3/25/2026 - Week 11 / Meeting 19: 5 Rhythms / Review

REVIEW

 The 5Rhythms are:

1. Flowing 
In Flowing, you move by being fluid in your body. Flowing is intended to be the "pipeline to your inner truth." You are encouraged to follow the impulses of the flow of your energy. When you relax into the flow of your physical body, other pathways are then opened.

2. Staccato
In Staccato, you move in the power of your masculine energy. The music is typically percussive and strong to encourage a connection between you and the world. Staccato is considered "the gateway to the heart." You move with the part of you that stands up for what you care about, who you love, and what you love.

3. Chaos
In Chaos, you move to release your whole body. You let go of your head, spine, hips, and feet. The music is quick to encourage you to break free of your illusions and embody the beat. It is intended to take you on a path from "I can't" to "I will."

4. Lyrical
In Lyrical, you practice moving out of Chaos. Lyrical is meant to be physical, energetic, emotional, and a type of spiritual dancing rebirth. As you move to the music, you become lighter in your feet, like a hummingbird flying in the air while feeling grounded and empowered.

5. Stillness
In Stillness, you are instructed to move in slow motion—like Giant Galapagos Tortoise. When you move in Stillness, you use the accumulation of your bodies' life experiences to recognize your true wisdom. This movement ends with a sitting meditation, where you bring together the other 4 Rhythms in Stillness.(1)


 Unit: 5 Rhythms

Theme: Review


 I

  Introduction 

 Today we are reviewing the 5 Rhythms in movement and dance. Each rhythm adds to our movement vocabulary, increasing our possibilities to dance non stop.  Thus, we will immerse ourselves in the feeling of the music and let go to just dance, spontaneously, freely and without inhibitions.


II

Learning Objectives

 

  • Understand the ideas behind the 5 rhythms
  • Explain the sensations generated as a result of all 5 rhythms combined
  • Gain awareness of the use of the 5 rhythms when embodied fully without inhibitions
  • Experience solo and group dance dancing when combining all 5 rhythms
  • Reflect on the creative process at the end of the lesson

 

III

 WARM UP

Alignment

 

IV

 

 REVIEW

  • Your flow rhythm


  • Your staccato rhythm 


  • Your chaos rhythm  
    Cobus - Avenged Sevenfold - Critical Acclaim (Drum Cover
  •  
  •  
  • Your lyrical rhythm 


  • Your stillness rhythm 


Question 1

Are you able to remember the essence of each rhythm?
 

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

V
 
 5 RHYTHMS 

Review


5Rhythms Lucia Horan & Douglas Drummond

Question 2

How useful is it to see other people dancing the 5 rhythms in trying to acquire the necessary vocabulary to dance freely? Explain

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


Watch Video below and follow the instructions as you mix all the rhythms. (9:16 min)

Combine all 5 Rhythms

Gabrielle Roth - Power Wave Dance


Question 3

Has the concept of the 5 Rhythms helped you improvise? Explain

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

IV
 
 Combine all your phrases from beginning to end

Mix all the phrases you have explored so far and move freely from one to the other.

    • Theme  from your name
    • Theme from a current event
    • Theme from the animal exercise
    • Theme from your drawing
    • Your phrase on shapes
    • Your staccato rhythm phrase
    • Your chaos rhythm phrase
    • Your lyrical rhythm phrase
    • Your stillness rhythm phrase 

Question 4

Write a short reflection on the process ( what was difficult or easy and why; what did you feel).
 
 
V 
 
Activity 1

https://dancemusicresource.weebly.com/blog/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.

 
Activity 2
 

Following the guidelines on  IV, get together with your group and create a score that will help the group to find some cohesive way of organizing the final ensemble dance.

 

VI

 Journaling 

 

VII

Glossary

 

VIII

Sources

1. What is 5Rhythms.  https://www.syzygydanceproject.org/blog/what-is-5rhythmns

2. 10 Songs for Dance Improvisation

 https://dancemusicresource.weebly.com/blog/10-songs-for-dance-improvisation

 

IX

Students' Work

 

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