As a dancer, you must
know the beat, tempo, meter and measure, time signature, note values,
simple meter, compound meter, mixed meter, accent & syncopation
(if you don't, click
here for my dance glossary or click
here to see what is Dance Musicality). The next step is to
understand rhythmic pattern and musical phrases.
Rhythmic
Pattern- created by the combination of note values,
accents, and meter. For example, a simple Waltz in 3/4 time with the
accent on the first beat of the bar would have a rhythmic pattern of
one, two, three; a 2/4 time with the accent on the first beat
would have a big rhythmic pattern of one-two. Normally
accented 4/4 time would have a rhythmic pattern of
one-two-three-four, with a major accent on the first
beat and the lesser accent on the third beat; a syncopated rhythm in
4/4 time might have a rhythmic pattern of
one-and-two-and-three-and-four-and or
accenting the upbeat, one-two-three-four. More complicated
rhythmic patterns are created as notes of differing values are
combined.
Musical
Phrases- is a division of the musical line, somewhat
comparable to a clause or a sentence in prose. They are like short
statements that comes to recognizable points where the person who is
giving a speech needs to take a breath. A musical phrase is at least
two bars long. In most dancing I have been involved in like Latin,
Ballroom, Line, Jazz and other improvisation, music in 4/4 time is
usually counted in two-bar phrase which means eight counts. Breaking
a sequence into phrases makes it easier for dancer to remember the
steps.
These two highlighted
points are the combined result of the terms we have discussed before in Dance Musicality. Through time, with continued exposure to music, a dancer will develop
an ability to recognize tempos, meters, accents, rhythmic patterns,
and musical phrases.
* Figure adapted from Jump into Jazz
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