D.T302

Complementary and Contrasting Space

Students will create contrasting and complementary shapes by developing body shapes around each other using positive and negative space. Students will explore how to achieve balance as partners through weight share and counterbalance using contrasting or complementary shapes.

This could be adapted for sixth-grade and seventh-grade dance students with a revised rubric in reference to the GLCEs.

This item has not been field-tested by Michigan teachers.


This is an analytic rubric. The column on the left shows the dimension that is being measured in the student’s performance. The levels across the top row indicate the performance level in the dimensions. Occasionally all dimensions and performance levels are exemplified by multiple students in a single recording.

TEACHER SCORING RUBRIC

  • Dimension
  • Effective Use of Space

    Direction, line, spatial clarity

  • Partnering

    Working with others through weight share and counterbalance

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • The dancer’s body has minimal dimension or energy to maintain clear lines. Dancer connects with partner in vague relationship.

    N/A at this time.
  • The dancer’s body has dimension and energy to maintain clear lines. Dancer connects to partner with direct relationship.

    N/A at this time.
  • The dancer’s body has dimension and energy to maintain clear lines. Dancer connects to partner with intentional relationship.

    N/A at this time.
  • The dancer’s body has dimension and energy to maintain clear lines. Dancer connects to partner with innovative relationship.

    N/A at this time.
  • Dancer does not give or take weight sufficiently so that partnering is successful.

    N/A at this time.
  • Dancer gives and takes some weight, creating partnering that is limited in its success.

    N/A at this time.
  • Dancer reliably gives and takes weight, creating partnering that is effective and successful.

    N/A at this time.
  • Dancer reliably gives and takes weight, and offers helpful feedback to partner so that resulting patterning is consistently effective and successful.

    N/A at this time.
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