NCEA L1 Dance key terms

Any movement that travels the dancer from one place to another, such as walking, running, jumping, hopping, skipping, sliding, galloping or leaping across the floor.

Movement performed in one place without travelling, such as bending, twisting, stretching, swinging, rising, falling, turning on the spot or gesturing.

The part or parts of the body in contact with the floor that support the dancer's weight, for example feet, knees, hips, hands, shoulders or back.

A state in which the dancer's weight is controlled and stable over the body base, either held still or sustained while moving.

The controlled shift of body weight from one body part or foot to another, which underpins travelling, stepping and many transitions in a dance sequence.

The arrangement of body parts in relation to each other and to gravity, so that the skeleton is stacked efficiently and movement is safe and clear.

The overall position and carriage of the body, including the spine, head and shoulders, which affects how movement looks and how safely it is performed.

The control provided by the muscles around the torso, which stabilises the body and supports balance, turns and controlled limb movement.

The lengthening or straightening of a body part away from the body's centre, creating long lines and reaching shapes in movement.

The bending or shortening of a body part at a joint, drawing it closer to the body's centre, as in bending the knee or elbow.

Moving one body part independently while the rest of the body stays still or unaffected, for example a head slide or a shoulder roll.

A movement of a body part, especially the hands, arms or head, that communicates an idea, feeling or action without the whole body travelling.

The use of the face to show emotion, intention or character, which contributes to how an audience reads the mood of a dance.

The direction in which a dancer looks or directs attention, guiding the audience's eye and showing relationships between dancers or to a point in space.

The route a dancer travels through space, such as a straight line, curve, zigzag, circle or spiral, either on the floor or through the air.

The design a dancer or group traces on the floor over a sequence, for example a diagonal, a circle or a figure eight.

The arrangement of dancers in relation to one another on stage, such as a line, circle, wedge, duo or scattered group.

The height at which movement occurs, usually described as low, middle or high, and used to create variety and contrast in a dance.

The way a movement or body part faces or travels, such as forward, backward, sideways, upward, downward or diagonally.

The area in which a dancer moves, including the personal bubble around the body and the general space shared with other dancers.

The element of dance concerned with when movement happens, including speed, duration, rhythm, accent and stillness.

The pattern of beats and durations in movement, often linked to music or to a spoken count, giving dance its sense of timing.

A stronger or sharper emphasis placed on a particular movement or beat, making it stand out against the surrounding flow.

A deliberate pause in which the dancer holds a position without moving, used for contrast, tension or emphasis.

How movement is performed in terms of energy and force, described with words such as sharp, smooth, heavy, light, sustained, percussive or swinging.

The quality and amount of force or effort put into a movement, which shapes whether it appears explosive, gentle, tense or relaxed.

How movement connects and continues, ranging from free and continuous to bound and controlled, affecting the overall smoothness of a phrase.

A short, memorable movement phrase that is repeated, varied or developed within a dance to build structure and meaning.

A connected sequence of movements that forms a unit within a dance, often several counts or breaths long, comparable to a sentence in speech.

The link or passage between two movements, phrases or formations, which keeps a dance flowing and shows how sections connect.

Performing the same movement or phrase again, used to reinforce a motif, build pattern or make meaning clearer for the audience.

Deliberately placing opposite qualities side by side, such as fast and slow, high and low, or sharp and smooth, to create interest and clarity.

Two or more dancers performing the same movement at the same time, creating a unified and powerful visual effect.

A device in which dancers perform the same movement one after another, staggered in time, creating a rippling or overlapping effect.

Dancing with others, requiring awareness of shared space, timing and relationships such as leading, following, lifting, mirroring or supporting.

Using the body as a percussion instrument through claps, stamps, slaps and clicks, often combined with dance to create rhythm.

Creating movement spontaneously in response to a stimulus, task or musical prompt, without pre-planned choreography.

The process of selecting, arranging and structuring movement into a dance with a clear beginning, development and ending.

The overall organisation of a dance, including its sections, order, repetition and climax, which gives the work shape and coherence.

The starting idea, image, story, sound or feeling that inspires a dance and shapes its movement choices.

The purpose or message a choreographer and dancers aim to communicate through a dance, guiding choices of movement, music and staging.

The ideas, feelings or story an audience takes from a dance, shaped by movement choices, context and the viewer's own experience.

The process of reading and explaining what a dance communicates, supported by evidence from the movement itself rather than guesswork alone.

Breaking a dance into its parts, such as movement, space, time and energy, to explain how it works and what it communicates.

The core components used to describe and analyse movement: body, space, time, energy and relationships between dancers.

The features of a performance, such as energy, focus and dynamics, that convey feeling and make the movement communicate to an audience.

The performer's ability to send energy, focus and intention outward so the dance reaches and holds the attention of the whole audience.

The standard of a dancer's execution and expression, including accuracy, clarity, commitment, musicality and connection with the audience.

The dancer's sensitivity to music, showing timing, phrasing, accent and dynamic response so movement and sound work together.

A story told through movement, where characters, events or a sequence of ideas are communicated across the dance.

Dance that communicates ideas, moods or patterns rather than telling a literal story, leaving more room for the audience to interpret.

The central idea or subject explored in a dance, such as conflict, connection, loss, celebration or identity, developed through movement.

The overall feeling or atmosphere a dance creates, built through choices of energy, speed, music, lighting and spatial design.

How dancers connect and interact on stage, such as leading, following, mirroring, supporting or opposing, which carries meaning for the audience.

The people watching a performance, whose attention, expectations and responses shape how a dance is received and understood.

The person who creates, selects and arranges the movement and structure of a dance, and who guides its intended meaning.

The range of movements a dancer or choreographer knows and can use, which provides the raw material for creating and performing dance.

The visual shape created by the body or a group of bodies in space, which can be long, curved, angular or broken and affects how movement reads.