body movement
How bodies travel
Body movement is the physical motion of the human body or its parts.
The term appears in contexts ranging from dance and athletics to medical diagnosis and nonverbal communication.
A body movement can be voluntary—a gesture, a step, a reach—or involuntary, like a twitch or tremor.
The therapist analyzed her body movements for signs of tension.
- crouchingBending low, knees bent
- kinesicsStudy of gesture meaning
- sign languageVisual-gestural communication system
- beckonSignal to approach
- postureBody position, alignment
facial expressions · bowing · shrugging · waving · jazz hands · walking · sitting · gesture · nodding · genuflect · nonverbal · flinching · running · locomotion · slouching · balancing · pirouette · choreography
- Performance Elementsinterpretation, musicality, expression, choreography, stage presence
- Partner Danceclose embrace, connection, follow, basic step, open position
- motionmotion, velocity, speed, momentum, acceleration
- gymnasticsgymnastics, balance beam, floor exercise, handstand, parallel bars
- puppetryhand puppet, hand puppets, puppet shows, puppet show, marionette
- audience behaviorcheering, clapping, booing, standing ovation, applause
motion versus stillness
body movementstillness
Complete lack of motion
immobility · motionlessness · paralysis · standing still · stasis