What is a MOTIF?
Motifs are a single movement or a short phrase of movement which expresses the style and intention of the dance. They are repeated, varied & developed by manipulating the movement. These manipulations usually involve some change in the movement parts of action, space, time or dynamics.
Below is a list of ways in which motifs can be developed
• Use different parts of the body.
• Alter the basic body posture, say from standing to lying, to sitting, to upside-down or twisted.
• Add or change the action
• Change the size
• Change the level
• Alter the focus
• Change the direction, dimension or plane
• Increase or decrease the tempo (make faster or slower)
• Vary the pattern of the beats of the rhythm.
• Change the accents.
• Retrograde – reverse the order of the movements.
• Change the dynamic or the quality.
• Fragment the motif – use only one part repeatedly or some parts only, or change the order of the parts.
• Alter any aspects of the physical setting.
• Mix bits from different motifs together.
• Combine any of the above.
Motif development is a way of producing a lot from a little, while also avoiding too much repetition – which may be boring for the audience. The phrases involved will also tend to lengthen into whole sections & organically provide logical development, contrasts and unity.
UNISON & CANON
Dancers moving in unison may do one of the following:
• The same movement at the same time
• Similar or complimentary movements at the same time
• Contrasting movements at the same time
Similarly, there are different types of canons:
A Simple Canon
Will be in strict order. Each dancer dances an entire motif, then keeps still while another dancer takes over. This is the simplest type of canon, and it may be made more interesting by allowing the dancer’s timings to overlap so that the dancers are always a few counts behind each other. This places demands on the dancers’ skill at dancing in groups, for it requires sensitive timing with, and an awareness of others.
A Simultaneous Canon
Involves dancers doing the same motif at the same time but starting from different points in the phrase. So Dancer 1 may do counts 1 to 8; Dancer 2 may start at count 6, dancing 6-7-8-1-2-3-4-5, and another dancer may start at 4, dancing 4-5-6-7-8-1-2-3; and so on. This creates a dense, logical and interesting look.
A Cumulative Canon
Is when each dancer joins in with the lead dancer at various stages during the dancing of a motif, and they all finish at the same time. This gives a look of an increase in force or power through an increase in emphasis on the movement.
Loose Canons
Offer more opportunity for the manipulation of a motif. There may be a use of different levels, facings or placements in the stage space. Adding stillness is also very effective, as may be varying the dynamic or rhythmic elements.
