a slow, lyrical style to the series
  (Heavenly)
• Add a quick, rhythmic style to it (Groove Potion)
• Try mixing the lyrical with the quick (??)

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Features of Dynamics

• Rudolph Laban defined 4 main features of dynamics
• Each feature has two extremes
• Combine the first three of these features brings
  about a particular action (EFFORT ACTION)
• The last feature describes how you can dance the
  effort action (bound or free)

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Labans Features of Dynamics
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Labans Effort Actions
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Labans Effort Actions
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Labans Effort Actions
These actions can be done in a tight, controlled
bound manner Or in a loose, wild or free way,
giving them a sense of flow
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Labans Effort Actions
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Labans Effort Actions
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Labans Effort Actions
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Labans Effort Actions
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Labans Effort Actions
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Labans Effort Actions
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Labans Effort Actions
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Dynamics of a Jump

• Jumps can be danced
• Quickly, strongly,with a directly aimed kick in
  the air
• Small, tight shunt with a strong, direct
  sudden, sharp landing
• Series of quick, delicate hops and skips which
  skim the floor on a winding path

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Arm Gestures

• The arm reaching forward can be danced with
  (lets all do this!)
• The wrist flexed and pressing the air forward
  (strongly), in a straight line forward
• The palm faces the floor and the fingertips lead
  the gesture with a fine touch (delicately) and
  slowly gliding over the air
• The tension energy can be different switch
  the actions around as described below
• Use force strength
• Use softness gentleness

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Paintings Dynamics

• Look at paintings see how they can help you
  see dynamics in dance
• The colours in the painting can HIGHLIGHT an
  image
• Strong colours (Red, black, brown)
• Delicate colours (white, blue, yellow)
• Colour Paintings vs Black White Paintings

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Colour Paintings by Kandinsky
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Colour Paintings by Kandinsky
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Colour Paintings by Kandinsky
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Colour Paintings by Kandinsky
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Picassos Geurnica
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Paintings as Inspiration

• Colourful paintings can give rise to
• Many varied characters in a dance, each with
  their own identity
• Or many dancers with similar movements
• Black White paintings are stark in contrast
• Convey a different atmosphere, mood and theme
• The width length of lines (and whether
  repeated) could be compared to a dance sequence

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What could these steps be?

• A

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What could these steps be?

• A
• B

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What could these steps be?

• A
• B
• C

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What could these sequences be?

• A
• B
• C
• D

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Dynamics - Homework

• Discuss the dynamic qualities you can see in the
  photographs opposite

A
B
D
C
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Reading to do

• From Dance Textbook by Pam Howard
• Read Page 57
• Copy down learn the Dynamics Vocabulary
• This vocabulary will give you the words required
  to describe how a movement action is being
  performed

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DVD to watch

• Please choose a DVD and watch it
• Give a BRIEF synopsis of the DVD (story
  line/content/Choreographer/Music etc)
• A description of one of the dances comment on
  the use of the dynamics