elements and principles that together create meaning in the arts, including but not limited to:
- dance: body, space, dynamics (dance), time, relationships, form, and movement principles
- drama: character, time, place, plot, tension, mood and focus
- music: beat/pulse, duration, rhythm (music), tempo, pitch, timbre, dynamics (music), form (music), texture
- visual arts: elements of design: line, shape, space, texture, colour, form (visual arts); principles of design: pattern, repetition, balance, contrast, emphasis, rhythm (visual arts), variety
the elements of dance are universally present in all dance forms and grow in sophistication over time
what the body is doing, including whole or partial body action, types of movement (locomotor and non-locomotor), etc.
where the body is moving, including place, level, direction, pathway, size/reach, shape, etc.
how energy is expended and directed through the body in relation to time (quick/sustained), weight (strong/light), space (direct/indirect), and flow (free/bound)
how the body moves in relation to time, including beat (underlying pulse), tempo, and rhythmic patterns
with whom or what the body is moving; movement happens in a variety of relationship including pairs, groups, objects, and environments
The shape or structure of a dance; the orderly arrangement of thematic material. For example: phrase, beginning, middle, end, ABA, canon, call and response, narrative, abstract
alignment (mobility, stability, plumbline), weight transfer, flexibility, strength, balance, coordination
in drama, taking on and exploring the thoughts, perceptions, feelings, and beliefs of another
the length of a sound or silence in relation to the beat (e.g., shorter, longer, equal)
the arrangement of sounds and silences over time
the frequency or speed of the beat
how high or low a note is (e.g., melodic steps, skips, leaps, or repeated tones)
the characteristic quality of a sound independent of pitch and dynamics; tone colour
relative and changing levels of sound volume (e.g., forte, piano, decrescendo)
the structure of a musical work (e.g., ABA, rondo form)
simultaneous layering of sounds (e.g., combining singing with other instruments, partner songs)
the visual element that pertains to an actual or implied three-dimensional shape of an image; visual art forms can be geometric
the planned use of the visual elements to achieve a desired effect
a design in which shapes, colours or lines repeat with regularity
using the same object, colour, marking, or type of line more than once
a principle of design concerned with the arrangement of one or more of the elements so that they give a sense of equilibrium in design and proportion (e.g., balance of shapes or colours, lightness and darkness)
the combination of pattern and movement to create a feeling of organized energy
The elements of music are universally present in all forms of vocal and instrumental music and grow in sophistication over time.