Section B · Choreography
Choreographic Devices
MR CHUM — and how each device can serve your intent
What you'll learn
- All 11 choreographic devices and what each one does
- How to write a NAME → EXAMPLE → EXPLAIN answer with 5–6 devices
- How to connect every device to your choreographic intent
- How to spot weak answers and strengthen them
Choreographic devices are the tools you use to shape, develop, and communicate through movement. They're the creative decisions — how you manipulate the motif, build the climax, organise the relationships between dancers — that transform raw movement into something that communicates meaning. In the exam, you need to show that you used specific devices deliberately, with purpose, in service of your intent.
All 11 Choreographic Devices — MR CHUM +
🔁 All 11 devices — tap each to see definition and exam language
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MR CHUM: Motif and development, Repetition, Climax, Highlights, Unison, Manipulation of number. Plus: Canon, Retrograde, Inversion, Fragmentation, Contrast.
Annotated Level 3 Model
✍️ Full L3 answer — Irish Troubles group — tap to annotate
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Intent: Irish Troubles — group of 5. Question: "Explain how you used choreographic devices in your choreography." (6 marks)
L3 model — choreographic devices — Irish Troubles · tap sections
I choreographed a group piece for five dancers. My choreographic intent was to explore the Irish Troubles — how cycles of political violence trap two communities in a pattern of action and retaliation that neither can break.
Motif and development was the backbone of the piece — I established an open-handed reaching gesture (the desire for connection) that developed throughout into a closed fist pushing away, the same motion transformed into rejection and violence.
This was effective because the audience recognised the original reaching motion and felt its corruption — understanding that what began as desire for connection had become the mechanism of conflict.
Repetition brought the pushing gesture back at the opening of each section, each time slightly more forceful. This communicated the cyclical nature of the Troubles — each incident of violence producing a response that produced another, the same gesture always returning, never resolved.
Contrast divided the group into two opposing clusters — three dancers using controlled, contained formations; two using reactive, explosive bursts. This was effective because the opposing movement vocabularies communicated two distinct communities, neither able to assimilate the other's language or experience.
Canon had both clusters performing the same aggressive gesture sequence two counts apart, the motion echoing across the divide between them. This communicated how violence echoes between communities — each act producing a near-identical response, amplified by the slight delay into something larger.
Climax built all five dancers from individual movement into a simultaneous freeze in opposing directions before an abrupt collective collapse. This communicated the moment a cycle reaches its most destructive point — the full force of the conflict visible at once before the silence of its aftermath.
Repetition brought the pushing gesture back at the opening of each section, each time slightly more forceful. This communicated the cyclical nature of the Troubles — each incident of violence producing a response that produced another, the same gesture always returning, never resolved.
Contrast divided the group into two opposing clusters — three dancers using controlled, contained formations; two using reactive, explosive bursts. This was effective because the opposing movement vocabularies communicated two distinct communities, neither able to assimilate the other's language or experience.
Canon had both clusters performing the same aggressive gesture sequence two counts apart, the motion echoing across the divide between them. This communicated how violence echoes between communities — each act producing a near-identical response, amplified by the slight delay into something larger.
Climax built all five dancers from individual movement into a simultaneous freeze in opposing directions before an abrupt collective collapse. This communicated the moment a cycle reaches its most destructive point — the full force of the conflict visible at once before the silence of its aftermath.
🟢 Name + Example — Motif and development named. Specific description: the open reach (human desire) developing into a closed fist push (violence). The transformation is the meaning.
🌿 Explain + Intent — "Felt its corruption" — active, emotional language. The reaching gesture becoming rejection maps directly onto the Troubles intent.
🟢 Name + Example — Repetition named, described specifically: the gesture returns at each section opening, each time more forceful.
🌿 Explain + Intent — "Each incident producing a response that produced another" — articulates the cycle using the device's nature. Repetition = cycles.
🟢 Name + Example — Contrast named, described in spatial and dynamic terms: the two-cluster split with different movement qualities.
🌿 Explain + Intent — "Two distinct communities, neither able to assimilate the other's language." Strong — makes Contrast do conceptual work.
🟢 Name + Example — Canon named, described: both clusters, same sequence, two counts apart, across the divide.
🌿 Explain + Intent — "Violence echoes" — uses the canon's echo quality as a metaphor for retaliatory violence. Excellent L3 connection.
🟢 Name + Example — Climax described with its arc: individual movement → simultaneous freeze → collapse.
🌿 Explain + Intent — "Full force of the conflict visible at once before the silence." The climax communicates the culmination of the cycle. Five items = full L3.
Name + Example
Explain — why effective for intent
Question Bank
📋 Practice questions with model answers
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Write your own answer using YOUR intent first, then compare.
Spot the Level
🔍 Level 1, 2 or 3?
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Question: "Explain how you used choreographic devices in your choreography."
Mini Test
10 questions on choreographic devices. 📸 Screenshot your score.
📸 Screenshot your score and paste into your ePortfolio.
🗂️ Revisit This — 6 Key Facts
MR CHUMMotif and development, Repetition, Climax, Highlights, Unison, Manipulation of number. Plus Canon, Retrograde, Inversion, Fragmentation, Contrast.
Opening sentence"I choreographed a [duet/trio]. My choreographic intent was…"
5–6 devicesName → Example → Explain for each. More breadth needed than in performance questions.
RetrogradePerforming the motif backwards. Communicates reversal, return, time running back.
FragmentationBreaking the motif into isolated parts. Communicates disintegration, loss of control, breakdown.
Explain effectiveness"This was effective because…" + how it served your intent. The explanation is the mark-scoring sentence.