Dance: choreographic craft & composition
Aligned to NCAS:Cr — National Core Arts Standards.
What this lesson teaches
Skilled choreography uses real tools: a motif is a signature movement you can repeat and vary, transitions connect sections smoothly, dynamics change the energy, and formations arrange dancers in space. You develop a dance, get feedback, and revise it to express a clear idea.
Worked example
Create a motif, maybe a reach and turn, then bring it back later faster and lower to the ground. Repeating it with variation gives your dance unity and surprise.
Practice questions
- Create a movement motif, then perform a varied version of it.
- Choreograph a smooth transition between two sections.
- What idea is your dance communicating, and how?
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Danza: técnica coreográfica y composición
Una coreografía bien elaborada usa herramientas concretas: un motivo es un movimiento característico que puedes repetir y variar, las transiciones conectan las secciones de forma fluida, las dinámicas cambian la energía y las formaciones organizan a los bailarines en el espacio. Desarrollas una danza, recibes retroalimentación y la revisas para expresar una idea clara.
Ejemplo: Crea un motivo, por ejemplo un estiramiento con giro, y luego retómalo más adelante de forma más rápida y cerca del suelo. Repetirlo con variación le da a tu danza unidad y sorpresa.
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