Dance Analysis- Exploration of Elements

This phrase was created for an assignment given in a dance analysis course. The assignment was to choose two concepts that were learned throughout the course and apply them to a new or an already choreographed piece. I incorporated choreography I used in other studies, as well as creating new material to fulfill the requirement of two minutes and thirty seconds. The concepts I chose to work with and incorporate into the choreography were effort elements and spatial pathways. I explored sudden and sustained elements and peripheral, transverse and central paths. I chose these concepts because I prefer sustained movements and central pathways. By also choosing their counterparts I was able to explore other choreographic choices and movement efforts that I usually do not use.

The assignment was both difficult and interesting for me as a choreographer. My already existing knowledge on my choreographic tendencies helped me try to steer away from those and try new things. I realized different ways to be innovative with transitions and how to make the choreography more dynamic. I realized that going from sudden to sustained is a great way to get your audience’s attention and to create the feeling of suspension. When I move extremely slow and quickly shift from quick and unexpected movements, it adds to the intensity of the piece. When I worked with the pathways of movements and the difference of transverse, central and peripheral, I found many more transitional opportunities. My comfortable pathway is central. When I explored the peripheral path, my movement grew and when I added transverse pathways, I felt that I was able to find many more possibilities. The realization that there are many other ways then to go just outward and inward from the center of my body, created a very different piece than from my original.