Making: Choreography, Performance, and Production Elements
Core Concepts
In the Making domain, you must understand how choreography, performance, and production elements work together to create a dance work. Choreography involves the intentional selection and arrangement of movement using the elements of dance: space, time, dynamics, relationships, and body. You need to know how to manipulate these elements to communicate intent, and how to structure a dance using devices such as motif, repetition, variation, contrast, and transition. Performance encompasses the dancer's execution, including alignment, coordination, stamina, projection, and musicality, as well as the ability to interpret choreographic intent safely and expressively. Production elements include staging, lighting, sound, costume, and set design; you must understand how these support and enhance the choreographic concept, and how they can be integrated to create a cohesive work.
Traps in Questions
A common trap is confusing choreographic devices with production elements. For example, a question might ask how a choreographer used 'repetition' and students incorrectly discuss lighting changes. Another trap is describing performance skills without linking them to the communication of intent. Questions often ask you to explain, not just list, so you must articulate how choices affect the audience. Also, be careful not to overgeneralise: 'the costume was nice' is insufficient; you need to say how the costume's colour, fabric, or design supported the theme or character.
Worked Example
Question: Explain how one production element was used to enhance the choreographic intent in a work you have studied. Rule of thumb: Name the element, describe its specific use, and link it to the intent. For instance: 'In the work, the lighting design used a narrow spotlight that followed the soloist, isolating her from the ensemble. This emphasised the character's sense of alienation, which was the choreographer's intent.' Notice the specific detail and the clear link to intent.