| In this article you'll learn about the elements of a | | | | how of the movement. Energy can be looked at in a |
| dance for ballet. | | | | variety of ways: the emotional, the muscular, and the |
| The first element is Shape. The body is used in | | | | ionization. Examples of words used frequently to |
| choreography to make shapes. The dancer can be | | | | describe qualities of motion include wing, suspend, |
| symmetrical, asymmetrical, curved, twisted, angular, | | | | percussive, sustained, collapse, extend, contract, and |
| etc.. The choreographer should pay attention to the | | | | rebound. |
| detail of the body shape. The choreographer should | | | | The fifth element is Improvisation. IN a dance |
| also be aware of group shapes that occur on stage. | | | | improvisation, the dancer is faced with an almost |
| These are refereed to as formations. | | | | infinite number of choices. Improvisation means |
| The second element is space. Which is the parts of | | | | choice. The dancer is not performing a fixed dance |
| the body that can be used to create shapes of | | | | piece, but he is improvising his movements. The most |
| many different levels, usually divided into low, | | | | ideal improvisation is the dancing body which is |
| medium, and high. The levels are relative, through | | | | present in time and space. |
| medium usually refers to the height of the body as | | | | The sixth and finally element is the Principle of Dance. |
| we walk normally. The body can also move through | | | | This is repetition, variety, transition and sequence are |
| space, creating directions, paths, and floor patterns. | | | | the four principles of dance. Repetition is the recurring |
| All of these aspects of space involve dimension: the | | | | steps, patterns, or themes. Variety is what the |
| movements may occur in a line, along a flat plane, or | | | | choreographer puts in between the repetition. It also |
| curve through space. | | | | makes it interesting for the audience to watch. |
| The third element is Time. All movement takes place | | | | Transition is what connects the variety of |
| in time, and has duration. Repetition of movement | | | | movements. These are often the most important |
| can create rhythms. The most essential repetition | | | | parts of the dance because it makes it look clean |
| that underlies a rhythm is its pulse or beat. The | | | | and can create suspense. Sequence is the logical |
| speed of the beat determines the tempo. To stress | | | | placement of the steps within the dance. These are |
| a beat creates an accent. A single rhythmic pattern | | | | principles are essential in order to create a successful |
| can be composed of many of these aspects of time. | | | | dance piece. |
| The fourth element is Energy. Energy refers to the | | | | If you try all these elements in your ballet dance then |
| quality with which a movement is performed - the | | | | your dance composition will be great. |