Brief History and Nature of

Dance
Health Optimizing Physical Education

WHAT IS DANCE?
In its purest, most basic form, dance is art, the art of body movement.

NATURE AND HISTORY OF DANCE

Nature of dance Dance differs from athletics and other daily activities because it
focuses primarily on an aesthetic or even entertaining experience

Why do people dance?

I.To please the gods
II. To please others
III.To please themselves or self expression
IV. To build community

Brief history of dance

It is said that the first use of dance was as a gesture in order to communicate.

● as a means of religious expression ANCIENT EGYPT

● as an aid to military education ANCIENT GREECE Ancient Greeks believed that a
man’s grace in dance equaled his prowess in battle, therefore dance was incorporated
in their basic education.
● way of expressing tribal unity PHILIPPINES
● as an approach for courtship PHILIPPINES

BENEFITS OF DANCE

PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF DANCE

•develops muscular and cardiovascular endurance
•improves flexibility, coordination, balance, and body composition
•enables joint mobility
•helps prevent osteoporosis
•lowers risk of cardiovascular diseases

MENTAL/EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF DANCE

•helps keep the brain sharp
•decreases risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
•decreases depressive symptoms
•increases self-esteem and improves body image
•aids in releasing emotional tension

SOCIAL BENEFITS OF DANCE

•gives sense of togetherness within a group
•encourages positive social interaction and interpersonal relationship in a group
•contributes to the individual’s potential for self-actualization in society
CULTURAL BENEFITS OF DANCE
•promotes cultural values

SPACE elements of dance

SPACE - the area that the dance performers occupy and where they move - can be
divided into four different aspects, also known as spatial elements

● Direction - The performers can go forward, backward, diagonal, circular, and so on.
● Size - Movements can be varied by doing smaller or larger actions.
● Level - Movements can be done in a high, medium, and low level.
● Focus - Performers may change their focus by looking at different directions .
● Movement Difference: Sizes and Levels Similarity: Movement Difference: Focus
and Levels

TIMING elements of dance

● TIMING The movements in timing can be executed in varying tempo (speed).
Performers move with tempo of an underlying sound known as beat or pulse.
● DANCE ENERGIES Movements are propelled by energy or force. This force can
either initiate or stop an action. Dance uses different energies. Varied use of these
minimizes the monotony of the movements in the performance.

SIX QUALITIES OF DANCE ENERGIES

I. Sustained II. Percussive III. Vibratory IV. Swinging V. Suspended VI.
Collapsing
1. SUSTAINED Movements are done smoothly, continuously, and with flow and
control. It does not have a clear beginning and ending.

2. PERCUSSIVE Movements are explosive or sharp in contrast with sustained

movements. They are accented with thrust of energy. They have a clear beginning and
ending.

3. VIBRATORY Movements consist of trembling or shaking. A faster version of

percussive movements that produces a jittery effect.

4. SWINGING Movements trace a curved line or an arc in space. The movements are
relaxed and giving in to gravity on the downward part of the motion, followed by an
upward application of energy.

5. SUSPENDED Movements are perched in space or hanging on air. Holding a raised

leg in any direction is an example of a suspended movement.

6. COLLAPSING Movements are released in tension and gradually or abruptly giving

in to gravity, letting the body descend to the floor. A slow collapse can be described
as a melting or oozing action in a downward direction.

BODILY SHAPES elements of dance

It refers to how the entire body is molded in space or the confifiguration of body
parts. The body can be rounded, angular, or the combination of the two. Other body
shapes can be from wide to narrow and from high to low. They can be symmetrical
and asymmetrical.
BODILY SHAPES Symmetrical bodily shapes Balanced shape; movements are
practically identical or similar on both sides.
BODILY SHAPES Asymmetrical bodily shapes Unbalanced shape; movements of
two sides of the body do not match or are completely different from each other.

GROUP SHAPES elements of dance

GROUP SHAPES In this element, a group of dancers perform movements in different
group shapes/they are arranges in ways that are wide, narrow, rounded, angular,
symmetrical, or asymmetrical, and are viewed together as a total picture or
arrangement.

BODILY SHAPES Symmetrical, narrow group shape

BODILY SHAPES Asymmetrical, rounded group shape

DANCE APPRECIATION AND COMPOSITION

What makes a good dance? displays a signifificant meaning or conveys a message
lifts and transports the audience from their seats has a beginning, middle, and end /
conclusion must have a shape or form for an effective choreography

Terms to understand Form Form is the instrument by which ideas and elements are
arranged or combined into a logical sequence which results in unity and consistency.
It is the organizing factor of any dance composition. Phrase A phrase is the smallest
unit of form in the whole dance. It can be related to a sentence in writing
compositions. Motif A single movement or a short phrase of movement that embodies
the style and intention of the dance is called a motif. A good dance contains this in
order to be able to convey its meaning or intention to the audience.

Characteristics of a good dance

I. Unity II. Continuity and Development III.Variety and Contrast IV.Transition
V. Repetition VI.Climax

UNITY characteristics of a good dance

characteristics of a good dance: UNITY The interconnected phrases of the dance are
coherent and flflow smoothly together. The movements fifit together and each plays
an important role that contributes to the entirety of a dance.

CONTINUITY AND DEVELOPMENT characteristics of a good dance

characteristics of a good dance: CONTINUITY AND DEVELOPMENT The
structure of the dance are organized progressively, making each movement phrase
move naturally into the next. There is a continuous development of the movement
phrase and the audience is swept along to the end.

VARIETY AND CONTRAST characteristics of a good dance

characteristics of a good dance: VARIETY AND CONTRAST Variety and contrast in
movement phrases add excitement and flavor to the dance. Changing the direction,
use of energy, timing of a movement phrase, and avoiding repeating them in the exact
way are ways to add variety to the dance.
TRANSITION characteristics of a good dance
characteristics of a good dance: TRANSITION This is the link between movements,
phrases, and sections of the dance. It makes the logical progression of the dance flow
smoothly. Also, it is vital because it keeps the unity and continuity of the dance.

REPETITION characteristics of a good dance

characteristics of a good dance: REPETITION Some phrases need to be repeated in
choreography so that the audience can see those movements again and identify its
signifificance. Usually, when a certain phrase or a section of choreography is
repeated, it is the main message of the dance.

CLIMAX characteristics of a good dance

characteristics of a good dance: CLIMAX This is where the apex of energy in the
dance is reached. It is similar to the climax in a story where a series of events
culminates. The climax may be a fast and enraged blast of energy action, or it could
fade away to a gentle and quiet exit that marks the end of a particular story. The music
will often assist both the choreographer and the audience when determining this point
of development.

CHOREOGRAPHIC FORMS IN DANCE

CHOREOGRAPHIC FORMS IN DANCE
I. Sequential II.Contrapuntal III.Episodic IV.Other compositional forms

SEQUENTIAL FORMS I. AB (two-part) form II.ABA (three-part) form III.Rondo

Form (ABACA) IV.Themes and variations form

CONTRAPUNTAL FORMS I. Ground bass II.Round or Canon III.Fugue or

Accumulation IV.Suite

OTHER COMPOSITIONAL FORMS I. Natural structures II.Collage III.Tableau

IV.Chance

EVALUATING A GOOD DANCE

How is the quality of a dance evaluated? The success of any dance performance may
depend on who the evaluators are. Appreciation on the importance of dance comes
from the points of view of the choreographer, the dancer, or the audience.

Evaluators’ roles Choreographer They will evaluate a part of an ongoing process of

developing a personal style which is both spontaneous and organized. Dancers They
will evaluate according to the specifific demands that the performance places on
them. Motif They will evaluate according to the particular context of the dance.

MAKING A DANCE CRITIQUE

Stages in assessing a dance Description Here, the evaluator / critic notes down the
composition of the dance in terms of the elements and the characteristics of dance
Examples of which are noting down the variation, unity, space, time, and so on.
Interpretation Involves an appreciation of the ideas, content, images, and style
contained within the dance. Evaluation Takes into consideration how effectively the
features and context of the dance have been utilized in the actual performance of the
dancers to portray the content and quality of the dance.