3/18/2026 - Week 10 / Meeting 17: 5 Rhythms / Lyrical

 

 


REVIEW

1. The five rhythms method is a movement method opened to anyone and everyone.

2. The dance is comprised of 5 rhythms which allow dancers to identify and release obstructions in life.

3. The sequence of the rhythms creates a wave that allows the dancer to reach a point of inner stillness.

The five rhythms or levels are: flow, staccato, chaos, lyrical and stillness.

a) Flow is dancing at the level of unconsciousness. The unconscious mind consists of the processes in the mind that occur automatically and are not available to introspection, and include thought processes, memory, affect, and motivation.So flow is dancing automatically, with all we are or have become, with all our baggage. In Gabrielle Roth's words it is the "wild flower." (The term was coined by German philosopher Friedrich Schelling).

  • In class, we used the Yang style 24 movement form to illustrate qualities of flow that could inform the movement vocabulary of the dancers (My sources are the Taoist Tai Chi Society and Master G. Rubio).

b) Staccato is dancing at the subconscious level. The subconscious is that part of consciousness that is not currently in focal awareness. The dancer is just dancing and enjoying the dance without consciously processing in that moment what is going on, but he/she can recall the moment. (This term was coined by psychologist Pierre Janet).

  • In class, we used Yoruba/Afro-Cuban sources to stimulate percussive movements that could facilitate the dance (My sources are Juanita Baro, Neri Torres and Marisol Blanco).

 c) Chaos is when the dancer delves into the realm of intuitive dance. Often referred to as got feeling, intuition is a form of unconscious knowledge, unconscious cognition, inner sensing and inner insight to unconscious pattern-recognition that appears in consciousness without obvious deliberation. It is not magical but rather a faculty in which feeling or guess is generated by the unconscious mind rapidly sifting through past experience and cumulative knowledge. It is the the ability to understand something instinctively, without any need for conscious reasoning. In dance, chaos is manifested through jerks, spins and releases, taking movement over the edge, yet totally grounded in one's feet (Roth & London, 1998).

  • In class we use Skinner's Release Technique and Contact Improvisation Technique to generate jerks, spins and releases. (My sources are Keith Hennesy and Stephanie Skura)

References:

Roth, G. & London, J (1998). Maps to ecstasy: A healing journey. Nataraj Publishing

 

Question 1

Using your own words, summarize the meanings of the flow, staccato and chaos rhythms.


Unit: 5 Rhythms

Theme: Lyrical

 

I

Introduction

Continuing with our unit on the 5 Rhythms created by Gabrielle Roth, today, we will explore Lyrical. The term Lyrical Dance comes from the word “lyrical,” which means to have a poetic, expressive quality; expressing spontaneous feelings and deep personal emotions. Music used for Lyrical dance is usually emotionally charged and expressive and give dancers a chance to express a range of strong emotions through their dancing. Lyrical is often choreographed to a song about freedom or overcoming obstacles. Their movements attempt to show the meaning of the music. It is very passionate and can tell a story through movement. This style is becoming so popular because the audience can easily relate to the emotion of the dancer and the choreography. (1)

 


II 

Learning Objectives

 

  • Understand the ideas behind Lyrical rhythm
  • Explain the sensations generated as a result of Lyrical
  • Gain awareness of the use of embodied movement-meditation in letting go
  • Experience solo and group dance dancing Lyrical
  • Reflect on the creative process at the end of the lesson

 

 III

 We make a circle & do:

 WARM UP

Stretching 

 

https://youtu.be/4fezP875xOQ?si=oklTyohmQFzjUITg

 

Tai Chi 


 
IV
 
Main Lesson
 

1

  According to 5 Rhythms

Lyrical happens when the dancer reaches his imaginative self in a communicative and lyrical way. This means that the dancer spontaneously expresses feelings and deep personal emotions in a symbolic, abstract and metaphoric manner. It is, in Roth's own words a type of "luscious lingering" (Roth & London, 1998, p.33). It is manifested through movement that is richly verdant, opulent and sensuous.(2)

 

 Question 2

What is the main difference between the general concept of lyrical dance as a style and lyrical as one of the 5 Rhythms?

 

2

Duncan Style Phrasing

https://youtu.be/VCR2n-p7nNo?si=Q6fQJHeChOIbTR2N

  1.           Hand from solar plexus out
  2. Hands on rib cage and infinite sign, then shifting weight stepping sideways
  3. Swinging arms side to side below, side step
  4. swinging arms side to side above, side step
  5. Opening - to - close arms to go to the center of the circle
  6. Opening arms as you go back to the edge of the circle 
  7. Arms down to go up toward the center of the circle
  8. Arms up to go down toward the edge of the circle
 
 
 
 
https://youtu.be/XqsG56Pws20?si=K1PkYQMNCPxKt2sP
 
 Question 3

In which way is Duncan style phrasing  lyrical?

 

3

 

Lyrical Rhythm

A Reminder

 

VIDEO (29:38 min)

 5Rhythms of Dance -Gabrielle Roth


Soundtrack Lyrical


  
Lyrical - Five Rhythms Wave
 
 

Question 4

After dancing to the Lyrical Soundtrack above, following the demonstration in the video, what do you feel in your body? Use details such as breath, range of motion, mobility, rhythm, energy, etc.
 
 

---------------------------------------------
 
 
4
 
LINK


Page 33

Question 5
 
Please, click on the link above, and click on page 33 to summarize the  meaning of Lyrical Rhythm in dance improvisation according to Gabrielle Roth.


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

5
 
Five Scientific Steps

This is to honor the science minded students in our class.
The link below, explains how to become a better dancer just based on five basic ideas. 
 
Question 6
Please, explain how the steps mentioned above may relate to the way you move in space as you improvise dance.

7
 
Read the preface  of the book below.
 


Question 7

Summarize the preface of this book. Emphasize the benefits of  improvisation.

Choreography: A Basic Approach Using Improvisation 

Sandra Cerny Minton

Preface

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Choreography_4E/zGE1DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dance+Improvisation&printsec=frontcover 

Cerny Minton, Sandra (2018). Choreography: A Basic Approach Using Improvisation


--------------------------------
 
V
 
A Note to Remember
 This style is becoming so popular because the audience can easily relate to the emotion of the dancer and the his/her moving body.

VI

Case Study



Visualization

Energy Change

Change of levels (3)


Question 3

What is the purpose of this warm up according to David Gabriel?

 

 VII

 
ACTIVITY
 
 Movement Storming
 
Mirroring
Working in partners: Each student mirrors one specific student.They take turns in terms of who follows and who initiates the movement

Shadowing

One student at a time leads the group across the floor moving freely as the group shadows that one student. Each students has a chance to lead. (post-class reflection, try also slower moves)

Movement Phrase

3). Observe Video on Lyrical Rhythm
4). Create a new 8 moves phrase.
5). Add new phrase to previous phrases

6). Record phrase and post

Group Work

Students use their personal phrases and integrate them with the group dance improv.

 

VIII

Glossary

Lyrical: adjective. expressing deep emotion. “the dancer's lyrical performance”. synonyms: lyric · emotional. of more than usual emotion · adjective.

IX

Journaling

 

X

Sources

 

1. What is Lyrical Dance, and What is the Meaning Behind? Omaha School of Music and Dance. https://www.omahaschoolofmusicanddance.com/our-blog/lyrical-dance-meaning-lessons/

2. Roth, G. & London, J (1998). Maps to ecstasy: A healing journey. Nataraj Publishing

 3. Blom, L. A. (1988). The Moment of Movement. University of Pittsburgh Press. https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Moment_Of_Movement/

4. Christ in the Storm of the Sea of Galilee. https://www.museothyssen.org/en/collection/artists/brueghel-jan-elder/christ-storm-sea-galilee

5. Anonymous / 'Saint Sebastian', 17th century, Italian School, Canvas, 120 cm x 55 cm, P03293.https://pixels.com/featured/anonymous-saint-sebastian-17th-century-italian-school-canvas-120-cm-x-55-cm-p03293-anonymous.html


XI 

Students' Work

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