Year 10 Dance · Making Dance — Choreograph and Perform · 11m read

Choreographic Intent and Abstraction

Year 10 choreography moves beyond showing stories literally. Abstraction turns ideas and everyday gestures into expressive dance.

Learning objective: Communicate intent through abstracted movement.

By the end of this lesson you can:

• I can define choreographic intent.
• I can abstract everyday gestures.
• I can link movement choices to intent.

Abstraction is boiling down soup. Start with a full pot (a literal everyday action) and boil it down until only the concentrated flavour is left. Abstraction strips movement to its essence so the idea is felt, not just shown.

From idea to movement

CHOREOGRAPHIC INTENT:
• The idea, emotion or message the dance communicates.

ABSTRACTION:
• Taking a literal gesture and transforming it (change size, speed, body part, level, repetition).
• Example: a wave goodbye becomes a slow, full-body sweeping arc.

STIMULUS:
• Images, poems, music, issues, objects inspire movement.

COHERENCE:
• All choices (movement, structure, production) serve the intent.

| Abstraction method | Literal action → abstracted |
|---|---|
| Change size | Wave hello → whole-body sweeping arc |
| Change body part | Brushing hair → elbow brushing through space |
| Change level | Walking → crawling on the floor |
| Change time | Typing → slow-motion finger flicks |
| Fragment | Hug → only the arms closing |
| Repeat/distort | Checking phone → obsessive repeated wrist flick |

Key ideas at a glance

• Start literal: Then transform.
• Keep the essence: Feeling stays recognisable.
• State your intent: One clear sentence.
• Every choice links back: Justify with intent.

Worked example (Medium)

Abstract the gesture of "checking a phone".

1. Literal. Looking down at a hand.
2. Abstract. Head drops repeatedly in canon, spines curling, shoulders hunched — fragmented and accelerated.
3. Meaning. Comments on screen addiction.

Answer: Transform the gesture through repetition, body part and dynamics to express an idea.

Worked example (Hard)

Abstract the gesture of "checking a phone" to express digital addiction.

1. Literal. Look down at hand.
2. Repeat. Repeat compulsively, faster and faster.
3. Distort. Whole torso curls over hand; neck strains.
4. Effect. Expresses obsession and physical toll.

Answer: Repetition and distortion turn a simple gesture into a statement about addiction.

Common mistakes

• Literal mime instead of dance Lacks artistic depth. Fix: Abstract gestures.
• Over-abstracting until meaning is lost Audience can't connect. Fix: Keep a thread of the original.

Writing an intent statement

A strong intent statement answers:

• What is the dance about?
• What do you want the audience to feel or think?
• How will movement, structure and production achieve this?

Example: "This work explores the isolation of online life, using repetitive, contracted movement and cold blue light to make the audience feel disconnected."

Practice questions

1. Transforming everyday movement into expressive dance is:

   1. Mime
   2. Abstraction
   3. Canon
   4. Warm-up

   (1 marks)

2. What is a stimulus?

   (2 marks)

3. Abstraction means:

   1. Copying everyday actions exactly
   2. Transforming movement to its essence
   3. Removing all movement
   4. Using props

   (1 marks)

4. Fragmenting a hug might mean:

   1. Using only the arms closing
   2. Hugging twice
   3. Hugging a prop
   4. Not hugging

   (1 marks)

5. Write an intent statement for a dance about climate change.

   (2 marks)

Summary

• Clear intent.
• Abstract gestures.
• Choices serve intent.
• Abstract literal gestures; keep the essence.