Movement and Choreography · Term 2

Elements of Dance: BASTE

Introduction to Body, Action, Space, Time, and Energy as the building blocks of movement.

About This Topic

The BASTE framework (Body, Action, Space, Time, Energy) provides Year 7 students with the fundamental vocabulary of dance. In the Australian Curriculum, students use these elements to choreograph, perform, and appreciate movement. They explore how the body moves (Action), where it moves (Space), when it moves (Time), and how the movement is performed (Energy). This foundational knowledge allows students to move beyond 'learned steps' toward intentional expression.

By breaking dance down into these building blocks, students of all ability levels can find a way to participate and create. This topic is particularly effective for developing physical literacy and spatial awareness. It comes alive when students can physically experiment with these elements through movement-based 'problem-solving' tasks and collaborative choreography challenges that focus on one element at a time.

Learning Objectives

• Classify movements into categories of sharp or fluid based on their energy quality.
• Compare the impact of high, medium, and low levels on the perceived power dynamics between dancers.
• Explain how the deliberate use of negative space can emphasize specific body actions.
• Design a short movement sequence that clearly demonstrates the manipulation of at least two BASTE elements.
• Analyze how variations in tempo and rhythm affect the overall mood of a dance phrase.

Before You Start

Introduction to Movement and Physical Expression

Why: Students need a basic understanding of moving their bodies and exploring different ways to express ideas physically before dissecting movement into specific elements.

Body Awareness and Spatial Orientation

Why: A foundational understanding of body parts and their relationship to the surrounding space is necessary to analyze and manipulate movement within space.

Key Vocabulary

Body	Refers to the parts of the body used, the body's shape, and the relationship of body parts to each other.
Action	Describes what the body is doing, including locomotor movements (traveling) and non-locomotor movements (gestures, shapes).
Space	Encompasses where the body moves, the direction, pathways, levels, and personal space versus general space.
Time	Relates to the speed, rhythm, tempo, and duration of movements.
Energy	Describes the quality of movement, such as sharp, fluid, percussive, sustained, or vibratory.

Active Learning Ideas

Stations Rotation: The BASTE Circuit

Five stations, each focusing on one element. For example, at the 'Space' station, students must perform a simple walk using three different levels (high, medium, low). At 'Energy,' they perform the same walk 'sharp' versus 'fluid.'

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

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Simulation Game: The Energy Dial

The teacher acts as a 'dial' from 1 to 10. Students perform a simple repetitive movement (like a reach). As the teacher turns the dial up, students must increase the 'Energy' (tension/speed) of the move accordingly.

⏱ 20 min·Whole Class

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Think-Pair-Share: Space Mapping

Students watch a short dance clip and focus only on 'Space.' They discuss with a partner: Did the dancer stay in one spot? Did they use the whole stage? What shapes did their body make?

⏱ 25 min·Pairs

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Real-World Connections

Choreographers for musical theatre productions, like those on Broadway, use the BASTE elements to create dynamic and expressive routines that tell a story and convey character emotions.

Athletes in sports such as gymnastics or figure skating train to control their body's energy, space, and time to execute complex movements with precision and artistic flair.

Animators designing characters for video games or films meticulously plan movements using principles similar to BASTE to ensure characters appear realistic or convey specific personalities through their actions.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Dance is just about following a set of steps to music.

What to Teach Instead

Dance is the intentional use of the BASTE elements. Active 'element-swapping' exercises help students see that they can create a 'dance' just by changing the 'Energy' or 'Time' of a simple everyday action like sitting down.

Common Misconception

You have to be flexible or 'athletic' to be a good dancer.

What to Teach Instead

Dance is about expression and control. By focusing on 'Space' and 'Time,' students realize that a slow, deliberate movement can be just as powerful as a high kick or a leap.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Present students with short video clips of dance or movement. Ask them to identify and write down which BASTE elements are most prominent in each clip, providing a brief justification for their choices.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'How does changing the energy quality from sharp to fluid alter the feeling of the same movement?' Facilitate a class discussion where students share their observations and use BASTE vocabulary.

Exit Ticket

Students receive a prompt: 'Describe one way you could use the element of 'Space' to make a simple walking pattern more interesting.' They write their response on an index card before leaving class.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does BASTE stand for in dance?

BASTE stands for Body, Action, Space, Time, and Energy. These are the five elements that make up all dance movements, regardless of style or culture.

How do I teach 'Energy' to Year 7s?

Use descriptive words like 'heavy,' 'light,' 'sharp,' 'swinging,' or 'vibrating.' Have students move like different materials (e.g., lead, silk, or electricity) to physically experience how energy changes the look of a movement.

How can active learning help students understand dance elements?

Dance is a kinesthetic art form. Active learning strategies like 'The Energy Dial' or 'Space Mapping' allow students to feel the concepts in their own bodies. This physical experience is much more effective than just watching a video or reading a definition, as it builds the 'muscle memory' required for choreography.

Why is 'Space' important in choreography?

Space includes levels, directions, and pathways. Using space effectively makes a dance visually interesting and can communicate relationships between dancers (e.g., standing far apart to show conflict).