- Definition
Contrast in dance means putting two very different movements next to each other to make those differences really stand out, like a fast movement followed by a slow one.
A dancer leaping high in the air and then immediately curling up small on the floor shows contrast.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Contrast is like making your body tiny and scrunched up, and then suddenly stretching out big like a star.
Ask your child: Show me a big shape, then a small shape.
Common mix-up: Kids may just see two different moves without connecting them. Contrast is about putting opposite ideas, like fast and slow, together to make each one more noticeable.
Examples
- Moving very slowly like a snail and then suddenly zipping around quickly.
- Taking big, giant steps and then taking tiny, quiet steps.
contrast is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
+12 more mentions across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
