Perpich Arts High School dance program - photo by Dan Markworth
The Elements of Dance are the foundational concepts and vocabulary that help students develop movement skills and understand dance as an artistic practice.
The acronym BASTE helps students remember the elements:
B ody
A ction
S pace
T ime
E nergy
This framework is a way to discuss any kind of movement. While different dance styles call for specialized skills and stylization choices, the underlying elements of dance are visible in all dance experiences.
Teachers and Teaching Artists are welcome to use this online resource in their classes. You'll find downloadable tools, assignments and discussion prompts throughout the pages. Short video excerpts of work by Minnesota choreographers and dancers are featured in this site, but feel free to use different videos with the tools and framework of this site. This web site is also a resource for flipped instruction.
. and if you have suggestions or want to tell us how you're using it, please contact us!
Students may also use this web site as an independent study as they watch the video clips and download assignments and analysis tools for each element.
Whether you're a teacher or a student, click Begin Here to start or use the tabs at the top of this page.
Click on the icons below to go to each element.
