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4-Square Form How do the dancers use their bodies? Body parts most
4-Square Form
How do the dancers use their bodies?
Body parts most often in use
torso (chest, hips) legs feet
arms shoulders hands head
Shape of body
angles curves straight twisted
same on both sides
different on both sides
Moving one body part at a time
Moving in place
bending stretching twisting
Movement that travels
walk hop jump slide leap
other (describe):__________________
How do the dancers move?
Movement elements
with power / with little power
surprisingly
continuously
looking/moving in one direction /
looking/moving in more than one direction Controlled/ Uncontrolled
Speed of movement
Fast / medium / slow
Are any movements accented or emphasized?
Yes / No
How long do the movements last?
Long / medium / short
Are there repeated rhythmic patterns?
Yes / No
Types of movements include
suspended shaking swinging
percussive collapsing vibratory
other:___________________________
How do the dancers use the space around them?
Size of movement
large medium small
Body levels
low middle high
Movement done close to the body
Movement done far from the body
Dancers stand
in circles in squares in lines
scattered (spread out)
Foot patterns traced on the floor
curved straight circular
Directions in which dancers travel
forward sideways
backward diagonal
What are the dancers’ relationships to each other?
Dancers dance
alone in partners
in groups (trio, quartet, etc.)
Dancers relate to
other dancer(s) object audience
Dancers’ relationships to each other are mostly
over under around through
in front behind beside
near each other far from each other
Contact between and among dancers
touching holding
supporting each other’s weight
lifting each other
other: __________________________________
From H. Scheff, M. Sprague, and S. McGreevy-Nichols, 2010, Exploring dance forms and styles: A guide to concert, world, social, and historical dance (Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics)

