1/29/2026 - Week 3 / Meeting 6: Body / Patterns of Body Connectivity

 

Review
 
Choreutics 
The Cube 
Trace Forms
Diagonal Movement Scales 
Kinesphere
Art Nouveau 
Elements of Dance: Space (levels, directions, focus, pathways, size)  
Breath patterning assists the coordination of the internal body that is vital in human movement. Functionally, every inhalation and exhalation is a complex event
 
 
 
 Picture
 
 I
 
Unit: Body
Theme: Patterns of  Body Connectivity
 

II

Introduction 

Today we will review Laban's concept of body connectivity. | Fundamental patterns of total body connectivity was articulated by  Bartenieff. It is also useful to acknowledge Hackney's six Fundamental Patterns of Total Body Connectivity as demonstrated in the videos bellow: breath, naval radiation (core-distal), spinal (head-tail), homologous (upper-lower), homolateral (body half), and contralateral (diagonal).

 

 III

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the application of the concept "body connectivity" in dance and movement
  • Explain how "body" relates to the concepts related to Hackney's 6 fundamental patterns of total body connectivity
  • Gain awareness of the possibilities that "the fundamental patterns" bring to the organization of movement.
  • Experience body connectivity patterns by following Hackney's 6 fundamental patterns
  • Reflect on the work done in class

 

 IV

Main Lesson



  1


Warm Up
Alignment
Stretching
 
2


Review of Solos and Ensemble Phrases 
 
3

Several subcategories of body are:

Initiation of movement starting from specific bodies

Connection of different bodies to each other

Sequencing of movement between parts of the body
 
Patterns of body organization and connectivity
 
Question 1
 
Create an easy-to-remember acronym with the subcategories of body listed above.

----------------------- 


4


Patterns of Connectivity
 
 With knowledge of Laban's concepts, via Bartenieff, Peggy Hackney identified six developmental patterns of body connectivity: breath, core-distal, head-tail, upper-lower, body- half, and cross-lateral.
 


Standing
Lateral



Core Distal


Upper Lower

 ---------------------------------------------

IV. FLOOR

Early Patterns of Total Body Connectivity.

Question 2

After trying and/or observing the different movement patterns, explain how did it feel to put your body through this work?

------------------------------------------


5


 
Laban-Baternieff 
5 Developmental Movement Patterns 
 
Naval Radiation
Spinal
Upper Lower
Body Halves 
Cross-Lateral

Question 3

In which way are the developmental movement patters important in expanding the dancer's body range of motion?

6

Article on Modern Dance

 


Modern Dancing and Dancers: A Scholarly Exploration of Modern Dance 

J. E. Crawford Flitch 

Read: Introduction

 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Modern_dancing_and_dancers/XotZEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=modern+Dance&printsec=frontcover

J. E. Crawford Flitch (2022). Modern Dancing and Dancers: A Scholarly Exploration of Modern Dance. Good Press
 
Question 4
 
Summarize the Introduction
 
 
--------------------------

V
 
A Note to Remember
 
Fundamental movement patterns have emerged throughout development and are omnipresent across cultures of the world.
 
 
VI 
 
Case Study
 
Isadora Dunca
A Clip from the movie Isadora (1969) Isadora is played by the great actress Vanessa Redgrave !
 A Clip from the movie Isadora (1969) Isadora is played by the great actress Vanessa Redgrave.  First movement from the Symphony Nº 7 by Beethoven. The last part of the first movement, "Vivace". 
 
Question 5 

What ideas about modern dance do you see reflected in the clip?


VII

Activity 

Combine all the patterns of body connectivity explained in each video, and create an 8 movement ensemble phrase using Duncan based movement style.
 
PATTERNS
 
  1. Lateral
  2. Core Distal
  3. Upper Lower
  4. Naval Radiation
  5. Body Halves 
  6. Spinal
  7. Cross Lateral
  8. Floor (Early patterns of total connectivity) 

RECORD IT AND POST IT ON DISCUSSION BOARD
 
VIII
 
Glossary
 
 
 IX
 
Sources 
 
Bassp, J.C, et al (2021). Dance on the Brain: Enhancing Intra- and Inter-Brain Synchrony.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348306172_Dance_on_the_Brain_Enhancing_Intra-_and_Inter-Brain_Synchrony
 
Total Body Connectivity–Breath Patterning. https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/excerpt/total-body-connectivity-breath-patterning?srsltid=AfmBOopPFdRlgvWzY1aY-8KC7IG5VRhA8JGm9bJae4CjxDryCCszpATj
 

X
 
Journaling
 
 
XI
 
Students' Work

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