Download Understanding Context in Dance: The Role of Movements and Circumstances and more Exercises Dance in PDF only on Docsity! Understanding Context in the National Core Arts Standards for Dance Context Dance is a kinesthetic art form where imagination, ideas, and meaning are translated into movement. How are the movements of a dance perceived? How does a viewer “read”’ a dance? What is the meaning of the movement? What does one look at, or what should one look for when looking at a dance? How does context inform dance? Context is often thought of in terms of written or spoken language. It defines the circumstances or setting in which words are written or spoken which give specific meaning to text. Context also refers to the words or phrases that come before or after particular words, therefore giving specific meaning or nuance to words to more accurately communicate intent and thought. Dance is to be understood in much the same way. Dance is text just like words are text; however, dance is non- print text. In dance, movements act as words. Dance is like written or spoken languages where a series of selected words create sentences. In dance, a series of selected movements create phrases, and a series of phrases create dances. Every spoken or written word is done so within a context. Words hold particular meaning and are used to communicate thoughts and ideas. Words can explain factual informational or be used to tell a story from someone’s life experience or from their imagination. Dance uses movement to communicate thoughts and ideas, too, to tell stories or show imagination. It is important to mention that not all dances are created to relate personal ideas or stories. Sometimes a “lack of meaning” in a dance may be its entire reason for being. Dance is created for many reasons—an abstract dance or pure movement-based, non-narrative dance is as relevant or legitimate as dance that tells a story or strives to communicate a message that is personal or universal. Sometimes the whole “meaning” of a dance is simply to create a series of movements that happen to be performed simultaneously but with no particular relation to each other beyond existing in the same time and space. Dance is a language made up of movement. To understand dance, context must be considered. Each dance is created based on a particular set of circumstances. The viewer must consider these circumstances if they are to bring meaning to a dance. Sometimes, the audience may be informed about the dance through program notes which give context for the viewer provided by the choreographer. More often, the viewer is left to figure things out on their own. Considering context will help bring understanding to the dance. Dance may be contextualized through historical, societal, cultural, and personal circumstances. Whether viewing dance on a concert stage performed by professional dancers or watching children dance spontaneously to music in the park, every dance is defined in some way by context. Below is an excerpt about context in relation to written work. Consider how this is the same for viewing dance; transfer the concept of words, paragraphs, and stories into the language of dance (movement, phrases, and dances) and convert the “reader” to the “viewer.”
