In as much as all movements in nō are choreographed and the performers never break from the formal prescribed stance, the entire performance might be considered dance. There are, however, certain sections where movement flows in a continuum illustrating a sung narrative through imagistic gesture that are treated as dance units (shimai). In addition, some plays feature dances to purely instrumental accompaniment, such as mai (long dances) and hatarakimono, (action pieces often with mimetic impact). The links below explore the basic conventions of movement, beginning with the stance and walk, the types of movement patterns, the way these patterns are strung together to form dances, and the types of dances prevalent in nō.
- Dance
- Figure Drawings
- Kata
- Movement
- Posture and walk
- Role of stage properties
- Use of the stage
- Using costumes
- Using the mask
Contributor: Monica Bethe