Subjects

Dance

AQA GCSE Dance Vocabulary List and Definitions PDF: Technical & Expressive Skills

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AQA GCSE Dance Vocabulary List and Definitions PDF: Technical & Expressive Skills

Paige Clark

@paigeclark_cqxb

3 Followers

GCSE Dance: Subject Specific Vocabulary is a comprehensive guide for students studying dance at the GCSE level. It covers essential terminology and concepts related to choreography, performance, and dance analysis. The document provides detailed explanations of choreographic devices, technical skills in dance, and expressive skills in dance, which are crucial for success in AQA GCSE Dance examinations.

Key points:

Defines actions, space, dynamics, and relationships in dance
Explains various choreographic devices and their applications
Covers choreographic approaches and processes
Discusses different types of stimuli for dance creation
Outlines choreographic structures and forms

This guide serves as an invaluable resource for students preparing for AQA gcse dance past papers and developing their understanding of GCSE dance technical skills and expressive skills dance definition.

25/07/2023

606

GCSE Dance: Subject Specific Vocabulary
Actions
What a dancer is doing: travelling, turning, elevation, gesture, stillness, use of body part

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Choreographic Devices and Dance Terminology

This page delves deeper into specific choreographic devices and dance terminology, expanding on the concepts introduced in the previous section.

Canon, a key choreographic device, is defined as the same movements performed at different times or overlapping. This technique can create visual interest and complexity in a dance piece.

Climax, another important choreographic device, is described as the most significant part of the dance. It usually contrasts with what has gone before through action, spatial, and dynamic content, making it stand out prominently.

Highlight: The climax of a dance piece should be the most impactful moment, drawing the audience's attention and conveying the core message or emotion of the choreography.

The page also covers various dynamics in dance, such as acceleration (speeding up movement) and deceleration (slowing down movement). These dynamic changes can add excitement and variation to a performance.

Spatial concepts are further explored, including directions (forward, backward, sideways, diagonal) and formations (shapes or patterns created by where dancers stand or perform movement).

Definition: Elevation in dance refers to the action of 'going up' without support, such as a jump.

The concept of relationships in dance is expanded upon, introducing terms like duet (a performance by two dancers) and solo (a dance for one person).

Vocabulary: Fragmentation is a choreographic device that involves using different parts of various motifs or phrases to create new motifs/phrases by mixing these together.

This page provides essential terminology for students preparing for AQA GCSE Dance examinations, helping them understand and apply key concepts in both practical and theoretical contexts.

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Choreographic Approaches and Elements of Dance

This page focuses on the choreographic process and the elements of dance, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of how dances are created and structured.

The choreographic approach is described as the way a choreographer creates a dance from start to finish. This process typically includes research, improvisation, selection, development, structuring, creating transitions, establishing a climax, rehearsal, refinement, performance, and feedback.

Definition: Improvisation in the choreographic process refers to the exploration or generation of movements without planning - essentially, making it up on the spot.

The page reiterates the importance of the elements of dance: Actions, Space, Dynamics, Relationships, and Choreographic Devices (ASDR+C). These elements form the foundation of dance composition and analysis.

Various types of stimuli for choreography are introduced, including:

Accessory: An additional item of costume, such as the coats in the dance piece "Shadows"
Ideational: Relating to ideas or concepts that could be used within a dance
Tactile: Relating to the sense of touch, such as how a piece of fabric might feel
Visual: Relating to sight and the visual impact of something

Vocabulary: The choreographic intention refers to the aim or desired outcome of a dance piece - what the choreographer wants the audience to take from the dance.

The concept of a motif is explained as a movement phrase that encapsulates an idea and is repeated and developed throughout the dance. This is a crucial element in creating cohesive and meaningful choreography.

Example: A motif in a dance about struggle might involve a reaching gesture combined with a contraction of the body, symbolizing the internal conflict of the character.

This page provides valuable insights into the creative process of dance-making, essential for students developing their own choreographies for GCSE dance technical and expressive skills assessments.

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Choreographic Structures and Forms

This final page of the vocabulary guide focuses on the overarching structures and forms used in dance choreography. Understanding these concepts is crucial for students analyzing dance works and creating their own compositions.

The page begins by defining structure in choreography as the way in which movement phrases are organized into sections to create a complete dance piece. This organization is fundamental to creating a coherent and impactful performance.

Definition: Form in dance refers to the overall shape and structure of a choreography. Common forms include Binary, Ternary, Rondo, Narrative, Theme & Variation, and Episodic.

The concept of unity in choreographic form is introduced, described as a sense of 'wholeness' to a piece of choreography. This unity is essential for creating a satisfying and cohesive dance work.

Highlight: Understanding different choreographic structures and forms can greatly enhance a student's ability to analyze professional dance works and improve their own choreographic compositions.

While this page is shorter than the others, it provides crucial information about the larger organizational principles in dance composition. These concepts are often tested in AQA gcse dance past papers and are essential for students to grasp when creating their own choreographies.

Vocabulary: Binary form in dance refers to a structure with two distinct sections, often represented as A-B.

Example: A dance in Rondo form might have a structure of A-B-A-C-A-D-A, where 'A' is a recurring theme or section, and B, C, and D are contrasting episodes.

This page concludes the vocabulary guide, providing students with a comprehensive overview of the terminology and concepts they need to succeed in their GCSE Dance studies, particularly in understanding choreographic devices in dance and applying them in their own work.

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Actions, Space, Dynamics, and Relationships in Dance

This page introduces fundamental concepts in dance composition and performance. It covers the four main elements of dance: actions, space, dynamics, and relationships.

Actions refer to what a dancer is doing, including traveling, turning, elevation, gestures, stillness, use of body parts, floor work, and weight transfer. These form the building blocks of dance movements.

Space describes where movements are performed within a dance. This includes levels, directions, formations, pathways, shapes, spatial design, and patterns. Understanding spatial elements is crucial for creating visually interesting choreography.

Dynamics relate to the qualities of a movement based on energy, speed, or continuity (flow). This element adds depth and texture to dance performances.

Relationships encompass the ways dancers interact or connect with each other. Examples include lead and follow, mirroring, action/reaction, accumulation, complementary actions, contrasting actions, counterpoint, contact work, and formations.

Definition: ASDR is an acronym used to remember the four main elements of dance: Actions, Space, Dynamics, and Relationships.

The page also introduces several choreographic devices, which are methods used to develop and vary movement motifs. These include repetition, unison, canon, climax, and manipulation of the number of dancers.

Vocabulary: Accumulation is a choreographic device where a dancer is gradually joined by other dancers on stage to create unison in a larger group.

Example: In a dance piece, accumulation might be used to build tension or create a visual crescendo, with dancers joining one by one until the entire ensemble is moving in unison.

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Subjects

Dance

AQA GCSE Dance Vocabulary List and Definitions PDF: Technical & Expressive Skills

Paige Clark

@paigeclark_cqxb

3 Followers

Key points:

Defines actions, space, dynamics, and relationships in dance
Explains various choreographic devices and their applications
Covers choreographic approaches and processes
Discusses different types of stimuli for dance creation
Outlines choreographic structures and forms

25/07/2023

606

10/11

Dance

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Choreographic Devices and Dance Terminology

This page delves deeper into specific choreographic devices and dance terminology, expanding on the concepts introduced in the previous section.

Canon, a key choreographic device, is defined as the same movements performed at different times or overlapping. This technique can create visual interest and complexity in a dance piece.

Highlight: The climax of a dance piece should be the most impactful moment, drawing the audience's attention and conveying the core message or emotion of the choreography.

Spatial concepts are further explored, including directions (forward, backward, sideways, diagonal) and formations (shapes or patterns created by where dancers stand or perform movement).

Definition: Elevation in dance refers to the action of 'going up' without support, such as a jump.

The concept of relationships in dance is expanded upon, introducing terms like duet (a performance by two dancers) and solo (a dance for one person).

Vocabulary: Fragmentation is a choreographic device that involves using different parts of various motifs or phrases to create new motifs/phrases by mixing these together.

This page provides essential terminology for students preparing for AQA GCSE Dance examinations, helping them understand and apply key concepts in both practical and theoretical contexts.

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Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Choreographic Approaches and Elements of Dance

This page focuses on the choreographic process and the elements of dance, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of how dances are created and structured.

Definition: Improvisation in the choreographic process refers to the exploration or generation of movements without planning - essentially, making it up on the spot.

Various types of stimuli for choreography are introduced, including:

Accessory: An additional item of costume, such as the coats in the dance piece "Shadows"
Ideational: Relating to ideas or concepts that could be used within a dance
Tactile: Relating to the sense of touch, such as how a piece of fabric might feel
Visual: Relating to sight and the visual impact of something

Vocabulary: The choreographic intention refers to the aim or desired outcome of a dance piece - what the choreographer wants the audience to take from the dance.

Example: A motif in a dance about struggle might involve a reaching gesture combined with a contraction of the body, symbolizing the internal conflict of the character.

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Choreographic Structures and Forms

Definition: Form in dance refers to the overall shape and structure of a choreography. Common forms include Binary, Ternary, Rondo, Narrative, Theme & Variation, and Episodic.

The concept of unity in choreographic form is introduced, described as a sense of 'wholeness' to a piece of choreography. This unity is essential for creating a satisfying and cohesive dance work.

Highlight: Understanding different choreographic structures and forms can greatly enhance a student's ability to analyze professional dance works and improve their own choreographic compositions.

Vocabulary: Binary form in dance refers to a structure with two distinct sections, often represented as A-B.

Example: A dance in Rondo form might have a structure of A-B-A-C-A-D-A, where 'A' is a recurring theme or section, and B, C, and D are contrasting episodes.

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Actions, Space, Dynamics, and Relationships in Dance

This page introduces fundamental concepts in dance composition and performance. It covers the four main elements of dance: actions, space, dynamics, and relationships.

Dynamics relate to the qualities of a movement based on energy, speed, or continuity (flow). This element adds depth and texture to dance performances.

Definition: ASDR is an acronym used to remember the four main elements of dance: Actions, Space, Dynamics, and Relationships.

Vocabulary: Accumulation is a choreographic device where a dancer is gradually joined by other dancers on stage to create unison in a larger group.

Example: In a dance piece, accumulation might be used to build tension or create a visual crescendo, with dancers joining one by one until the entire ensemble is moving in unison.