As a director, it is important to be able to communicate your vision to your dancers. By understanding the terminology and concepts used in dance, you will be able to more effectively direct your dancers and convey your ideas.
There are many different types of dance, each with its own set of moves and terminology. For example, ballet is a classical form of dance that uses specific steps and positions. If you are unfamiliar with the terminology, it can be difficult to explain what you want your dancers to do.
Similarly, if you are directing a hip hop routine, it is important to know the difference between various moves such as popping, locking, and breakdancing. Without this knowledge, it will be difficult to give clear directions to your dancers.
Let's review some dance styles and some of their capabilities.
Ballet
When starting ballet, there are a few terms that you should become familiar with. These terms will be used often in class, and will help you understand the mechanics of ballet.
Plie. This is a movement where you bend your knees, lowering your hips towards the floor. There are different types of plies, such as grande plie, where your legs are turned out from the hip and you lower into a deep bend; or demi-plie, where your legs are only turned out slightly and you only lower a little bit.
Releve. This is when you rise up onto your toes from either flat feet or demi-pointe. You can do this by engaging your calf muscles and lifting your heels off the ground.
tendu. This is a ballet move in which the working leg is extended to the front, side, or back while the toe of the foot is pointed.
Rond de jambe. This is a dance move that is often used in ballet. This move consists of lifting one leg up and then swinging it around in a circle.
arabesque. In ballet, an arabesque is a position in which a dancer stands on one leg with the other leg extended behind the body and both arms extended in front of the body.
Positions: There are six basic ballet positions. They are: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth. Each position has a different name depending on which foot is in front. There are six basic ballet positions. They are: first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth. Each position has a different name depending on which foot is in front. For example, if your right foot is in front of your left foot, it is called first position. If your left foot is in front of your right foot, it is called second position.
Hip Hop
Level Change. a level change is a movement where the dancer changes the height of their hips. This can be done by either lowering or raising the pelvis, or by adding or removing bends in the knees. The level change is often used to create different rhythms and dynamics in a dance routine, and can also be used as an aesthetic element.
Kick Ball Change. The move consists of kicking one leg out to the side and then quickly changing direction by bringing the other leg up and around.
Top Rock. In hip hop, top rock generally refers to any upright dance move performed from a standing position. It can be done with or without music, but is often done in synchronization with the beat. Top rock can be used as an element of other dances, such as breakdancing, or it can be done on its own as a freestyle move.
Freeze. Freezes are moments when you stop all movement and hold a particular pose; powermoves are dynamic and often acrobatic moves that require a lot of energy and coordination.
Power Move. Power moves are all about style and attitude. They're the flashy, attention-grabbing moves that make you look like the king or queen of the dance floor. To execute a power move properly, you need to be confident and have a lot of energy.
Formation. In hip hop culture, the term "formation" refers to the way in which MCs, DJs, and dancers position themselves onstage. Formations can be used to create symmetry and visual interest, as well as to communicate messages about power and unity.
