DANCE210 – A+ Contemporary
Modern Dance Technique
Terminology
Key Concepts, Vocabulary &
Practical Understanding
Latest Updated 2025–2026
The vertebrae of the neck - Answer✅Cervical Spine
The tailbone, which consists of three-four fused vertebrae - Answer✅Coccyx
The area of the spine pertaining to the lower back vertebrae. There are five of these -
Answer✅Lumbar Spine
The chest area of the spine - Answer✅Thoracic Spine
Hip/thigh socket - Answer✅Acetabulum
Bone located laterally at the junction of the shaft and neck of the femur (thigh). Often considered as
the outside of the hips. - Answer✅Greater Trochanter
A ball-like bone on the upper end of the femur (thigh) that articulates with the acetabulum,
comprising the hip joint - Answer✅Head of Femur
, The articulation of the femur (leg bone) with the acetabulum, a deep hole in the pelvic girdle. This
large, strong joint accommodates three planes of motion of the leg-flexion/extension, lateral/medial
rotation, and abduction/adduction - Answer✅Hip Joint
A complex bony structure made up of the sacrum and the left and right hip bones (os coxae) -
Answer✅Pelvis
The posterior, wedge shaped component of the pelvis located between the two pelvic bones -
Answer✅Sacrum
Also called the ischial tuberosity, these are the bones that make contact with the ground while sitting
- Answer✅Sitz Bones
The triangular bone on the back of the body that forms the posterior part of the shoulder girdle -
Answer✅Scapula
Thigh bone, large bone of the upper leg - Answer✅Femur
Muscles found on the belly of the body. The abdominals included the rectus abdominus, the obliques,
and the transversalis - Answer✅Abdominals
Group of three muscles (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus) on the back of the thigh
that acts to extend the hip and flex the knee joint - Answer✅Hamstrings
A group of four muscles located on the anterior (front) aspect of the thigh. The primary function of
the quadriceps is to extend the knee joint - Answer✅Quadriceps
The relationship between breathing and movement - Answer✅Breath
Energetic relationship between the center and the limbs - Answer✅Core-distal
An energetic relationship between the head and the tailbone (coccyx); correlates to the movement of
fish - Answer✅Head-tail
The relationship between the lower body (hips and legs) and the upper body (torso and arms).
Symmetrical movement of two upper and/or two lower limbs simultaneously; correlates to the
movement of amphibians - Answer✅Upper-lower/Homologous Movement
The movement of the right or left half of the body, while the other half is stationary or playing a
supportive role. Asymmetrical movement of one upper limb and the lower limb on the same side;
correlates to the movement of reptiles - Answer✅Body Half/Homolateral Movement
Cross patterning of arms and legs. A twisting action that underlies oppositional use of arms and legs;
correlates to the movement of mammals - Answer✅Cross Lateral
This movement of the joint moves a bone away from the midline of the body - Answer✅Abduction
This movement of the joint moves a bone toward the midline of the body - Answer✅Adduction
Gliding the foot along the floor, also known as a tendu in ballet - Answer✅Brush
Deep folding at the hip joint - Answer✅Crease
This movement of a joint is to bend it or decrease the angle between the bones of the joint -
Answer✅Flexion
Modern Dance Technique
Terminology
Key Concepts, Vocabulary &
Practical Understanding
Latest Updated 2025–2026
The vertebrae of the neck - Answer✅Cervical Spine
The tailbone, which consists of three-four fused vertebrae - Answer✅Coccyx
The area of the spine pertaining to the lower back vertebrae. There are five of these -
Answer✅Lumbar Spine
The chest area of the spine - Answer✅Thoracic Spine
Hip/thigh socket - Answer✅Acetabulum
Bone located laterally at the junction of the shaft and neck of the femur (thigh). Often considered as
the outside of the hips. - Answer✅Greater Trochanter
A ball-like bone on the upper end of the femur (thigh) that articulates with the acetabulum,
comprising the hip joint - Answer✅Head of Femur
, The articulation of the femur (leg bone) with the acetabulum, a deep hole in the pelvic girdle. This
large, strong joint accommodates three planes of motion of the leg-flexion/extension, lateral/medial
rotation, and abduction/adduction - Answer✅Hip Joint
A complex bony structure made up of the sacrum and the left and right hip bones (os coxae) -
Answer✅Pelvis
The posterior, wedge shaped component of the pelvis located between the two pelvic bones -
Answer✅Sacrum
Also called the ischial tuberosity, these are the bones that make contact with the ground while sitting
- Answer✅Sitz Bones
The triangular bone on the back of the body that forms the posterior part of the shoulder girdle -
Answer✅Scapula
Thigh bone, large bone of the upper leg - Answer✅Femur
Muscles found on the belly of the body. The abdominals included the rectus abdominus, the obliques,
and the transversalis - Answer✅Abdominals
Group of three muscles (biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus) on the back of the thigh
that acts to extend the hip and flex the knee joint - Answer✅Hamstrings
A group of four muscles located on the anterior (front) aspect of the thigh. The primary function of
the quadriceps is to extend the knee joint - Answer✅Quadriceps
The relationship between breathing and movement - Answer✅Breath
Energetic relationship between the center and the limbs - Answer✅Core-distal
An energetic relationship between the head and the tailbone (coccyx); correlates to the movement of
fish - Answer✅Head-tail
The relationship between the lower body (hips and legs) and the upper body (torso and arms).
Symmetrical movement of two upper and/or two lower limbs simultaneously; correlates to the
movement of amphibians - Answer✅Upper-lower/Homologous Movement
The movement of the right or left half of the body, while the other half is stationary or playing a
supportive role. Asymmetrical movement of one upper limb and the lower limb on the same side;
correlates to the movement of reptiles - Answer✅Body Half/Homolateral Movement
Cross patterning of arms and legs. A twisting action that underlies oppositional use of arms and legs;
correlates to the movement of mammals - Answer✅Cross Lateral
This movement of the joint moves a bone away from the midline of the body - Answer✅Abduction
This movement of the joint moves a bone toward the midline of the body - Answer✅Adduction
Gliding the foot along the floor, also known as a tendu in ballet - Answer✅Brush
Deep folding at the hip joint - Answer✅Crease
This movement of a joint is to bend it or decrease the angle between the bones of the joint -
Answer✅Flexion
