Modern Dance

Choreography
- Literally means “dance-writing”, derived

from the Greek words for “dance” and
“writing”
- It is an art of creating and arranging
movements for dances with specific
motion and form.
- Known as “dance composition”
1.Improvised Choreography
- unplanned or unrehearsed
- Choreographer simply gives
guidelines for improvised
movement and form.
2. Planned Choreography
- Choreographer dictates
movement and form in
detail, which dancers must
follow completely.
1.Routine and Content
- A sequence of planned and
organized steps and movements to
make the overall choreography.
- Routine is normally longer than a
dance combination but shorter than
a full dance.
a. Think of the routine
b. Track your thoughts and
ideas by recording them
c. Know your audience
2. Music and Genre
a.) Select and listen to a song to
the creation of process.
b.) After becoming intimately
acquainted with music, start
analyzing it.
3. Movement Creation
a.) Explore different steps, moves,
and sequences
b.) Feel free to give codes to the
steps and moves to easily
remember the dance sequence
c.) Be imaginative
d.) Practice the routine
over and over again.
4. Props and Costumes
a.) Decide carefully if it is
necessary to use props.
b.) Plan carefully the design
and size.
Modern Dance
Rejects strict rules of
classical ballet, focusing
instead on the expression
of inner feelings.
Emphasizing creativity in
choreography and
performance.
Uses minimal prop designs
and costumes.
1. Laterals
- Stand with head and spine in alignment and the
supporting foot turned out. The arm over the
supporting leg comes straight up next to the ears as
the torso tilts, unbroken to the side and over the
supporting leg. The opposite leg lifts pointed through
the toes. The other arm swings up as the leg rises
and parallels the straight arm next to the head. The
body continues to tilt sideways from the pelvis in one
unbroken line.
• Lateral T – shows the line of the
torso and extended leg at a right
angle to the supporting leg.
• Low Lateral- tilts the torso
downward and the extended leg
up in the air.
2. Spiral
- A torso twist that begins in the pelvis.
- The head remains in alignment with the
spine. The spiral releases in the same
order: pelvis up to shoulders, neck, and
then head. Each movement is the start
of a smooth progression with the spine
as its center.
3. Stag Leap
- A very high jump in a split, but although
both legs are parallel to the floor, the
front leg is bent from the knee inward.
- The arms are either thrust up in a V with
palms facing out and down, or one-
forward, one-to-the-side in a ninety-
degree angle and palms down.
4. Stag Turn
- The supporting knee is slightly bent; the
other leg is up in the air and bent
behind the body. The arm on the
supporting side is thrust straight back
with the palm down. The opposite arm
is thrust cleanly forward with the palms
down as the dancer turns around.
5. Primitive Squat
- A hop that lands in a deep
second-position plie-the feet are
turned out heel-to-heel and the
knees are bent.
6. Flat Back
- Makes a “tabletop” of the
body.
- Forming the extension of
the flat back.
7. Hinge
- The dancer balances on the balls
of the feet, keeps a straight back
and head, and sends the knees
forward as the torso tilts back
and the arms are held straight
out in front.
8. Contraction
- The action begins in the pelvis, and
articulates up the spine as the breath is
exhaled. The dancer aims to lengthen
the space between each vertebra as the
move progresses to the neck and the
head, which are always in alignment
with the spine.
9. Release
- Occurs upon inhalation and also
begins in the pelvis. The move
travels up the spine in the same
order as the contraction, restoring
the torso to a straight alignment.
Typically counters the contraction.
10. High Release
- Tilts the breastbone up rather than
ending with the spine and upper body in
an upright neutral position. The shoulder
blades appear to rest on a bar or shelf.
The head remains aligned with the spine
and the rib cage remains over the hips.
The lower back is not bent.

Modern Dance

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Choreography

- Literally means “dance-writing”, derived

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