Lines of gesture
Movement – creating the dance
You will need:
A clear, uncluttered space with no furniture, in which students can move freely. This can take place outside.
Sheets of large paper
Drawing materials such as charcoal, pencils, ink or paint
For this activity you will need a clear, uncluttered floor; push the furniture in your classroom to one side. Each of you find a space in which you can move your arms freely. Your teacher will call out words for feelings, or states of mind: words like “Excitement! Fear! Frustration! Joy! Fury! Astonishment! Nervousness! Exhaustion…!”
As your teacher calls out the words, one by one, use your whole body to express that emotion. For a moment, take the position or “shape” that conveys that feeling. Once you have the idea, divide into two groups. Half the class continues to move in response to the words as they are called out, while the other half draws them in quick gestural lines. Take turns.
With your charcoal, draw rapid, simple lines that express the movements and gestures that you see in front of you. Do not draw the people – just their gestures!
Lines of gesture
