Jan 22 / The Body: Animal Movement

 

 Unit: The Body

Theme: Animal Movement

 

I

Introduction

Humans have always imitated animal movement in dance. Early human societies embodied animal characteristics and behaviors in a symbolic way to empower themselves. Currently, dancers research animal movement in a studio by interpreting the movement qualities of different animals as an aesthetic response. Today, we will see several examples of how this can be done.

II 

Learning Objectives

 

• Understand the connection to animal behavior through movement
  
• Explain the creative process involved in the study of animal movement
  
• Gain awareness of the complexities of animal movement when embodying them as a dance
  
• Experience the abstraction of animal movement by creating a dance improvisation
  
• Reflect on the creative process at the end of the process
  

 

III

Warm Up

Stretching

IV

Main Lesson

 

Videos

1

Heron Dance

 

 

2

3

Deer Dance

 

 

4

I. Watch the Above videos

Activity 1

 

Discuss with your group your reflection on these videos.

Write a statement in which you reflect on the value of observing animal behavior for the purpose of creating dance improvisation.

 

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V

 

Open the links and read. 

 

 LINK:

Dance Appreciation by Julie Dawn Loring 

 

Question 1

 

Which dances are the closest cousins of primal dances? Why?

 

 

 

LINK:

Spirit Moves: The Art of Simone Forti

(Paragraph 8) 

 

Question2

In which way are Simone Forti's ideas useful when embracing dance improvisation?

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VI

  

Activity 2

• Choose an animal of your preference
• 
  
• Observe its movements through videos & poses through pictures
• 
  
• Begin to pay attention to each part of the animal's body
• 
  
• Extend your own movement capacities
• 
  
• incorporate the animal's forms of locomotion
• 
  
• Strive to move non-stylistically
• 
  
• Challenge your upright human body by adopting the animal's movement
• 
  
• Explore your capacity to express abstract animal movement

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VII

Based on you exploration:

Create an eight moves (or more) phrase; find music for it; record it and post it on Discussion Board.

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VIII

Write a brief reflection on your process.

 

 

 

IX

 

Glossary

 

 X

Students' Work 

Academic

 

William Brodsky

Animal Movement

Although I was not physically present for this unit on animal movement, I took time to explore the assignment independently and reflect on how studying animal motion can impact the way we approach dance improvisation. This unit in particular resonated with me because it allowed me to experiment with instinct, embodiment, and abstraction—key tools in how I connect movement to identity and narrative.

After watching videos of animals in motion, I chose the panther as my source of inspiration. There’s something about the way a panther moves—quiet, powerful, intentional—that mirrors qualities I try to express in my dancing and even in how I move through life. As I observed panthers walking, stretching, crouching, and leaping, I began to break down how each part of the animal’s body contributed to its elegance and control. I noticed the way the shoulders glide just below the spine, the elongated tail acting as a counterbalance, and how even moments of stillness felt charged with potential energy.

Using this research, I explored how I could challenge my own body—naturally upright, bipedal, and often rigid—by lowering myself toward the floor, crawling with my core engaged, and letting my hands lead as if they were sensing space rather than grabbing it. I avoided any overly stylized or performative interpretations and focused instead on trying to channel the essence of the animal. It was a humbling process—disrupting the comfort of human posture and surrendering to something more primal, more sensory-driven.

Through this exploration, I created a short eight-move phrase inspired by the panther’s shifting rhythms: slow prowling steps, shoulder rolls, low-to-the-ground glides, and explosive upward jumps. I paired this phrase with ambient music that had a haunting, pulsating undercurrent to evoke the quiet tension I associate with the animal. The process made me think differently about pacing, breath, and the emotional qualities of motion. I wasn't just moving like a panther—I was discovering what it feels like to think like one through my body.

What this unit reinforced for me is that dance improvisation is not about mimicking, but transforming. The purpose wasn’t to recreate a panther, but to explore how studying its movement could expand my range, awaken new sensations, and lead to honest, abstract expression. This process reminded me that the body is a storyteller—and sometimes the most unexpected characters can bring out something new in our personal narrative.

 

Gabriele Pernigotti Nehme

Animal Movement

1. Write a statement in which you reflect on the value of observing animal behavior for the purpose of creating dance improvisation.

Observing animal behavior has a big value since we can learn a lot about nature’s system and even the human body by observing animals. They are the main characters of nature and we can understand systems, hierarchies, feelings and repeating themes to understand many WHYs. This is also important for the purpose of creating dance improvisations since animals move for important reasons such as survival, mating and more so recreating these improvisations is important. 

1. Which dances are the closest cousins of primal dances? Why?

African, Indigenous, and tribal dances are closest to primal dances because they focus on instinctive movements, connection to nature, and raw emotional expression.

1. In which way are Simone Forti's ideas useful when embracing dance improvisation?

Simone Forti's ideas are useful in embracing dance improvisation because she emphasizes exploring movement in response to the environment and her approach encourages dancers to trust their instincts and be present in the moment.

 Improvisation / Dance Ensembles

 

 

Group Dance

 

Ethan Levin, Adam Cole, Alyssa Longo, Julianna Malygin, George Dipp, Jackson Yan

 IMG_5759.mov (132.111 MB) 

 

 

Group Dance 

 

Fisher Tilson, Sai Chigurupati, Kyle Jordan , Bella Almodovar, Lucy Leventhal

Understanding strengths and weaknesses 

 IMG_3031.mov (215.482 MB)