2/4/2026 - Week 4 / Meeting 7: The Movement / Theme and Variation

 

 

Unit: The Movement

Theme: Theme and Variation

 

I

Introduction

When improvising, it is possible to use a motif to derive a variety of movement choices. This is an easy and creative way to expand on one movement idea or dancing image or movement metaphor and never stop dancing due to lack of movement.

II 

Learning Objectives

 

• Understand the connection between themes and variations
  
• Explain the creative process involved in the emergence of a motif
  
• Gain awareness of the use of movement to expand on the motif
  
• Experience ensemble movement when integrating all the created phrases
• Reflect on the creative process at the end of the process
  

 

III

Warm Up

 Stretching

 

IV 

Main Lesson

 

 Review

Elements
Name Story
Narrative (Riots)
Anthropomorphic
 Body Shapes
Emotions

 Concepts:

To-go phrase
Score 

Question 1

Out of all the different ideas listed above, which one has given you the greater amount of freedom to improvise?

--------------------------------

Theme and Variation 

A choreographic form in which a dance phrase or section  of a dance is followed by subsequent phrases or sections that are variations of the original, usually for the sake of variety. 

Variation is the amount or degree of change of a form, a dance movement or movements.

In Dance Improvisation, we can use theme and variation to create variations of one move and make it look totally different than the  original.

Source: Dance Glossary

Question 2

 
Why is theme and variation a good tool to improvise dance?

 --------------------

Possible Variations 

SPACE

1. Directions

2. Levels
3. Size 
4. Focus

TIME

5. Speed (fast or slow)

 

 

6. Rhythm (beat, pattern and tempo)

FORCE

7. Energy (sudden or sustained)
8. Flow (bound or Free)
9. Weight (Strong or Light)

Source: The Elements of Dance 

Question 3

Out of the possible variations listed above, which one do you tend to use in your dance moves and why?

 

 ----------------------

 

 

V

 

Read the Article

 

The Moment of Movement: Dance Improvisation 

Introduction 

(Page x) on "fusing creation with execution"

Lynne Ann Bloom and L. Tarin Chaplin

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Moment_Of_Movement/kckFbAFDE70C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Art,+Music+and+Dance+Improvisation&printsec=frontcover

Bloom L. A. and Tarin Chaplin, L. (1988). The Moement of Movement: Dance Improvisation. University of Pittsburgh Press

 

VI

 

A Note to Remember

 

 A motif is the earliest stage of development of a theme or composition; a movement starting point which gives the first element of form to the dance/work. It is the driving force behind all phrases within the dance. It can be a movement or a series of movements that clearly relates to the concept/intent.

 

 

VII

 

Case Study

 

Dance Comp. Class: Theme in unison, then one variation. Use Balanescu Quartet as background music.

 

VIII

ACTIVITY 

10 Songs for Dance Improvisation 

Play the songs collected in the link above and dance each one of them. 

Choose one move you like in each one and add the possible variations listed above.

To end:

Choose your favorite move of all the moves you have explored and add the 9 variations listed above.

Assignment

Write a reflection about your experience in class today.

  IX

 

Journaling

 

 

X

 

Glossary

 

 

XI

 

Sources

 

Motif Development. Organizing Movement. https://sites.google.com/education.nsw.gov.au/hscdance/core-composition-part-1/organising-movement

 

XII

 

Students' Work 

 

2/4 Sofia Yarosh

 

 

1.
Body shapes have given me the greatest amount of freedom to improvise because they allow me to focus on form rather than meaning right away. Exploring shapes lets me move between abstract and expressive movement without feeling restricted by a story or emotion. I can continuously shift levels, directions, and size, which helps the improvisation feel open-ended and fluid.

2.
Theme and variation is a useful tool for dance improvisation because it offers structure while still allowing creativity. Beginning with a single motif gives the dancer a foundation to return to, making it easier to generate new movement ideas without losing direction. Variations help transform one movement into many possibilities, which keeps the improvisation cohesive rather than repetitive or random.

3.
I tend to use variations in space and time the most, particularly changes in level, direction, and speed. These variations feel intuitive and easy to access while improvising. By altering how fast a movement is performed or where it exists in space, I can dramatically change the quality of a phrase while maintaining a connection to the original motif.