Read “Different types of choreography” below and state 3 characteristics of each type of choreography, Storyline, Theme, and Abstract. Well and complet ed answer needed! 400 wo r minimum
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Characteristics of three different types of choreography
Storyline
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Theme
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Abstract
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Different types of choreography
When you watch a dance piece, it is important to be able to identify the ideas behind it to understand the intention of the creator/choreographer. The first step in identifying these would be to specify the type of choreography.
As you learned, there are three types of choreographic styles: Storyline, Theme, and Abstract. I want to talk a little more about distinguishing the differences between these styles as you watch the dance pieces.
First, let’s talk about the Storyline. (It is one of the clearest and easiest types of choreography to identify and for audiences to recognize.) The characteristics of a Storyline choreography are;
The dance clearly conveys a story.
It progresses from situation A to B, etc.(Theatrical developments)
It leads to an eventual conclusion. (Theatrical developments triggered an outcome)
The most important thing to remember when you try to identify a specific type of choreography is to look at the dance piece as a whole. In other words, you must examine the whole dance, not just a part of it or some of the movements’ vocabularies.
To identify the type of choreography, you must recognize the overall idea that the creator is trying to convey to the audience rather than focusing on the meaning of isolated individual movements. It is a fact that all dance pieces have some abstract movements, but no matter how meaningless those movements may seem, you need to view them in the context of the overall idea presented through the dance as a whole.
I want to point out one thing: there may be some movements or sequences in a dance piece that seem to have no meaning or some part that appears to be “movement for movement’s sake,” even in a ballet such as “The Nutcracker” (which is clearly storyline choreography), partial abstract movements won’t determine the type of choreography as a whole. The Nutcracker is about two hours long, and there are numerous moments that the dance movements/ pieces that don’t present particular progress of the story nor present emotional progress. However, as a whole dance production, it conveys one story.
Another example is the Little swan quartet in Swan Lake. This one of the most famous dance pieces can be identified as an Abstract if you see the piece from the movements’ point of view. Other than the costume dancer’s wear, which indicates the cast’s character(swan), movements didn’t present any theatrical events or story. It is an interpretation of the little swan’s movements by the creator(But not everybody can see that in the movements). Unless you see this piece as a part of the Swan Lake production with the costume, it didn’t say any theme or story.
Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd2nTXsivHs
That is why you must see the dance as it’s entirely to determine the type of choreography. The type of choreography should always be determined by the entire dance, not the kind of movements or the segment of movements telling any story.
Please look at the following two videos. These are examples of why you should always look at the entire dance piece to determine the type of choreography, or you may not be able to assess it correctly.
Watch the video :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p34n0nEf4mI
Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-lfoMk12x4
It is called “Lost in Motion,” and one version is a whole piece, while the other is edited to cut out the last few seconds. When you look at this dance piece as a whole, it represents storyline choreography. However, suppose you look at the edited version. In that case, it is an abstract dance piece (the whole dance presents the story of a dancer who is lost in motion before going on stage in front of an audience. The edited version presents a dancer performing abstract choreography). The point is that every dance piece has segments or moments of movement for movement’s sake, but that doesn’t make the entire dance an abstract piece. The brief ending of the dancer walking toward the audience indicates that this is storyline choreography because whatever happened initially, he eventually walked out in front of the audience. The act of walking onstage indicates that there is theatrical development or conclusion, and two separate roles are presented in this dance. Those last few seconds make this dance piece a storyline. Without the ending, it is considered an abstract piece.
So when you view the dance, look at the whole piece and observe all its characteristics.
Also, movements or sequences of movements are not the only indicators of the type of choreography. Often the costumes, props, and lyrics can give viewers great clues, and the characteristics or elements of dance, such as repetition of movements or phrases, can also provide clues.
Sometimes it can be quite hard to distinguish between the choreographic types of storyline and theme because it depends on one’s ability to imagine or the depth of one’s life experiences. The same action can appear differently to dif fe rent people. Some people can crea te a whole story with just a simple walk across the stage.
No w , please look at the following video (Please watch all the way until the end!).
Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epp_FEQAb3Q
This is a storyline dance piece. A group of men walked to many places, and in the end, they all sat down and had tea. However, this would be considered a theme dance piece without the last scene, the theme being “Walking and going places as a group.” With the ending added, there is the theatrical development or conclusion: “They went many places, and at the end, they all sat together and sipped tea.” Many movements and segments in this dance seem pretty abstract and random, but considering it in its entirety, it is a storyline dance piece.
Of course, this dance is not just about the “Men who went to many places, and in the end, all sat together and sipped tea.” Many symbolic ideas were presented, such as creating movement as a group and specific cultural stereotypes about business people and timelines. These ideas add tremendous layers and richness and elevate this piece to more than just a simple story “They went many places, and at the end, all sat together and sipped tea.”
Before you can grasp the intentions of the creator of a dance piece, you will first need to identify the type of choreography used.
Now, let’s talk about the Theme type. The characteristics of a Theme choreography are;
It is “about something.”
It is not just movement for movement’s sake
it is not telling a story and doesn’t have a conclusion(No theatrical development or outcome)
There are two videos below, and both dances are about relationships. One is a storyline, and the other is a theme choreography. You can see theatrical development to create the reaction and outcome in one, and the other represents various situations and scenes of the relationship without clear theatrical developments. Both dealt with the same ideas to portray the love story in different types of choreography.
Watch the video: https:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyGQxsBwdv4
Watch the video: https://www.3cmediasolutions.org/privid/70776?key=b165569ccd6b528bc5c710d28f05bef82f2dff06
The bottom line is that you have to watch many different genres and types of dance pieces to be able to grasp the ideas clearly, just like when you watch paintings. You need to develop the eyes to be able to see the elements and essences that were conveyed and presented. I would like you to explore the big dance world to see what it offers for you to expand your horizon.
Now please look at the following video.
Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86I6icDKH3M
The movements seem so abstract and meaningless. Is this a Storyline, Theme, or Abstract type of choreography? The title is “Accumulation.” At first glance, it may seem like abstract choreography, but in actuality is a collection of sequential movements “accumulated” to create the whole. I want you to see the contents of the dance piece when you examine the type of choreography.
Now, look at this dance production, which consists of three parts.
Watch the video:
https://www.3cmediasolutions.org/privid/66534?key=60654e8e9c19b6db76bdc2794b1fc98e0217ac5d
It is easy for you to form many different storylines through this production. For example, the first section shows a black woman’s current condition or struggle; the second segment indicates the addiction and obstacles of life. The last part shows the triumph and overcoming obstacles in life. Many of you think that this is a Storyline choreography.
But this is a Theme type. Why? Each segment has some theatrical developments, clear emotional progress, etc. However, each section needed to be connected with reasons for development choreographically. What happened to this woman dancing about drug addiction from the first segment? How does she conclude and change into a triumphant mood from the second part to the last?
When you assess the type of choreography, it must be based strictly on the movements/choreography presented in the dance, and the assessment process must be objective. Otherwise, the type of choreography could be more concrete and objective.
The characteristics of an Abstract choreography are;
It doesn’t tell a story nor present any specific concept.
It is a dance presenting movement for movements’ sake.
An abstract dance doesn’t deal with any emotions or situations.
Here is a sample of abstract dance.
Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_71QxXuUS_k
