This PDF talks about the mathematics of dance. I only focused on the symmetry portion which actually had a lot of good information. It talked about how Choreographers use
symmetry as a stylistic feature in their dance creations. It also said that in dance all 4 of the symmetries are used. Reflectional, rotational, translational and
glide reactional symmetry.
This power point presentation talked about several different forms of math in general, but once again I just focused on the symmetry portion of it. The power point basically explained that dancers need to be very symmetrical.Often, formations in a dance create reflection or rotational symmetry. Also when dancing with a partner, dancers often use both reflection and rotational symmetry. It also explained that dancers are constantly moving their bodies across the stage so that it reflects the same consistent pattern.
This website talked about several different kinds of math involved in ballet however since I narrowed my topic to symmetry and ballet I only focused on the symmetry portion of the website. This website talked about both symmetry and asymmetry. It explained that if something has symmetry then it can be rotated, shifted, or reflected and still end up looking the same. When watching a choreographed dance, one thing you’ll notice is the use of the symmetry of motion, in both that of an individual dancer and that of a group.Another thing you’ll most likely notice is the use of asymmetry as a method to break the eye from the scene, or to demonstrate dissent within the piece.
This website talk about how symmetrical people make better dancers. A research was conducted involving 183 Jamaican teenagers, ranging between 14-19 years old, who danced while their movements were captured using motion-capture cameras. These cameras are similar to those used in video games and movies to give computer-generated characters fluid movements. The researchers conducting the experiment found that men judged to be better dancers tended to have a higher degree of body symmetry. The researchers speculate that higher body symmetry might also indicate better neuromuscular coordination. Symmetry is an important part of dance because it helps dancers balance, as well as make the dance seem more appealing.
So for module 2 I have decided to narrow my topic down to Geometry in Ballet. And for my first post of module 2 I found a really cool video. In the video there is a dancer and while she’s dancing there are lines surrounding her so it shows the shape she is making while she dances. It’s really cool because in the beginning of the video it starts with just the outline of the shape and probably about 4 counts into the dance they add in her body. It shows her arm movements to. So when she moves her arm it leaves an edited line to show what she drew with her arm.
For my fifth post of module two, I have found a website that is a dictionary and if you press on a certain step, then it will show a few videos and the counts of that step. For example, there is a step called a wing and when you press the word wing in the dictionary, it will show a video of how to do a wing and give the counts which is, &a1 and will explain how to do the step. For example it says, “tart on the balls of the feet with feet together, scrape both feet outwards and into the air, then spank both feet inwards at the same time and land on the balls of the feet with your feet together”. I think his website is good because if you need help on a steps you don’t know, then you could just go to this website and watch the video.
For my fourth website, I have found a website that goes deeper into explaining the counts in music which is essential to all dancers when counting music. This website also has a few videos that explain how to count music which is counted in phrases of 8. for example when counting music, you count it as, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 and then repeat it over and over again. This is how most choreographers choreograph dances which is by counting the music and seeing which steps work best in the counts of 8. I think this website is very good because there are many dancers that don’t really know how to count music, so they end up doing steps at the wrong time.
For my third website of module two, I have found a website that is more visual, so instead of text explaining steps, there are instructional videos. The steps that are explained in this website are all riffs. There are videos that explain riffs from 3 beat riffs to 9 beat riffs. I think these videos are very good because some people learn better through visuals and this is exactly what the videos demonstrate an even with the counting.
For my second post of module two, I found a website that is basically a dictionary of tap steps with counting and movement descriptions. In this website, it explains how to do different steps while stating what the steps are and how to do them.For example, there is one step called a toe stand and in order to do that step you have to jump up onto the tip of your toes and balance there. I think this website is very useful is because if during dance class, there is a step that you don’t know, then you can go to this website and see how do a certain step.
For my first post of module two, I decided to narrow down my topic to the counts in different steps. In this website, it talks about how a step called a time step starts on the count 8 and then continues on with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and then 8 again. The website also explains how when dancers first learn time steps, the steps are broken down into phrases. Another thing that this website said was that the footwork of these steps are usually more flat footed and swinging. I think this website is very helpful because if someone wants advice about how to figure out how to do a time step, then on this website it can give them some tips.