Minds On

Today’s vocabulary

Press the following tabs to access the learning concepts we will explore in this learning activity.

A person or group of people that gather to listen to or observe a speaker, program, or performance.

A structure that organizes movements. Compositional forms may be defined as narrative or patterned (e.g., canon, call and response, retrograde, ABA, rondo). Explore also compositional form; dance form.

A person who plans and creates dance pieces.

RAFT (Role, Audience, Format, Topic): A strategy used to create and reflect on the role of/as writer, the intended or core audience, the different formats for writing, and the topic of focus. The following prompts may be used to think about different perspectives and formats for presenting ideas:

  • Role: Who are you as the writer? A choreographer? A director? Composer? Artist?
  • Audience: To whom are you writing? A school? Your local community? A nation?
  • Format: In what format are you writing? A dance? A scene? A song? A sculpture?
  • Topic: What are you writing about?

A dance performed by one person.

A group of performers.

Let’s get started!

Let’s begin by thinking about how a choreographer might create a dance piece in different contexts. Consider the following scenarios that are outlined.

Narrative form

Narrative form is a choreographic form that follows a storyline often conveys a specific message, and usually includes an introduction, rising action, a climax, and a resolution (e.g., the ballet, Swan Lake).

A carousel of three images depicting an example of choreographic form.

Image 1: Two people walking towards each other.

Image 2: Two people high-fiving each other.

Image 3: Two people walking away from each other.

Site-specific dance

Site-specific dance is a dance that is created for a specific location. The dance can only be performed in a particular location because the physical environment is part of the dance.

Two people dance holding their hands around a tree.

Theme and variation (A, A1, A2)

A choreographic form that consists of a core phrase (A) followed by one or more variations (A1, A2, etc.). The variations are achieved by altering one or more elements of dance.

A person walking at a high level (e.g. normally, upright), then at a medium level with knees bent, then at a low level, bending over.

Call and response

This is a choreographic form in which one soloist or group performs a dance phrase (call) and a second soloist or group responds by imitating the dance phrase or by responding to the call (response).

A carousel of 5 images depicting call and response.

Image 1: Two people standing next to each other.

Image 2: Person A bends their knees motioning to person B. Person B observes.

Image 3: Person A raises their hands up. Person B observes.

Image 4: Person A remains with their hands up. Person B bends their knees.

Image 5: Both person A and person B stand with their hands raised up.

Pause and Reflect

Pause and reflect

Explore the RAFT for dance piece table and answer the following questions:

RAFT for Dance Piece
Role Audience Format Topic
Choreographer Primary class Narrative dance A fable or a story
Choreographer The community Site-specific dance The environment
Choreographer The whole school Theme and variation Remembrance Day
Choreographer Peers Call and response A disagreement between two people
  • What kinds of things would a choreographer have to consider when creating dance pieces for different audiences?
  • In what ways might these dances be different from one another?
  • In what ways might they be the same?
  • How might the choreographic form help to communicate the topic of the dance piece?

Respond using a method of your choice.

Action

Get ready, get set…

Exploring a site-specific dance

Consider the site-specific dance piece, “Ankle Deep.” In this piece, a group of people creates a piece to honour their friend. They dance in ankle-deep water in a kiddie pool at a local park in Seattle.

This clip starts with a bird’s eye view of the pool where the group is dancing. They are in single file lines in a pinwheel formation. The audience is spread around the pool, in the round. The camera cuts to a close-up of the dancers as they break into a cancan step (they stand on their right leg, lift their left leg, then put their left leg down and kick it out in front of them). As they kick, water from the pool sprays around them.

How is this piece a good example of a site-specific dance?

Press 'Answer' to access the response to this question..

The pool is part of the choreography. It could not be danced in another location without changing key components of the dance. Many of the movements are inspired by the site or the site is incorporated into the movements themselves.

Who is the intended audience? How do you know?

Press 'Answer' to access the response to this question..

The general public. It is performed in a family-friendly public space. The choreography is fun and simple and easily accessible to everyone.

How does the placement of the audience influence the choreography?

Press 'Answer' to access the response to this question.

The audience is spread out in a circle around the pool. Many of the formations are circular and symmetrical so there is no distinct “front” of the dance piece. It would look the same, regardless of where you were watching it from.

Creating dance pieces

Revisit the RAFT chart from the Minds On section and select one scenario you wish to investigate further.

Go!

Using one of the following organizers, or a method of your choice, map out how you would choreograph a short dance piece for this scenario.

You may choose to create a dance piece you could dance yourself (e.g., a solo performance) or imagine a dance piece that might be performed by multiple dancers (e.g., an ensemble performance).

Option 1: Complete the Narrative Dance Map in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.

Narrative Dance Map

Press the Activity button to access the Narrative Dance Map.

Activity (Open PDF in a new tab)

Option 2: Complete the Site-Specific Dance Map in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.

Site-Specific Dance Map

Press the Activity button to access the Site-Specific Dance Map.

Activity (Open PDF in a new tab)

Option 3: Complete the Theme and Variation Dance Map in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts. Consider adding your work to your portfolio.

Theme and Variation Dance Map

Press the Activity button to access the Theme and Variation Dance Map.

Activity (Open PDF in a new tab)

Option 4: Complete the Call and Response Dance Map in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.

Call and Response Dance Map

Press the Activity button to access the Call and Response Dance Map.

Activity (Open PDF in a new tab)

If possible, share your dance piece with a partner! Always be sure to do your safety checks before you do an activity.

Safety

Before you begin, consider these safety precautions:

Consolidation

Putting it all together

Portfolio

Review your learning

Use the following questions to reflect on your learning. Consider adding your answers to the reflection questions to your portfolio.

  • What kinds of things does a choreographer have to consider when creating dance pieces for different audiences?
  • Describe your experience of creating a dance with a specific audience in mind. How does it differ from other dance pieces you have created?
  • How might the choreographic form help to communicate the topic of the dance piece?

Record your responses using a method of your choice.

Reflection

As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.

I feel…

Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.