Movement Components

• In the realm of dance, movement components are integral and are the basic ingredients to create a choreography. Understanding these components is essential for critical engagement.

• Movement components are typically categorised into four main domains: Body, Energy, Space, and Time. Known as BEST, this acronym provides a useful way to remember these elements.

• ‘Body’ refers to the various ways in which a dancer’s body moves. It encompasses a range of concepts including body parts, body shapes, body bases, body zones, and body actions like jumping, turning, and travelling.

• The ‘Energy’ component is about the quality of movement. Movements can be sharp or smooth, heavy or light, tense or relaxed. This aspect also concerns the force applied in a dance movement, which can be either strong or gentle.

• ‘Space’ refers to the area the dancer moves within. It can mean the direction of the movements, the size of the movements (big or small), and the pathway followed or pattern formed by the movements.

• The ‘Time’ component relates to the tempo, rhythm, and duration of the movements. Speed and pauses also fall under this category, along with concepts like beats and even syncopation (off-beat rhythm).

• To critically engage with a dance performance or choreography, consider how the different movement components are applied. Analyse how body parts are used, how space is manipulated, how energy is varied, and how time is utilised to create a certain effect or to communicate specific ideas.

• Be aware that effective dance performances often employ a mix of these components to increase complexity and interest. For instance, an energetic leap (body and energy) could be performed in a diagonal path (space) in sync with a fast beat (time).

• Remember that all these components can be manipulated for creative expression. A change in any component can alter the mood, story or message of a dance piece. For example, percussive movements can suggest aggression or excitement, while flowing movements can indicate tranquillity or sadness.

• It is vital to constantly consider how these movement components can be used or interpreted differently to add new layers of meaning or to create innovative movement sequences. Remember that movement components are tools of the choreographer, and understanding them can elevate your comprehension and appreciation of dance as a whole.