Dance Vocabulary

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Across
  1. 2. A leap from one foot to the other
  2. 4. Spontaneous movement creation
  3. 7. A stylized walk with rhythm
  4. 8. Reaching or lengthening of a limb or the body.
  5. 14. Movement performed on or close to the floor, incorporating rolls,slides, and transitions.
  6. 15. A four-step movement creating a square
  7. 18. A kick followed by a quick weight shift
  8. 21. Freezing briefly after a fast movement
  9. 22. To stretch
  10. 24. A breath-like quality with weight held momentarily
  11. 25. Battement Large beating
  12. 27. Basic movement pattern that gives a feel to the dance
  13. 28. The positioning of body parts in relation to each other.
  14. 31. Creating a flowing wave-like motion through the body
  15. 32. Contracting muscles to create a "pop" in the body
  16. 35. A half turn on two feet
  17. 36. A pendulum-like movement
  18. 37. To chase
  19. 40. A rhythmic up-and-down movement
  20. 43. Moving one part of the body independently
  21. 44. A linking step
  22. 46. A smooth gliding movement
  23. 47. Includes top rock, down rock, freezes, and power moves
  24. 49. Twisting movement of the spine
  25. 50. To melt
  26. 53. Clarity and precision in how joints or body parts move.
  27. 54. How movement is structured and timed, like a sentence in dance.
Down
  1. 1. Improvised dance movement
  2. 3. de jambe Circle of the leg
  3. 5. Letting go of tension to move freely; often contrasted with contraction.
  4. 6. The part of the body that starts the movement.
  5. 9. The pattern a movement or dancer follows through space.
  6. 10. Energetic, expressive street-style movement
  7. 11. A quick weight shift
  8. 12. Rapid shoulder shaking
  9. 13. A spinal articulation movement
  10. 16. Geometric arm and hand movements
  11. 17. To disengage
  12. 19. To glide
  13. 20. A swing-style jazz step
  14. 23. A turn on one leg
  15. 26. To strike
  16. 29. A sense of weight and connection to the floor.
  17. 30. Tightening of the muscles, often of the core; associated with Martha Graham technique
  18. 33. Letting the body fall with gravity
  19. 34. Mechanical, staccato movements
  20. 37. Focusing on core strength and control.
  21. 38. Movement between giving into gravity (falling) and regaining control (recovering); associated with Doris Humphrey.
  22. 39. To pass (often used in turning)
  23. 41. To assemble
  24. 42. A position with one leg extended behind
  25. 45. In the shape of a cross (front, side, back, side)
  26. 48. A position where the torso is bent forward at 90°
  27. 51. To bend
  28. 52. A kick that crosses the body in an arc
  29. 55. The central line around which movement occurs; balance and alignment.