Welcome to the Dance (518) PECT Study Guide! If you’re preparing for the Dance (518) PECT Exam, this study guide presents you with a high overview of the exam. If you want the in-depth study guide, including the online practice tests, enroll into our full PECT Dance test prep.

Great! Let’s unravel the key concepts you need to master for success on test day:

Objective 1: Creating

In this section, you’ll master the art of using movement for artistic expression. Here’s what you need to know:

• Sensory Stimuli Connection: Understand the link between movement and sensory stimuli like music, text, objects, images, symbols, and observed dance. This includes:

  • Responding to different stimuli through movement.
  • Comparing stimuli to expand your movement vocabulary.
  • Selecting the most suitable stimuli for artistic expression.

• Basic Movements: Gain proficiency on basic locomotor and non-locomotor movements by:

  • Experimenting with dance elements.
  • Selecting movements that challenge your skills.
  • Building on your strengths to create original dance studies or dances.

• Solving Movement Problems: Develop creative problem-solving skills by:

  • Crafting solutions using dance elements.
  • Solving multiple movement problems to convey choreographic intent.
  • Expanding your movement preferences to discover unique solutions.

• Artistic Voice: Discover your artistic voice by:

  • Synthesizing content from stimulus material.
  • Exploring and taking risks in your artistic expression.

• Movement Vocabularies: Master movement vocabularies by:

  • Transferring ideas into choreography.
  • Identifying personal preferences for dance creation.
  • Using genre-specific dance terminology to justify your choices.

Objective 2: Understand Dance Elements, Structures, and Choreography

In this section of your exam, you’ll be required to demonstrate your understanding of choreography and dance structures. Here’s what you need to know:

• Choreography and Sensory Stimuli:

  • Recognize the connection between choreography and sensory stimuli, such as music/sound, text, objects, images, notation, observed dance, experiences, literary forms, natural phenomena, current news, and social events. This involves:
    • Relating similar or contrasting ideas to develop choreography using diverse stimuli.
    • Synthesizing content from stimulus materials to choreograph dance studies or dances using original or codified movement.

• Developing Dance Phrases:

  • Demonstrate the ability to create a dance phrase that effectively conveys an idea or feeling.
  • Explain the rationale behind movement choices.
  • Analyze the impact of these movement choices.

• Choreographic Devices and Structures:

  • Understand choreographic devices and dance structures, including:
    • Identifying, improvising, exploring, experimenting, manipulating, or modifying various choreographic devices to create movement patterns and dance structures.
    • Analyzing movement choices and expanding possibilities.
    • Collaborating to design a dance using choreographic devices and structures to support artistic intent and develop original dances.
    • Analyzing how the structure and final composition contribute to artistic intent.

• Fluency and Personal Voice:

  • Explore how fluency and personal voice are employed in designing and choreographing original dances.
  • Justify choreographic choices and explain how they enhance artistic intent.

• Artistic Criteria and Evaluation:

  • Define artistic criteria for choreographing a dance study that communicates personal or cultural meaning.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of movements based on these criteria.
  • Analyze how these criteria contribute to conveying the meaning of the dance.

Objective 3: Understand Feedback, Revision, and Documentation

In this section, you’ll want to equip yourself with educational terminology in the realm of artistic statements, feedback, revision, and documentation. Here’s what you need to know:

• Artistic Statements:

  • Understand the significance of artistic statements, including:
    • How movement elements, choreographic devices, and dance structures convey artistic statements.
    • The role of artistic statements in reflecting personal aesthetics in original dance studies or dances.
    • Selecting and demonstrating movements that align with artistic statements.
    • Crafting artistic statements that communicate personal, aesthetic, cultural, and artistic perspectives in a collection of original work.

• Feedback and Revision:

  • Learn how to use guided improvisational experiences and feedback effectively, including:
    • Revising movement choices based on feedback and self-reflection to enhance dance studies and convey artistic intent.
    • Explaining and documenting movement choices and refinements.
    • Clarifying artistic intent by refining choreographic devices, dance structures, and artistic criteria through self-reflection and feedback from others.
    • Analyzing, evaluating, and justifying how refinements align with artistic intent.

• Dance Documentation:

  • Gain knowledge of dance documentation, which involves:
    • Investigating and comparing recognized systems for documenting dance.
    • Proficiency in documenting dance sequences using recognized systems of documentation, which may include writing, using notation symbols, or leveraging media technologies.

In this segment, you’ll acquire a comprehensive understanding of performance, movement in space and time, tempo, energy, dynamics, and dance vocabulary. Here’s what you need to know:

Objective 4: Understand Movement in Space and Time

As you delve into the “Performing” objective, you’ll gain a deep appreciation for the art of dance performance. Here are the key areas of focus:

• Movement in Space:

  • Learn to navigate and utilize space effectively by:
    • Identifying directions for moving the body in general space.
    • Demonstrating locomotor and non-locomotor movements that alter body shapes, levels, and facings.
    • Mastering movements along straight, curved, and zigzagged pathways, both individually and with others.
    • Exploring three-dimensional space and making creative use of positive and negative space.
    • Performing movement sequences with intentionality and focus.
    • Integrating static and dynamic shapes, as well as floor and air pathways, into dance sequences.
    • Developing partner and ensemble skills to determine distance and spatial design.
    • Incorporating diverse pathways, levels, and patterns in space to expand your movement vocabulary.
    • Sculpting the body in space and designing body shapes in relation to other dancers, objects, and the environment.
    • Using space intentionally during phrases and transitions between phrases.

• Tempo:

  • Gain expertise in tempo, including:
    • Identifying movement speed as fast or slow.
    • Moving to rhythmic sounds at varying tempi.
    • Demonstrating tempo contrasts with movements that match the tempo of stimuli.
    • Relating quick, moderate, and slow movements to duration in time and recognizing steady beats.
    • Fulfilling specified durations of time with improvised movements.
    • Distinguishing between “in time” and “out of time” movements to music.
    • Dancing to a variety of rhythms and using accented and unaccented beats.

• Energy and Dynamics:

  • Understand energy and dynamics, which involve:
    • Moving with opposing dynamics.
    • Applying different dynamics to movements.
    • Analyzing and refining dance phrases through the use of energy and dynamics.
    • Contrasting bound and free-flowing movements.
    • Initiating movements from various points of the body and analyzing the relationship between initiation and energy.
    • Using internal body force for movement initiation and dynamic expression.
    • Incorporating energy and dynamics into technique exercises and dance performances.
    • Transitioning smoothly between phrases while paying attention to movement initiation and energy modulation.

• Dance Vocabulary:

  • Develop your dance vocabulary by:
    • Describing movement characteristics using descriptive vocabulary.
    • Demonstrating kinesthetic awareness while embodying movement characteristics.
    • Comparing and contrasting movement characteristics from various dance genres or styles, using dance terminology and descriptive language.

Excellent! Now, let’s explore the “Understanding Mind-Body Connection” objective in a clear and informative manner:

Objective 5: Understand Mind-Body Connection

In this section, you’ll delve into the intricate relationship between the mind and body in dance. Here’s what you need to know:

• Locomotor Movement, Non-locomotor Movement, and Body Patterning:

  • Gain knowledge of essential movement types, including:
    • Demonstrating full-body, same-side, and cross-body locomotor movement, non-locomotor movement, and body patterning.
    • Replicating body shapes, movement characteristics, and patterns in dance sequences while moving through space using diverse pathways, with a keen awareness of body alignment and core support.
    • Repeating, modifying, and recalling movement sequences while remaining mindful of self and others in space.
    • Demonstrating technical dance skills, such as alignment, coordination, balance, and core support, when replicating and recalling patterns and sequences of movements.

• Body Use in Space:

  • Understand how to move safely through space, including:
    • Moving safely in general space during various activities and group formations while maintaining and adjusting personal space.
    • Coordinating body use with partners or other dancers to safely change levels, directions, and pathway designs.
    • Executing techniques that expand movement range, enhance strength, and build endurance while explaining the relationship between technique execution, safe body use, and healthy nutrition.
    • Practicing safe body-use habits during technical exercises and movement combinations.
    • Coordinating phrases and timing with other dancers through cues and responses to stimuli (e.g., music, text, lighting).
    • Collaborating with ensemble members to repeat sequences, synchronize actions, and refine spatial relationships to enhance performance quality.

• Technical Dance Skills:

  • Master technical dance skills, including:
    • Recalling and executing a series of dance phrases using technical dance skills such as alignment, coordination, balance, core support, clarity of movement, kinesthetic awareness, and flexibility/range of motion.
    • Applying technical dance skills to accurately execute changes of direction, levels, facings, pathways, elevations and landings, limb extensions, movement transitions, spatial designs, and musical or rhythmical dance phrases.
    • Adapting body-use strategies to accommodate physical maturational development in relation to technical dance skills.
    • Refining technical dance skills for improved performance.
    • Applying mind-body principles to technical dance skills when performing solo, partnering, or dancing in ensemble works across a variety of dance genres and styles.

• Anatomy and Healthful Practices:

  • Gain insight into anatomy and healthful practices, including:
    • Researching healthful and safe practices for dancers.
    • Applying basic anatomical knowledge, proprioceptive feedback, spatial awareness, and nutrition to promote safe and healthful warm-ups and dance practices.
    • Using and evaluating personal healthful practices in dance activities and daily life (e.g., nutrition, injury prevention), discussing choices made, effects experienced, and methods for improvement.
    • Applying anatomical principles and healthful practices to various technical dance skills to achieve fluidity of movement.
    • Developing a plan for healthful practices in dance activities and everyday life, including implementation strategies, to support personal performance goals.

• Collaboration:

  • Understand the importance of collaboration by:
    • Collaborating as an ensemble to refine dances, identify effective and ineffective elements in executing complex patterns, sequences, and formations.
    • Collaborating with peers to practice and enhance dances.
    • Developing group performance expectations through observation and analysis.
    • Discovering strategies for achieving performance accuracy, clarity, and expressiveness through collaboration.

• Rehearsal Planning:

  • Learn the art of rehearsal planning by:
    • Planning and executing collaborative and independent practice and rehearsal processes to meet performance goals.
    • Initiating, planning, and directing rehearsals with meticulous attention to technical details and the fulfillment of artistic expression.

Let’s continue with the “Performance Designs, Etiquette, and Practices” objective, providing direct and informative guidance to future examinees:

Objective 6: Understand Performance Designs, Etiquette, and Practices

In this section, you’ll need to learn about performance designs, etiquette, and practices. Here’s what you need to know:

• Performance Space:

  • Gain knowledge of performance space by:
    • Delineating different areas for performers and the audience to occupy.
    • Identifying the main areas of a performance space using production terminology (e.g., stage right, stage left, center stage, upstage, downstage).
    • Considering how to transform an informal setting (e.g., gymnasium, grassy area) into a formal performance space.
    • Demonstrating the ability to adapt dance to alternative performance venues by modifying spacing and movements to suit the performance space.

• Production Elements:

  • Understand the importance of production elements, including:
    • Selecting and using props effectively.
    • Identifying, exploring, evaluating, and selecting production elements that enhance and intensify the artistic intent of a dance and can be adapted for various performance spaces.
    • Producing dance in a variety of venues or for different audiences and explaining how production elements are handled in different situations using production terminology.
    • Collaborating with others to produce dance concerts in diverse venues, designing and organizing the production elements necessary to fulfill the artistic intent of the dance works in each venue.

• Performance Etiquette and Practices:

  • Master performance etiquette and practices by:
    • Recognizing needs and adapting movements to different performance areas.
    • Using performance etiquette and practices during class, rehearsal, and actual performances.
    • Accepting performance notes and using them to recommend changes and apply corrections to future performances.
    • Demonstrating leadership qualities, such as commitment, dependability, responsibility, and cooperation, while preparing for performances.
    • Modeling performance etiquette and practices during class, rehearsal, and performance.
    • Enhancing performances through a wide range of strategies for dynamic projection.
    • Developing a professional portfolio that documents the rehearsal and performance process, with fluency in professional dance terminology and production terminology.

In this section, you’ll explore the art of responding to dance performances with a critical and analytical perspective. Here’s what you need to know:

Candidates in this section possess a comprehensive understanding of how to describe, analyze, interpret, and evaluate dance. They have the ability to identify recurring patterns of movement and recognize the relationships within them. Moreover, they understand how the various elements of dance contribute to the overall artistic expression and can make sound critical judgments regarding the quality and success of dance works.

Objective 7: Analyzing, Interpreting, and Evaluating Dance Works

• Repetition and Pattern:

  • Gain knowledge of repetition and pattern in dance, including:
    • Identifying repeating movements within a dance.
    • Recognizing movement patterns that create movement phrases in dance works.
    • Uncovering meaning, artistic intent, style, and themes in dance works.
    • Describing, demonstrating, comparing, and discussing patterns of movement and their relationships in the context of artistic intent.
    • Analyzing dance works from various dance genres and styles.
    • Explaining how recurring patterns of movement and their relationships contribute to well-structured and meaningful choreography.

• Observed or Performed Dance Movements:

  • Understand observed or performed dance movements from diverse genres and cultures, including:
    • Describing observed or performed dance movements from a specific genre or culture.
    • Using basic dance terminology to describe the qualities and characteristics of style in dance from one’s own cultural movement practice and comparing them to other dance genres, styles, or cultural practices.
    • Explaining how the elements of dance are utilized in different genres, styles, or cultural movement practices to convey intent, using genre-specific dance terminology.
    • Analyzing and comparing movement patterns and their relationships in various genres, styles, or cultural movement practices.
    • Explaining how differences in movement patterns and their relationships impact communication and intent within a cultural context.

• Dance Terminology for Meaning:

  • Master the use of dance terminology to understand meaning in dance, including:
    • Observing movement and describing it using simple dance terminology.
    • Selecting movements from a dance that suggest ideas and explaining how those movements capture those ideas.
    • Interpreting meaning and intent in a dance based on movements and context cues.
    • Describing how movements effectively communicate the main idea of a dance.

• Elements of Dance for Artistic Expression:

  • Understand how elements of dance, technique, context, and structure are employed to achieve artistic expression, including:
    • Explaining how artistic expression in dance is accomplished through the elements of dance, body use, dance technique, dance structure, and context.
    • Selecting and comparing different dances and discussing their intent and artistic expression.
    • Analyzing and interpreting how the elements of dance, dance structure, execution of dance movement principles, and context contribute to artistic expression across different genres, styles, or cultural movement practices.

• Evaluating Dance:

  • Master the art of evaluating dance, including:
    • Identifying movements from a dance that attracted attention and explaining why they did so.
    • Selecting dance movements from specific genres, styles, or cultures, identifying characteristic movements from these dances, and describing in basic dance terminology ways in which they are similar and different.
    • Discussing the characteristics and artistic intent of a dance from a genre, style, or cultural movement practice and developing artistic criteria for critiquing the dance.
    • Comparing and contrasting two or more dances using evaluative criteria to critique artistic expression, considering personal artistic preferences and societal and personal values.

Connecting: Understanding Dance in Historical and Cultural Context

In this section, you’ll need to know about the historical and cultural dimensions of dance. Here’s what will be covered on the exam:

Objective 8: Understand Cultural Contexts and Personal Perspectives

• Emotional and Intellectual Expression:

  • Recognize that dance conveys emotions and ideas.
  • Analyze how audiences relate dance expressions to personal experiences.
  • Compare two dances with different themes, examining the feelings and ideas they evoke.

• Research-Informed Response:

  • Learn to observe and question dances.
  • Describe and express aspects of artwork through movement.
  • Use research to understand and interpret dance.

• Cultural Context:

  • Observe dances and relate their movements to their cultural origins.
  • Understand how specific dance genres communicate cultural ideas.
  • Analyze dances from various genres and historical periods, considering cultural perspectives.

• Movement Characteristics:

  • Observe and describe movement characteristics in specific dance genres.
  • Compare observed movements to personal preferences.
  • Analyze differences in movement characteristics across dance genres.

• Connections and Choreography:

  • Explore connections between different dances.
  • Analyze choreography to understand choreographers’ ideas.
  • Review original choreography and consider its impact on personal growth.

• Dance Careers:

  • Investigate various dance-related career possibilities.
  • Gain insights into career options within the dance field.

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