Dance: Glossary
This glossary clarifies the meaning of selected key words and concepts as they are used in this curriculum statement. Not all dance terms used in the statement are included; where a word is clearly defined in the dictionary, it has not been defined here.
- American postmodern dance a form of modern dance that emerged in the 1960s and in which choreographers experimented with concepts and forms that challenged existing dance traditions
art work a product of art-making activity (e.g., a haka, ballet, hip hop performance)
ato a Samoan woven basket
Bharata Natyam a form of Indian classical dance performed by females
body base the part of the body supporting a dancer in a balanced position
butoh an expressionistic, avant-garde dance form that originated in Japan after the Second World War
call and response a structural device most often associated with African dance and musical forms; one soloist or group performs, and the second soloist or group performs in response to the first
canon a choreographic device or structure in which movements introduced by one dancer are repeated exactly by subsequent dancers in turn
capoeira a Brazilian dance form based on a type of martial arts
chance a choreographic process in which movements are chosen at random or randomly structured to create a movement sequence or a dance
choreographic device a specific way of manipulating movement to develop dance choreography (e.g., repetition, inversion, accumulation)
choreographic process the method (e.g., teacher direction, group collaboration, collage, chance) by which choreography is developed
choreographic structure the way in which movement is organised and shaped to create a dance (e.g., ABA, theme and variations, narrative)
communication conveying or transmitting meaning within a particular context
contact improvisation a genre of modern dance based on spontaneous movement and the exchange of weight between dancers
culture understandings, patterns of behaviour, practices, values, and symbol systems that are acquired, preserved, and transmitted by a group of people and that can be embodied in art works
dance practices a collective term that refers to the techniques, conventions, protocols, and principles associated with a particular dance form, genre, or style
elements of dance the key components of movement (e.g., space, time, energy, relationships, body awareness)
fala a Samoan woven mat
form the choreographic structure or structures that shape a dance work; or a broad term that refers to a specific type of dance (e.g., theatre dance, folk dance); or a particular practice, style, or genre of dance
general space space in the overall dance area
genre a specific category of dance that has a tradition or history and is identifiable by specific characteristics, social functions, and cultural contexts (e.g., romantic ballet, hip hop, kapa haka)
graphic notation notation in which movement is represented by shapes and lines
idea a visual, auditory, or kinaesthetic concept, or a combination of these, within an arts discipline
improvisation spontaneous movement in response to a stimulus
interpretation analysis or appreciation of meaning in an art work by a viewer; or the particular meaning communicated by the performer of an existing art work
jump cuts a film editing technique that involves moving rapidly between different images or scenes
kinaesthetic signs and symbols movement, gestures, and
body language
locomotor movement movement in which the body travels across space (e.g., running, creeping, rolling)
ma'ulu'ulu a Tongan or Samoan group dance
meaning what an artist expresses in an art work; or what a viewer understands and interprets from an art work
movement motif a movement or gesture that can be elaborated upon or developed in a variety of ways in the process of dance choreography
movement sequence a series of movements, longer than a phrase but shorter than a section of a dance
narrative structure a choreographic structure that tells a story
non-locomotor movement movement in which the body remains anchored to one spot by a body part (e.g., bending, twisting)
pathways patterns created in the air or on the floor by the body or body parts as a dancer moves in and through space
personal movement vocabulary an individual's natural patterns of movement, which can be identified and extended through improvisation
personal space the "space bubble" around the body, extending as far as the body and body parts can reach
rondo form a choreographic structure (ABACAD, etc.) in which contrasting sections alternate with a recurring section
sasa a Samoan dance in which rows of (often seated) dancers perform rapid, synchronised movements in time to the beating of slit drums, tins, or rolled mats
social text an art work that refers to the society or culture in which it is made and that reflects the dynamics within that society or culture
style the recognised manner or distinguishing way in which a dance is made and communicated and according to which it is interpreted; style is often associated with a particular performer, performance group, choreographer, or period
taiaha an ornately carved Māori spear, usually made of wood; or the art of using this weapon
te reo kori a programme that develops basic movement skills using such equipment as poi, rakau, and whai
technologies equipment used to help create, present, explain, document, view, interpret, analyse, or learn about dance works, including dance props (e.g., a taiaha, scarf, chair), electronic media (e.g., video, computers), and production technologies (e.g., lighting, costume, sound)
text any expressive work (artistic or otherwise) that can be "read", whether it uses words, images, or sounds
tohunga a Māori expert in tribal matters who has a specific body of knowledge
vocabularies steps, movements, sequences, and ways of moving, which may be personal (e.g., in creative dance) or particular to a dance form (e.g., folk dance)
