Elements of Dance
Elements of Dance at Each Level
Within each dance in the Official Syllabi published on this website, each level of dance – Bronze, Silver, Gold – has defined elements and restrictions that are designed to create a proper progression through increasingly complex concepts of dancing.
The following list, created by Ava Kaye and Beth Knoll, touches on a few applicable ideas/ elements to be taught at each level. We hope and believe this information may be a helpful resource to you in your teaching and in your dancing.
Bronze
- To teach proper body alignment and balance
- To teach moving the weight from foot to foot consistently through the dancing of uncomplicated patterns
- To teach the fundamental basic movements of each dance
- To unify the body and teach core strength
- To introduce transitions of frame at fundamental levels
Silver
- To introduce complex body positions
- To advance the use of swing and shape
- To develop the ability to dance complex rhythms and syncopations
- To increase the ability to turn and spin
- To introduce body isolations while in movement without disturbing core strength
- To introduce transitions of more complex frames
Gold
- To learn to change inside and outside of curve with greater frequency and rapidity
- To incorporate line figures and more complex rhythms into the dance
- To change direction with alacrity by increasing an understanding of body weight
- To use more extreme body positions to create greater risk in the dance
- To learn to move the whole body through isolations to create greater speed and strength
- To increase understanding of complex frame and body position transitions
The Purpose of Open Dance
- To encourage flexibility with timing and patterns
- To explore new movement and shapes
- To freely express emotion through dance
- To break the rules!
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