← Dance syllabus

ScotlandDance

Choreography

3 dot points across 3 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What choreographic devices, structures and spatial elements does a Higher choreographer use, and how does each shape a dance for a group?

The choreographic devices (unison, canon, mirroring, retrograde, juxtaposition, contrast, accumulation, question and answer, highlights, climax), the choreographic structures or form (binary, ternary, rondo, narrative, theme and variation, motif and development, episodic) and the spatial elements (formations, levels, pathways, direction, dimension or size, relationships) used in Higher Dance choreography, and the effect of each.
An SQA Higher Dance answer on choreographic devices (unison, canon, mirroring, retrograde, contrast, accumulation, question and answer, climax), structures or form (binary, ternary, rondo, narrative, theme and variation, episodic) and spatial elements (formations, levels, pathways, direction, size, relationships), and the effect each has on a dance.
14 min answer →

How does a Higher choreographer turn a stimulus into movement, and how is an initial motif developed into a full dance?

Choreographing from a stimulus in Higher Dance: types of stimulus, creating an initial motif from a theme, and the methods of developing a motif (repetition, change of dynamics, level, direction, size, speed, adding or removing body parts, fragmentation, reordering and instrumentation) to build movement material.
An SQA Higher Dance answer on choreographing from a stimulus: the types of stimulus, creating an initial motif from a theme, and the methods of developing a motif (repetition, change of dynamics, level, direction, size, speed, fragmentation, reordering and instrumentation) to build a dance.
13 min answer →

How is the Higher Dance choreography assessed, and what does the choreography review have to do?

The Higher Dance practical activity: choreographing a dance for two or more dancers from a chosen stimulus, applying motif development, devices, structure and spatial elements to a clear choreographic intention, together with the written choreography review that explains and evaluates the choreographic choices.
An overview of the SQA Higher Dance practical activity: choreographing a group dance from a stimulus using motif development, devices, structure and space, plus the written choreography review that explains and evaluates the choices, and how to approach both.
12 min answer →