Y DANCE

1. REPETITION
Repeat the motif exactly the same.

2. RETROGRADE
Perform it backwards - as if in rewind mode.

3. INVERSION
Perform it upside down or laterally (on its side).  This can be tricky, you may have to lie down  or stand on your head but give it a go.

4. SIZE
You can condense and expand the motif.  Make it a bit smaller, or as small as you can. You can also make it bigger, then as big as you can.

5. TEMPO
Fast / Slow/ Stop: Take the motif and speed it up as fast as you can but make sure it does not change or get smaller.  Then try making it slower but withot losing balance.  Find places you could add stillness.

6. RHYTHM
Vary the rhythm but not the tempo- Do not change the original speed or how long it lasts but instead change the pattern of the beats- for example from a 4/4 rhythm to a 3/4 rhythm.

7. INSTRUMENTATION
Try using a different body part or several different body parts.  Get other performers to use different body parts.

8. EMBELLISHMENT/ ORNAMENTATION
Try adding a little extra movement added to the main actions.  Such as wiggling fingers as an arm gesture occurs or rolling the body as you turn.  You can also add extras to the overall motif

9. QUALITY
You can vary the way each move is performed such as making it strained, awkward or quivery.

10. ACCUMULATION/ SUBTRACTION
Each action from the motif can be added one by one. Start with the first action, then the first plus the second, then the first plus the second plus the third etc.  (1+2+3+4    1+2+3     1+2     1...) This can also be reversed so the entire motif is performed and then an action is removed each time it is performed.


11. FORCE
Vary the amount of force you use in producing  the movement.  Do it with a great deal of strength, from beginning to end.  Now repeat it again, with very little force, gently, weakly. Carefully try to  keep the change in force only.

12. BACKGROUND
Change the design of the rest of the body from its original position and repeat the motif.  Let the rest of the body be doing something else while the motif is going on.  Eg. Sit instead of stand.  Try twisting the rest of the body into a knot. You could add another person wrapped around you.

13.  CHANGE OF PLANES / LEVELS
Change the motif to a different plane- horizontal / vertical/ sagital or any other slice of space.  Do it on a different level.   Trace the path of the gesture and use  it as a floor pattern to move along.

14. STAGING
Perform it in a different place on the stage and/or with a different facing to the audience, such as sideways or on the diagonal.

15. FRAGMENTATION
Use only a part of the motif  Use it on its own or  use sevral parts but not the whole thing.  You could choose a piece which is meaningful or part worth highlighting again because it may be overlooked.

16. ADDITIVE/INCORPORATIVE
Try to add a new action alongside the original motif such as a turn, jump or  travelling action.  Or change the origial motif into a new one by turning it into a jump or a turn etc. This can be tough to get started sometimes but there is usually a way!

17.  COMBINATION
Combine any of the above so they happen at the same time.  This lets you combine affinities (faster with smaller) or antagonists (faster with larger) for choreographic interest and technical challenge. This allows the motif to become more varied and complex.