A Sense of Dance: Exploring Your Movement Potential

A Sense of Dance: Exploring Your Movement Potential, Second Edition, is written for true beginners—students who are exploring the art form for the first time and are not likely to describe themselves as dancers. Through this text, students discover that dance is an accessible art form that can bring greater self-awareness and self-confidence. It helps new dancers learn how to express themselves through dance. This second edition, based on an already-successful textbook, features three new chapters that add even more depth to the topics covered. The chapters address the power of dance through time and place, culture, and community; a sense of style; and patterns of coordination. Like the first edition, this empowering text uses an interactive approach to invite students to learn about dance through everyday experiences, personal observations, and guided experiences. The following are some of the special elements in the text: - “Inside Insights” encourage students to reflect on interesting observations that may affect their movement and expression. -“Try This Experiment” exercises are guided physical explorations of concepts in the text that help students become more kinesthetically aware of their movements and discover new ways of moving. -“Think About It” sections require students to reflect on how they can apply the information presented. These considerations provide good material for journal entries. -“Your Turn to Dance” provides two opportunities per chapter for students to work in small groups to discover movement possibilities, solve problems, and hone their observation and evaluation skills. These become springboards for choreography that reinforces the concepts in the chapter—and provide another adventure of exploring movement potential. The author uses a basic movement vocabulary that you can use to describe and evaluate movement possibilities, improve sensitivity when working in groups, develop critical-thinking skills, and express ideas and emotions through movement. The book also contains these features designed to help students personalize and interact with the content: -Short quizzes -Highlight boxes -Self-assessment exercises -Updated, easy-reference index Whatever your students' level of artistic awareness, this engaging text will inspire innovation and help you guide students in the discovery of their own creativity and sense of dance.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgments Part I An Invitation to the Dance Chapter 1 What Is Dance? You Are Always Moving To Dance Is Phenomenal Talking About Dancing Why Study Dance? Think About It Your Turn to Dance Chapter 2 The Power of Dance Why Dance? Different Reasons Make Different Dances Social Dances: Definitions and History Ballet: Definitions and History Modern Dance: Definitions and History Jazz and Its Cousins, Tap and Musical Theater: Definitions and History World Dance Think About It Your Turn to Dance Chapter 3 How Do You Learn to Dance? Learning to Dance and Learning About Dance Fundamental Movement Experiences What Does It Mean? Training, Exploring, and Forming Your Own Style Think About It Your Turn to Dance Chapter 4 Your Moving Body The Body Is an Instrument Moving Through Space Space, Place, and Body Holds Realizing the Potential of Your Instrument Basic Anatomy Accepting and Training Your Body Think About It Your Turn to Dance Part II The Laws of (Loco) Motion Chapter 5 The Elements of Dance Dance Elements in Daily Life Applying Elements to Dance Training and Choreography Think About It Your Turn to Dance Chapter 6 Time The Basics of Time Using Time As a Choreographic Tool Think About It Your Turn to Dance Chapter 7 Space Level Shape Direction Dimension Perspective Focus Developing Interpersonal Spatial Awareness Applying Spatial Awareness to Dance Think About It Your Turn to Dance Chapter 8 Effort Finding the Inner Impulse There Is Effort in Every Human Movement Forces That Affect Movement Effort That Reflects These Forces Integrating Inner and Outer Forces Your Best Effort Think About It Your Turn to Dance Part III The Sense of Movement Chapter 9 Body Intelligence Examining Intelligence Body Intelligence Development of Body Intelligence Body Intelligence and Dance Think About It Your Turn to Dance Chapter 10 Your Sense of Style Patterns Make Sense What Are We Looking at Here? What's in a Name? Toward a New Vocabulary of Style Eastern Versus Western Style Body–Mind Comes West Think About It Your Turn to Dance Chapter 11 Patterns of Coordination and Style Style and Cultural Code Coordination Patterns Help Us Discuss Style What's Your Home Base? Patterns of Coordination Integrate Body With Mind Think About It Your Turn to Dance Part IV The Politics of Dancing Chapter 12 Making a Statement Through Dance “Movement Resources I Have Known” “Composition Strategies I Have Known” Getting Started Six Stages of the Creative Process Think About It Your Turn to Dance Chapter 13 Composition Function Materials Audience Arranger or Composer? The Discovery of Form Principles of Composition How to Make a Dance Think About It Your Turn to Dance Chapter 14 Is This Dance Good? The Creative Act Words of Criticism Recognizing, Interpreting, and Creating Relevance What Does This Dance Have to Do With Me? A Reporter's Evaluation Is This a Good Dance? Think About It Your Turn...to Talk! Photo Credits Index About the Author