Modern Dance Vocabulary
Modern Dance – a performance dance style that evolved at the beginning of the 20th century.
Modern Dance can be contrasted with the dance forms of Ballet, Jazz, or Tap. Creative work
and choreography are an important part of the learning experience in Modern Dance.
Elements of Dance:
Time – the first element of dance; time is always used in dance; Characters of time are speed,
accents, silences, and rhythms
Space – the second element of dance; Dancers move in and through space. Characters of
space are direction, level, size, focus, and pathways.
Energy – the third element of dance; it begins, stops or causes change in movement or body
shape. Some characters of energy are explode, sustain, sudden, light, heavy, focused,
percussive, free, bound, etc.
More Vocabulary Words:
Contraction - a tightening of the abdominal muscles initiating from the pelvis forming a
C curve with the body
Contrast – the use of opposite elements in movement; ie. high/low, big/small
Direction – the eight basic directions a Dancer can move or face; forward, backward, right side,
left side, and the four diagonals (or corners)
Shape – an interesting arrangement of body parts of one dancer; OR the overall appearance of
a group of dancers
Pathway – the designs we imagine traced on the floor as a dancer travels across the space; OR
the designs traced as a dancer
Improvisation - creating movement or a dance on the spot with no planning ahead of time
Symmetrical – a visually balanced body or group of dancers on both the R and L sides
Asymmetrical – a visually unbalanced body or group of dancers; the R and L sides are not the
same
Choreographer – someone who discovers or arranges movement into dances
Choreography – the arrangement of movement into dances
Locomotor – traveling movement
Non-locomotor –movement that stays in plays or traveling around yourself
Qualities of Movement - different ways to move your body; the six we focus on are sharp,
smooth, expand, contract, suspend, and vibrate.