Dance
Glossary (Kindergarten to Grade 8)
The following terms are provided for clarification and understanding of selected terminology used in Manitoba's Kindergarten to Grade 8 dance curriculum and resources. These terms are not intended to be exhaustive. Educators are encouraged to consult the recommended dance resources for additional and alternative terminology.
abduction 
: Movement of a body part away from the centre of the body.
abstraction: Non-representational movements or gestures that retain the essence of actual images.
accented beats: Pulses (beats) that feel and sound stronger than others.
adduction : Movement of a body part toward the centre of the body.
alignment: Proper positioning of the lower body, torso, shoulder girdle, arms, neck, and head in a straight line.
apron stage : A stage that extends into the audience's sitting area.
balance: An aesthetic principle applied to choreography that focuses on maintaining proper emphasis between parts of a dance.
basic axial skills: Non-travelling movements performed in place around the axis of the body. The four basic axial skills are bend/flex, stretch/extend, swing, and twist/rotate.
basic locomotor skills: Travelling movements through space from a standing base naturally performed to an even rhythm. The five basic locomotor skills are walk, run, leap, jump, and hop.
binary form (AB) : A sequential choreographic form with two distinct parts in which a dance theme (A) is followed by a contrasting but related dance theme (B).
body actions: Ways in which the whole body can move and what the body can do by travelling or staying in place.
body shapes : Visual forms created by the body in space while still or moving.
Body shapes are typically categorized as straight, curved, or
twisted.
call and response : A sequential choreographic form in which one dancer calls or
performs a dance phrase while another dancer or group responds
by imitating the same phrase or performing a related one.
canon or canonic movement : An overlapping choreographic form in which two or more dancers
or groups imitate a dance sequence after a given interval (e.g.,
eight beats).
centre stage : The central area of a stage.
choreographic forms: Designs or structures for composing dances with unified, cohesive shapes.
circumduction : The cone-shaped movement of a body part, with one end stationary and the other end following a circular pathway.
climax: An aesthetic principle applied to choreography that focuses on creating high points in a dance.
coda: The concluding part of a choreographed dance.
complex relationships: Difficult relationships in which a dancer needs to relate to many other dancers, such as one dancer moving in opposition to a group, or a large group moving in unison with ribbons.
contrast: An aesthetic principle applied to choreography that contributes to interest in a dance by using and/or juxtaposing different movements.
dab : A basic effort action created by combining a sudden use of time, light force, and direct use of space.
dance forms: Distinctive ways of performing and creating dance, such as folk, hip-hop, modern, jazz, ballet, tap, or aerobic dance.
dancescape : A choreographic form used to create a particular environment,
mood, or atmosphere.
dance sequence: The order in which a series of travelling and non-travelling dance movements occur.
dance techniques: The skills necessary for performing dance artfully and accurately.
deck : The performance area or stage.
directions: The sub-element of space related to moving in six general directions: up, down, forward, backward, right side, and left side.
divergent brainstorming: A group technique used to expand thinking by generating and seeking diverse possibilities for creative problem solving.
door: The entrance area that dancers use to enter or leave the stage.
downstage : The area at the front of a stage in which dancers move toward the audience.
dynamics: The overall weight or force of movement.
extension : Stretching movements that increase the angle of a joint between two bones.
flexion : Bending movements that decrease the angle of a joint between two bones.
flick : A basic effort action created by combining a sudden use of time, light force, and indirect/flexible use of space.
float : A basic effort action created by combining sustained use of time,
light force, and indirect/flexible use of space.
flow: A continuous, streaming progression of music; the way weight or force is controlled (bound) or not controlled (free) during a progression of movement in dance.
fugue : An overlapping choreographic form in which a dance theme is introduced and then extended and developed by other dancers after a given interval. a fugue is like a canon, but uses a more complex mix of counter-movements.
gallop : A combination of a run (leap) and a walk performed with the same foot, leading to an uneven triple rhythm.
general space : The area surrounding a dancer's personal space available for moving and sharing with other dancers.
genres: Broad categories of dance forms (e.g., creative, recreational, concert, fitness).
gestures: Expressive devices used to communicate characters, ideas, and feelings through the body.
glide : A basic effort action created by combining sustained use of time, light force, and direct use of space.
grapevine : A combination of a walk or run moving sideways and alternating with a walk or run crossing in front or back.
harmony: An aesthetic principle applied to choreography that focuses on how parts of a dance work congruently with one another and as a whole.
hop : A basic locomotor skill that begins with a one-foot takeoff, projecting the body into the air, and ends with a landing on the
same foot.
house : The area of a performing space where the audience is seated.
improvise: Dancing "in the moment" with intent to explore.
in: Moving inward, toward centre stage.
introduction: The opening part of a choreographed dance.
jump : A basic locomotor skill that typically begins with a two-foot takeoff,
projecting the body into the air, and ends with a landing.
Laban's basic effort actions: Movement qualities created by combining three motion factors: time, weight, and space. identified by theorist rudolf Laban, the eight basic effort actions are glide, float, flick, dab, press, thrust/punch, wring, and slash.
leap : A locomotor skill involving the transfer of weight from one foot to
another, with a long duration of non-support.
levels : Three areas of space, referred to as high, medium, and low, that a
dancer occupies in relation to the floor.
metre: A regular pattern of accented (stronger) and unaccented (weaker) beats, typically felt and heard in groups of twos, threes, or fours.
motion factors: Expressive devices used in combination to express particular movement qualities. the four motion factors are time (sudden/sustained), weight (strong/light), space (direct/indirect), and flow (bound/free).
movement qualities: Eight basic qualities of movement identified by theorist Rudolf Laban, which he labelled as effort actions.
multi-part counter-movement forms : Overlapping choreographic forms in which several movement patterns or themes are performed against one another, as in three- or four-part canons or fugues.
musicality: the ability of the dancer to hear, feel, and interpret elements of music accurately and expressively through the body.
narrative form (ABCDE . . .) : A sequential dance form with several distinct parts or dance
themes that tells a story.
negative space : The area of empty space surrounding a dancer's body shape.
ostinato: A repeated movement phrase or pattern.
ostinato patterns : A repeated movement pattern performed simultaneously against
another movement pattern to create an overlapping choreographic form.
out: Moving outward, away from centre stage.
pathways : Patterns comprising straight and/or curved lines created on the
floor or in the air by the body or body parts as a dancer moves through space.
personal space : The area immediately surrounding the body of a dancer,
determined by stretching in all directions and levels without
touching other dancers or objects.
phrase: A dance "sentence" or a series of movements that connect and have a clear beginning and end.
phrasing: The segmenting of music into "sentences" or a series of tones that connect and have a clear beginning and end.
polonaise : A stylistic variation of the triplet walk from the Polish court dance
traditions of the seventeenth century.
polyrhythmic movement : Two or more different rhythmic movements performed
simultaneously.
positioning: Aligning body parts to ensure balance and stability while stationary or moving.
positive space : The area of space occupied by a dancer's body shape.
posture: The way a dancer holds and positions the body.
prance : A variation of the walk involving a quicker transfer of weight from
one foot to the other and higher leg lifts.
press : A basic effort action created by combining sustained use of time,
strong force, and direct use of space.
proportion: An aesthetic principle applied to choreography that focuses on effective, consistent relationships between parts of a dance.
quarters: The positioning of dancers a quarter turn from the audience.
relationships: The element of dance concerning the dancer's body and body parts and how they move in relation to other body parts, dancers, objects, or the audience.
repetition: An aesthetic principle applied to choreography that contributes to unity, coherence, and familiarity in a dance by repeating and/or emphasizing themes.
representation: Movements or gestures based on actual images.
rhythm: The time element of music encompassing the sub-elements of beat, metre, duration, and rhythm patterns.
rondo form (ABACADA . . .) : A sequential choreographic form with several distinct parts in which
a dance theme (A) is alternated with contrasting dance themes (B, C, D . . .) and ends with a repeat of the initial dance theme (A).
rotation : turning of a bone on its axis toward or away from the centre of the body.
run : A basic locomotor skill involving the transfer of weight from one foot to another, with a short duration of non-support.
schottische : The combination of a walk-walk-walk-hop performed on alternating sides to an even rhythm.
sequence and development: an aesthetic principle applied to choreography that focuses on ordering the parts of a dance in a logical and meaningful way.
serendipitous discoveries: Imaginative, productive insights that happen by chance and contribute to resolving creative problems.
simple combined locomotor skills: Combinations of basic locomotor skills naturally performed to an uneven rhythm. the three simple combined locomotor skills are skip, gallop, and slide.
simple relationships: Easy relationships performed alone or with partners, such as moving one body part to another, or partners moving in unison.
skip : The combination of a walk and a hop performed on alternating sides to an uneven triple rhythm.
slash : A basic effort action created by combining sudden use of time, strong force, and indirect/flexible use of space.
slide : The combination of a leap and a walk, moving sideways with the same leading foot, performed to an uneven triple rhythm.
space : The element of dance encompassing the sub-elements of levels, directions, pathways, planes, and ranges. Space is the medium of movement and determines where the body can move.
stage left : The area of the stage on a dancer's left while facing the audience.
stage right : The area of the stage on a dancer's right while facing the audience.
steady beat: the underlying pulse of music occurring at a regular pace with no change in tempo.
step-hop : The combination of a walk and a hop performed on alternating sides to an even rhythm.
style: Characteristic use of dance elements producing distinctive ways of moving identified with particular performers, choreographers, cultures, or historical periods.
surfaces: Continuous boundaries that divide the body into planes. There are three body planes: horizontal/transverse, frontal/coronal, and median/sagittal.
syncopation: The rhythmic effect produced by unexpectedly shifting accents from strong to weak beats.
tempo: The overall pace or speed of music or movement.
ternary form (ABA) : A sequential choreographic form with three distinct parts in which a dance theme (A) is followed by a contrasting but related dance theme (B) and ends with a repeat of the initial dance theme (A).
theme and variation (A1A2A3A4 . . .) : A sequential choreographic form with several distinct parts in which a dance theme (A) is repeated in modified forms (e.g., altering the style, tempo, dynamics, quality).
thrust/punch : A basic effort action created by combining sudden use of time, strong force, and direct use of space. traditions
dances of a culture passed, over time, from one generation to another.
transition: An aesthetic principle applied to choreography that contributes to the continuity of a dance by ensuring smooth connections between its parts.
triplet : A combination of walking or running steps performed in subdivision of three, with the lead foot alternating.
unity: An aesthetic principle applied to choreography that focuses on the coherence and wholeness of a dance.
upstage : The area at the back of a stage in which dancers move away from the audience.
variety: An aesthetic principle applied to choreography that focuses on creating interest in a dance by using different movements.
walk : A basic locomotor skill involving the transfer of weight from one foot to another and always supported by the floor.
wings : Offstage spaces on both sides of a stage typically constructed with theatrical flats to mask dancers from the audience.
wring : A basic effort action created by combining sustained use of time, strong force, and indirect/flexible use of space.
