The Concept of Movement and Movement Space in Relation To Dance

LESSON VII & VIII PE HRS I
The Concept of Movement and Movement Space in Relation to Dance
The word “Dance” comes from an Old German word Danson Which means “ to
stretch”. All dancing is made up of stretching and relaxing.
Dance Defines...
● as an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic
and music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a
spiritual or performance setting.
● as an art that uses non- verbal movement in an ordinary way to create a

form, order, or statement
● as movement that transcends function and becomes communication.
Each dance element contains movement concepts that make it specific and
distinctive. In order to create an expressive and meaningful dance, the dance
artist ( or choreographer) has to make decisions about the look, flow and timing
of the movements, drawing on the broad range of visual designs, qualities of
emotion, and rhythm that are possible in movement. These elements help a dance
artist discover movements which are expressive and unique. These three areas
known as:
1. SPACE- encompasses the overall design of movement- where it takes place in

the space, as well as its size and shape.
2. ENERGY ( also called Force) involves the flow of motion- how movements are
animated by kinetic energy in distinctive ways.
3. TIME includes how fast or slows of the movement
ELEMENTS OF SPACE
- Refers to all the overall design of movement
- Both the shapes bodies make, and how the performing space is filled with
bodies in motion
1. Size describes the range of shapes and movements from small to big. In the
whole body warm-up, students extend their bodies into a big shape and make the
small shape by contracting all their muscles. Travelling steps in all sizes.
Students may take very small steps that look tiny; they may take very large steps
in giant, reaching lunges.
2. Level describes how high or low movement takes place in relation to the
ground. The students will explore their personal space by reaching their arms to
the top (high), and to the bottom (low). In a normal standing position, they are at
medium level.
3. Shape refers to the designs the body makes in the space. (e.g. curved, straight)
4. Directions refer to both the directions of the body and the directions in the
space. Directions of the body are determined by how you are facing. The front,
back, and
sides of the body lead us in motion.
5. Pathway refers to the design of the path made by body parts or the whole body
while
travelling through space. (e.g. straight, curved, circular, zigzag).
6. Relationships describe our proximity to people and things. Students can move
near
each other in a small place and can be apart from each other in a bigger place.
ELEMENTS OF ENERGY
(also known as force) gives movement varying degrees of expressive intensity

by how it is released in motion.
1. Force is the amount of energy expended in the movement. It can be strong, as
exhibited in the punch, or light, as expressed in a floating movement.
(e.g. strong or weak energy)
2. Weight reflects our relationship to gravity. (e.g. heavy or light movements)
3. Quality refers to the flow of energy in movement. (e.g. smooth, sharp or swing).
4. Stillness refers to the absence of visible motion.
Active stillness does not move but it’s still filled with energy. Active stillness is
the energy we use when engaging in freeze action.
Passive stillness refers to the absence of motion and animating energy. Letting
all the energy drain out of the body while either sitting or lying down and let the
students relax and refocus their energy.
ELEMENTS OF TIME
refers to how fast or slow movement is, and how it unfolds rhythmically
1. Speed is like tempo in music and refers to the rate at which movements occur.
(e.g.
slow, fast, accelerate and decelerate)
2. Rhythm is the underlying pattern that gives order to music and dance
(Fowler 1994)
LESSON VI: NON LOCOMOTOR
● Any movement that does not travel, but uses the available space in any direction or
movement organized around the axis of the body (axial movement)
● Movement occurs in space but do not transport body from place to place. They
generally include:
1. FLEXION
2. EXTENSION
3. ROTATION
4. ADDUCTION
5. ABDUCTION
6. CIRCUMDUCTION
7. A COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE
LOCOMOTOR
● Locomotor Movements - These are movements where the body travels

through space from one location to another. Locomotor movements
primarily use the feet for support however, the body can travel on other
parts such as the hands and feet. Even Rhythm.
● A locomotor skill is a physical action that propels an individual from one
place to another. This may mean moving forward, backward, or even
upwards using certain skills.
● Locomotor movements involve moving the feet from one place to another
space. They are:
1. WALKING
2. RUNNING
3. LEAPING
4. JUMPING
5. HOPPING
6. GALLOPING
7. SLIDING
8. SKIPPING

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LESSON VII & VIII PE HRS I

The Concept of Movement and Movement Space in Relation to Dance

● as an art that uses non- verbal movement in an ordinary way to create a

1. SPACE- encompasses the overall design of movement- where it takes place in

- Refers to all the overall design of movement

sides of the body lead us in motion.

travelling through space. (e.g. straight, curved, circular, zigzag).

(also known as force) gives movement varying degrees of expressive intensity

(e.g. strong or weak energy)

2. Weight reflects our relationship to gravity. (e.g. heavy or light movements)

4. Stillness refers to the absence of visible motion.

slow, fast, accelerate and decelerate)

LESSON VI: NON LOCOMOTOR

● Locomotor Movements - These are movements where the body travels

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