Elements of Dance, Technique, and Performance
Domain 1 tests how candidates name, execute, and perform movement: the elements of dance, safe and efficient technique, and expressive performance.
Elements of dance (BEST)
- Body: whole body and parts, shape (curved, angular, twisted), body bases, and relationships such as over/under, mirroring, leading/following.
- Energy (dynamics): force, flow (bound/free), weight, attack (sharp/sustained), and qualities such as percussive, swinging, vibratory, and suspended.
- Space: level, direction, pathway (straight, curved, zigzag), size, focus, formations, and personal versus general space.
- Time: beat, tempo, duration, meter, accent, rhythmic pattern, and phrasing.
Technique rules
Align ears over shoulders over hips over ankles; support turnout from the hip, not the feet; use plié as a shock absorber; transfer weight through a controlled center; breathe with the phrase. A warm-up raises core temperature and rehearses movement patterns; a cool-down restores range and heart rate. Somatics such as Alexander, Feldenkrais, and Bartenieff build efficient coordination and reduce injury risk.
Performance
Projection, focus, musicality, dynamic contrast, phrasing, spatial awareness, stamina, and quick recovery sell a dance. Characterization must serve the choreographer’s intent, not decorate it.
Worked example
A dancer over-rotates a pirouette and falls off balance. Reason: the spot arrives late, the passé is not held at the knee, the supporting leg lacks a strong relevé, and the torso leans. Correction: spot first, set the passé, press through the floor, and stack the ribs over the hips. The element affected is space (alignment/focus) and time (spotting rhythm), not energy.
Traps
Do not use “energy” as a synonym for tempo; level is not direction; turnout does not originate in the ankles; technique and performance quality are scored separately; skip safety and you lose applied marks.