dance movements
Rhythmic body patterns
Dance movements are the individual physical actions that make up dancing—steps, gestures, turns, jumps, and positions of the body.
Choreographers combine dance movements into sequences.
In instruction, movements are often isolated and practiced: We learned the basic dance movements before putting them together.
The phrase appears in both technical dance vocabulary and casual description.
- pirouetteBallet turn on one foot
- arabesqueFlowing ornamental design
- jetéBallet jumping step
- pliéBallet knee-bending movement
- ceremonial ritualsFormalized traditional observances
en pointe · fluidity · grace · chassé · tendu · improvisation · choreography · musicality · isolation · contraction · ancestral spirits · footwork · relevé · ball change · phrasing · kick · flow · dynamics
- Southeast Asian Dancehand gestures, headdresses, theatrical masks, Nora, Ram
- Belly Danceshimmy, shimmies, undulation, undulations, hip scarf
- Suite Movementsallemande, sarabande, gigue, minuet, gavotte
- Baroque Suitesallemande, sarabande, gigue, bourree, gavotte
- body languagegestures, facial expressions, hand gestures, posture, nodding
dance movementsstillness
Complete lack of motion
immobility · standing still · motionlessness · tableau · stasis
dance movementsflailing
Uncontrolled limb movement
stumbling · convulsions · spasms · thrashing · twitching
dance movementsspoken words
speech · verbal expression · narration · recitation · dialogue