The choice will depend on the movement explorations in which the students are engaged. For information on the elements and middle years students, please see Appendix A. Introduce students to the composition principles of contrast, repetition, sequencing and development, transition, unity and variety. Inform students that the principles are devices which choreographers use to sequence their movements into dances. Make connections between principles of composition in dance and composition in the literary arts. Have students create short dance studies exploring the principles of composition.
Students can sequence the various movements into dance phrases of various lengths.
Guide students as they reflect on their own and their peers' dance studies. Explain that when choreographers create dances, they do not always set out to create a dance with a specific form. Sometimes the form of the dance evolves from the choreographer's ideas and the ways they develop their ideas. However, in order to learn about form, it is helpful to create dance studies with a specific form. Have students create dance studies exploring various choreographic forms.