Subject Specific Vocabulary- set by AQA

Question 1

Agility

Answer 1

The ability to move quickly with ease and efficiency.

Question 2

Alignment of the body

Answer 2

The optimum placement of and balance between joints in order to allow the body to move with ease and efficiency, removing unnecessary muscular tension and effort.

Question 3

Appreciation

Answer 3

The ability to understand the worth of a dance/choreography and value its qualities and importance within the context of the art form; a recognition of aesthetic values.

Question 4

Artistic intention

Answer 4

Artistic intention includes a knowledge and awareness of the purposes, characteristics and principles of the art form and how these contribute to the structuring of individual choreographic intention.

Question 5

Aural setting

Answer 5

The aural choices the choreographer decides upon in the creation of a work, i.e. music, the spoken word, sound effects, natural sound, found sound, the audible aspects of dancing and silence.

Question 6

Balance

Answer 6

The ability to maintain equilibrium over the base of support

Question 7

Binary

Answer 7

An AB sectional structure. Section B provides the contrast to the opening section A.

Question 8

Call and response

Answer 8

Similar to a conversation, the music or dance ‘calls’, the other ‘responds’

Question 9

Cardiovascular endurance

Answer 9

The capacity to sustain continuous moderate-level exercise

Question 10

Constituent features

Answer 10

The elements which a choreographer selects in order to manipulate, develop, and structure into a coherent whole, i.e. the three movement components, dancers, aural setting and physical setting.

Question 11

Critical engagement

Answer 11

An objective and informed enquiry into both content and context, enabling the student to develop and articulate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of dance through time and location in relation to features of a specific genre(s).

Question 12

Disassociation

Answer 12

Dance and music are created independently of each other and when performed share only time and space.

Question 13

Direct correlation

Answer 13

Dance and music work together sharing the same time signature, tempo, phrasing and cadences

Question 14

Dynamics

Answer 14

The variations in the expenditure of energy in relation to the action/motion of the body.

Question 15

Embodiment

Answer 15

A tangible or visible form of a dance/choreographic idea, quality or feeling.

Question 16

Emphasis

Answer 16

The accents provided by the dancer at different moments throughout the dance. The accents may relate for example to energy, space and timing.

Question 17

Episodic

Answer 17

A series of sections presented by the choreographer. The sections can be self contained but when put together will illuminate the overarching theme of the choreographic work.

Question 18

Static flexibility

Answer 18

The range of motion possible at a joint

Question 19

Dynamic flexibility

Answer 19

The resistance of a joint to motion

Question 20

Focus

Answer 20

The intensity and direction of the dancers eyeline, for example to a specific point in space, to a fellow performer or to the audience.

Question 21

Genre

Answer 21

A broad classification of a dance type, for example Ballet, Modern dance, Jazz dance.

Question 22

Holistic

Answer 22

The parts of study (i.e. performance and choreography/practical and theory) which will only be understood by reference to the whole

Question 23

Kinaesthetic awareness

Answer 23

A developed perception of bodily movement by the dancer

Question 24

Enhancement of mood and atmosphere

Answer 24

This relationship aids in the communication of theme. The dancers may not be using the musical rhythm or phrasing but the aural setting is helping to evoke the mood and/or atmosphere.

Question 25

Muscular endurance

Answer 25

The ability to produce a force against a particular resistance repeatedly

Question 26

Music visualisation

Answer 26

Dance which aims to clarify the music, using the structure and content as its base. The dance follows the rhythmic, melodic and harmonic lines in the music.

Question 27

Musicality

Answer 27

An interpretation of the music’s structure, rhythm, mood and meaning by the dancer in performance.

Question 28

Mutual coexistence

Answer 28

Dance and music are created independently of each other but may share the same tempo, theme or directive

Question 29

Narrative

Answer 29

The music and dance express an idea or tell a story.

Question 30

Neuromuscular coordination

Answer 30

The synchronous working of muscles during complex movements.

Question 31

Physical skills

Answer 31

The skills required by a dancer to inform technique, for example strength, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance.

Question 32

Practitioner

Answer 32

A person actively engaged within the art form of dance, for example a performer or choreographer.

Question 33

Projection

Answer 33

The engagement of dancer’s whole self in the communication of he dance idea; a considered use of energy to attribute perceivable qualities to the movement content.

Question 34

Rondo

Answer 34

An ABACADA structure/form. The repetition of ‘A’ provides the recurring theme whilst the other sections provide the variety and contrast.

Question 35

Strength

Answer 35

The maximum force generated by a muscle against resistance in a single effort

Question 36

Safe practice

Answer 36

A full understanding and awareness of procedures which need to be implemented in relation to the development of skills either in a class, rehearsal or performance environment.

Question 37

Movement style

Answer 37

The specific choices and manipulation of the three movement components by a choreographer which when put together become a recurring and major element in the choreographic output

Question 38

Choreographic style

Answer 38

The consistent choices a choreographer makes in relation to all elements of choreography, for example subject matter and its treatment, use of choreographic devices, structuring, dancers, aural setting and physical setting.

Question 39

Subject matter

Answer 39

The theme(s), narrative and/or dance ideas associated with a specific piece of choreography

Question 40

Technical skills

Answer 40

The skills acquired by the dancer in training in order to present clear and precise movement in performance, utilising an awareness of control, alignment and physical articulation in relation to a specific genre and/or style.

Question 41

Ternary

Answer 41

An ABA structure/form which develops on from binary by providing a return to and reiteration of the opening statement. This is thus cyclic in nature.

Question 42

Theme and variation

Answer 42

An A, A1, A2, A3, etc structure/form. A theme is stated at the outset of the dance and the subsequent sections are all variations of this theme. The initial theme is not necessarily re-stated in its original form.