Download IX - Portland Public Schools

IX. VOCABULARY
DANCE VOCABULARY
Choreography Creation and composition of dances by arranging or
inventing steps, movements, and pattern of movements.
Dance Movement selected and organized for aesthetic purposes or as a
medium of expression rather than for its function work or play.
Dance phrase A partial dance idea composed of a series of connecting
movements and similar to a sentence in the written form.
Dance sequence Order in which a series of movements and shape occurs.
Gesture Movement of a body part or combination of parts, with emphasis
on its expressive characteristics, including movements of the body not
supporting weight.
Motif A distinctive and recurring gesture used to provide a theme or
unifying idea.
Movement pattern A repeated sequence of movement ideas, a rhythmic
movement sequence, a spatial design on the floor or in the air, or a specific
relationship or grouping of people.
Movement problem An idea or task that serves as a point of departure for
dance exploration and composing, usually with specific criteria.
Partner/group skills Skills requiring cooperation, coordination, and
dependence, including imitation, lead and follow, echo, mirroring, and call
and response.
Pathways A line along which a person or part of the person, such as an
arm or head, moves (e.g., her arm took a circular path, or he traveled along
a zigzag pathway).
Projection A confident presentation of one's body and energy to
communicate movement and meaning clearly to an audience.
Repetition Duplication of a movement or movements phrases within
dance choreography.
Shape A position of the body in space, such as curved, straight, angular,
twisted, symmetrical, asymmetrical, etc.
Space Al element of dance that refers to the immediate spherical space
surrounding the body in all directions. Use of space includes shape,
direction, path, range, and level of movement. Space is also the location of
a performed dance.
Time An element of dance involving rhythm, phrasing, tempo, accent, and
duration. Time can be metered, as in music, or based on body rhythms,
such as breath, emotions, and heartbeat.
Transition When a movement, phrase, or section of a dance progresses
into the next.
Unison Dance movement that takes place at the same time in a group.
Work A piece of choreography or a dance.
THEATRE VOCABULARY
Blocking The planning and working out of the movements of actors on
stage.
Catharsis The purification or purgation of the emotions (such as pity,
fear, grief, etc.) affected in a work of tragedy.
Center stage The center of the area defined as the stage.
Character A personality or role an actor/actress re-creates.
Characterization The development and portrayal of a personality through
thought, action, dialogue, costuming, and makeup.
Collaboration Two or more people working together in a joint intellectual
effort.
Critique Opinions and comments based on predetermined criteria that
may be used for self- evaluation or the evaluation of the actors or the
production itself.
Cue A signal, either verbal or physical, that indicates something else, such
as a line of dialogue or an entrance, is to happen.
Downstage The stage area toward the audience.
Ensemble A group of theatrical artists working together to create a
theatrical production.
Gesture An expressive movement of the body or limbs.
Informal theatre A theatrical performance that focuses on small
presentations, such as one taking place in a classroom setting. Usually, it
is not intended for public view.
Level The height of an actor's head actor as determined by his or her body
position (e.g., sitting, lying, standing, or elevated by an artificial means).
Objective A character's goal or intention
Position The orientation of the actor to the audience (e.g., full front, right
profile, left profile).
Rehearsal Practice sessions in which the actors and technicians prepare
for public performance
Run-through A rehearsal moving from start to finish without stopping for
corrections or notes.
Stage The area where actors perform.
Stage direction (See center stage, downstage, stage left, stage right, and
upstage.)
Stage left The left side of the stage from the perspective of an actor facing
the audience.
Stage right The right side of the stage from the perspective of an actor
facing the audience.
Tableau A silent and motionless depiction of a scene created by actors,
often from a picture (plural tableaux).
Theatre To imitate or represent life in performance for other people; the performance of
dramatic literature; drama, the milieu of actors, technicians, and playwrights; the place
where