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)



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 


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 

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