1/28/2026 - Week 3 / Meeting 6:The Body / Body Shapes

 

Unit: The Body

Theme: Body Shapes

 

I

Introduction

Body shapes, as a tool of improv dance, is one of the easiest ways of creating movement vocabulary. Today we will cover different ideas to generate body shapes at random.The idea is that the dancer does not stop generating dance movement since all dance is a non-stop sequence shapes.

II 

Learning Objectives

 

• Understand the connection between body and shapes
  
• Explain the creative process involved when using geometric, gestural and other abstract shapes
  
• Gain awareness of the use of movement to transition from shape to shape
  
• Experience ensemble movement when integrating multiple shapes
  
• Reflect on the creative process at the end of the process
  

 

III

Warm Up

 Stretching

 

IV 

Main Lesson

 

1

 Body Storming

lines, triangles, squares, circles (feet, legs, arms)

 

2

Videos 

 

SHAPES

 

 

Question 1

 

Write your reflections on the above videos.

 

 3

There are 5 Basic Body Shapes:

WIDE

NARROW

ANGULAR

ROUND

TWISTED

COMBINED

ANGULAR LEGS / WIDE ARMS

NARROW ARMS WITH ANGULAR LEGS

WIDE ANGULAR AND ROUND

ANGULAR AND WIDE

 

Question 2

 

When thinking about these shapes listed above, which are your favorite shapes and why?

 

 4

Link:
Shape as an Aspect of Space

Body shapes are present in all actions in dance. Shapes in dance convey meaning. There are many types of shapes: shapes with straight lines and angles • curving or organic shapes • open and closed shapes • symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes • harmonious and contrasting shapes • centered and off-centre shapes.

 

Question 3

Which shapes mentioned above do you relate to in dance? Explain.

 

 5

 

 The Nikolais/Louis Dance Technique

 (Page 36 / second column first paragraph)

Question 4

Summarize the tips given to teachers and students about dance improvisation by listing at least 3 tips.

6

 

Article on Improvisation

 

 I Want to Be Ready: Improvised Dance as a Practice of Freedom

Introduction 

(Page 4) on "practices of freedom"

Danielle Goldman

 https://www.google.com/books/edition/I_Want_to_Be_Ready/YCbXr-nFHccC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Art,+Music+and+Dance+Improvisation&printsec=frontcover

Goldman, Danielle (2010). I Want to Be Ready: Improvised Dance as a Practice of Freedom. University of Michigan Press

Question 5

 

 

 

Read paragraphs 2,3 and 4 (Page 4) and express your ideas about the political application of improvisation? Illustrate your ideas by connecting them to the piece "I Want to be Ready" shown in the video above.

V

Case Studies

 

1

Gillian Rhodes

 

Gillian Rhodes is an American performing artist and storyteller. She graduated with a degree in dance from Columbia University and has since spent ten years performing, teaching, and choreographing across Asia, in Cambodia, South Korea, and now Pakistan.

 

Basic Improvisation Score and Examples: Shapes 

"An improvisation score is a set of rules that you set to help you know what to do while improvising. In this series I'm giving you some examples of scores and what they might look like. Your goal should not be to copy these movements, but see how I am using the prompt of shapes in a variety of ways. Then, you can try to find your own ways of creating shapes with your body. Circles and squares are the easiest, you can also add lines and angles." Gillian Rhodes

 Question 6

In which way can body shapes help the dancer in the process of dance improvisation? 

 2

Body Awareness and Freedom in Movement

Question 7

Body parts are a great reference when improvising dance right on the spot. Explain.

 

 VI

Activities

 1

 

Solo & Ensemble

Choose the shapes that are most significant to you and create a score in which you use new movements phrases.

Dance the phrase to a piece of music of your choice.

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2

Exploration of shapes by progressively moving feet, arms and other body parts tracing the shape of circles, squares, triangles and lines.

Individual explorations and group explorations.

 

Moving with music.

3

 

Embodying shapes as the body moves across the room. Work individually and in groups. Whole group moves like a cluster.

Moving with music.

 

Music

VII

 Journaling

 

VIII

Glossary

 

IX

Sources

 

X

Students' Work

Academic

 

 

Oliver Swiezy

Question 1

The videos showed me that movement can come directly from body shapes without needing set choreography. What stood out was how the dancers flowed from one shape into the next without pausing to plan, which kept everything continuous. The shapes created a kind of framework, but the movement still felt natural and expressive. It made improvisation seem more approachable and less overwhelming.

Question 2

I’m most drawn to round and twisted shapes because they feel the most comfortable and expressive for me. Rounded shapes create a sense of smoothness and ease, while twisted shapes bring in more intensity and energy, almost like a push and pull. I also enjoy combining different shapes since it adds contrast and makes the movement more engaging.

Question 3

I connect most with organic, uneven, and off-balance shapes. Movements that aren’t perfectly centered or symmetrical feel more real to me, and I find it easier to express myself that way. These kinds of shapes let me explore shifts in balance, weight, and direction in a way that feels more genuine and less rigid.

Question 4

Three key ideas from the Nikolais/Louis Dance Technique about improvisation are:

• Prioritize movement itself instead of focusing on storytelling or personal meaning.
• Work with elements like space, time, and shape rather than relying only on emotion.

Question 5

Goldman refers to improvisation as a “practice of freedom” because it encourages the body to respond in the moment instead of following strict patterns. From a political perspective, this can represent pushing back against control and structure. In I Want to Be Ready, improvisation reflects independence and adaptability, showing how dancers can stay flexible and present rather than confined to one fixed way of moving.

Question 6

Body shapes support improvisation by giving dancers a starting point and a sense of direction. Instead of feeling stuck, shapes act as guides that can lead to many different movement options. They make improvisation easier by offering structure while still leaving room for creativity.

Question 7

Focusing on different body parts helps dancers stay connected to the moment while improvising. Paying attention to areas like the arms, legs, or torso allows movement to happen more naturally without overthinking. It also builds awareness of the body and helps movement come from physical sensation instead of pre-planned ideas.

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-

Noah Yi

1.  After watching the video, what stands out is how dancers translate the qualities of movement (weight, stillness, rhythm, flow) into something more expressive. The movements their bodies take feel both intentional and organic. 

2. Out of the five basic body shapes, angular and twisted stand out the most. Angular shapes feel powerful and deliberate. The sharp lines created by bent joints give a sense of tension which resemble the body is actively resisting itself in space. Twisted shapes are interesting because even when you're barely moving, your body still looks like it's full of energy as if you're about to do something. Both of these shapes feel more exciting to me than simple straight or wide ones because they create more visual tension.

3. I relate most to asymmetrical and open shapes. Asymmetrical shapes feel more real and natural because most people don't move in perfectly even and matching ways. Open shapes feel like the dancer is reaching out and connecting with the space around them, which makes the movement feel more expressive and genuine. Together these two make dance look less rehearsed and more in the moment.

4.

* Let the body lead, not the mind. The book says to have the dancer listen to their body and wait for the first movement to come naturally. 

* Start simple, then build. Teachers are encouraged to begin with a small, simple shape or movement and then gradually add other body parts and move into space. 

* Remove fear and self-consciousness. One of the biggest challenges of improvisation is privacy and insecurity. Teachers should encourage students to respond to their internal feelings without restraint or fear of judgment, so the movement can feel genuine and free.

5. Goldman's main idea is that freedom isn't something you just have, it's something you have to keep practicing. She argues that improvisation in dance is one way of doing that, because it trains you to stay alert, respond in the moment, and keep moving no matter what. This connects directly to the video, where a solo dancer spends the entire piece reaching upward and fighting against being pushed down. The struggle never stops. As an African American artist during the Civil Rights era, Ailey used that image of a Black man constantly reaching and refusing to give up as a political statement. The dance isn't just movement, it's a physical practice of freedom.

6. 

Body shapes give you something to focus on when you don't know what to do next. Instead of trying to come up with a whole dance in your head, you can just think about what shape your body is making and what shape it could move into next. It keeps the movement going without overthinking it.

7. Focusing on individual body parts is a great way to improvise because it gives you a simple starting point. Instead of trying to move your whole body at once, you can just pick one part like your shoulder, knee, or hand and let it lead the movement. This helps you discover new ways of moving that you wouldn't normally think of, and it keeps your dancing from feeling repetitive or too familiar.