Levels and pathways: using the space around you
Physical Education · Key Stage 2 · The School
High, middle and low
LEVEL means how high or low a move is. Standing tall. Crouching down low. Lying flat on the floor. A dance that stays at one level the whole time looks flat and dull. That is true even if each move is good on its own.
The shape you trace on the floor
PATHWAY means the shape your feet make as you move. A straight line. A curve. A zigzag. A loop. Nobody watching can see a pathway unless you plan it on purpose while you dance.
Choosing on purpose, not by chance
A straight pathway feels bold and direct. A curved one feels soft and gentle. Changing level adds real drama, most of all a sudden drop to the floor. Planning both ahead of time turns a plain move into a striking one.
A simple phrase is first done standing at one level, walking in a straight line the whole time. It looks flat and a bit dull. The same phrase is now redesigned. It starts standing tall. It drops fast to a crouch on the third count. The pathway now curves in a wide loop instead of a straight line. The moves barely changed at all. But one clear level change, and one curved pathway, made the exact same phrase feel far more interesting.