The Basics of Teaching Dance, Part 4 – The 21 Basics of Dance, continued - DYNAMICS AND CONTRAST

by Alexandra King

It takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer. – Shanna LeFleur

Shana LeFleur

DYNAMICS:  Intensity of energy in a direction. Example: Tension vs. Relaxation. Dance aligns with music and is the visual representation of music. Examples:  

• Hard vs. Soft Movements = Lyrical vs. Staccato.

• Accents= Body: Locks, Drops, Shimmies, Slides, Circles, Undulations, Pauses, Blending, Layering, Pauses/Silences= Poses

• Crescendos & Decrescendos= Layering & Blending

• Codas = Finales/Poses

• Dynamics in music are seen in:

• Musical Accents = Pops/Locks,

• Silences = Pauses/Poses

• Crescendos  & Decrescendos = Single/Multiple movements

• Coda’s = Using the most exciting movements and combinations to express the conclusion of a musical passage.

• Flourishes in Music = flourishes in movements, or singular movements that  express the music.

• Forte vs. Piano = Tense/Hard vs. Soft/Relaxed Movement.

CONTRAST: Perhaps the most important element of art is contrast. With contrast there is variety which mimics the dualities of life: good, bad; never, abundance, scarcity; happiness, sadness, etc. In writing the author develops conflict and change in the arc of the protagonist’s life because life is filled with contrasts and change so art should express this in movement and music. Contrast is expressed by blending repetition with singular movements such as and flourishes.

Level changes can be combined as in this image of the body bending low to the ground while the left arm is rising and the right is low. When first learning to dance, a student is unable to turn well or do 3 dimensional movements that require level changes or angles that require depth and height. A great exercise for new students is to practice doing steps to the 4 walls and corners: this anchors them in the space and gives them references to focus on while moving - make sure they spot!

Contrast is made in five areas:

Spatial Dimensions

1) Angles and Levels (High & Low)

2) Shallow and Deep

Design

1) Symmetrical vs. Asymmetrical

2) Line: Air (invisible); Implied (extended); Delayed (from inanimate object)

Dynamics

1) Soft vs. Hard

2) Accents vs. Pauses

Musical

1) Fast vs. Slow

2) Staccato vs. Legato

Transitions

Musical Bridges = Dance Transitions

Bridges in music are considered Transitions in dance from one passage or sentence to another. in the composition signaling change. Dance should use linking movement for musical transitions making the movement seamless. Arm transitions are often overlooked and should not be a last thought: teach dancers to make arms transitions a part of the dance itself and drill transitions by themselves.

Emotional Content

1) Facial expressions = Mood, especially the eyes - they are the window to the soul and where the eyes go, the audience goes.

2) Posture and Placement = The bodies expression in stillness or movement in prescribed positions. .

Expression is taught in Indian dance as a part of the curriculum with dozens of facial expressions learned in every class.

EXERCISES: Here are some exercises to do to develop an understanding of Dynamics and Contrast. Use these when teaching.

#1. Create a combination expressing tension and resolution to relaxation.

#2. Show soft and hard movement.

#3. Create a combination with Locks, Drops, Lifts, Slide, Undulations, Circles,

#4. Create two combinations: One with blended movements and one with layered movements.

#5. Create a Taksim with poses in the silences.

#6. Create four dramatic endings for Coda’s.

#7. Create a combination with intense emotional expression: Joy, Sorrow, Anger, Sultry, Fear.

#8. Listen to four songs and ID the emotional content it each.

#9. Using a variety of angles, and levels, hard and soft moves and symmetrical and asymmetrical stances create a short drum solo.

Practice these concepts in each class weaving them into the classroom exercises. And be sure to teach the 21 basic concepts of dance in a series!