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CHAPTER I: ELEMENTS OF DANCE

5 ELEMENTS OF DANCE

Body: Who Dances? The Dancer!

Action: The Dancer Does What? Moves!

Space: Where Does The Dancer Move? Through Space!

Time: How Does the Body Move with Time?

Energy: How? The Dancer Moves through Space and Time with Energy

Body: Who Dances? The Dancer!

The human body is what others see when they look at dance. Sometimes the body is still; other
times, it may be in motion. A dancer can use the whole body, or emphasize individual body
parts, when moving.

Action: The Dancer Does What? Moves!

Action is any human movement involved in the act of dancing.

Non-locomotors or axial movement: Any movement that occurs in one spot including a bend,
stretch, swing, rise, fall, shake, turn, rock, tip, suspend, and twist.

Locomotors movement: Any movement that travels through space including a run, jump, walk,
slide, hop, skip, somersault, leap, crawl, gallop, and roll.

Space: Where Does the Dancer Move? Through Space!

Dance moves through space in an endless variety of ways.

 Level
 Direction
 Place
 Orientation
 Pathway
 Size
 Relationships

Time: How Does the Body Move with Time?

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Choreographers have to make decisions about timing.

 Clock Time
 Timing Relationships
 Metered Time
 Free Rhythm

Energy: How? The Dancer Moves through Space and Time with Energy!

Energy also represents the quality of the movement—its power and richness.

 Attack
 Weight
 Flow
 Quality

CHAPTER II: DANCE COMPOSITION AND APPRECIATION

Recreational Dance and Dance Fitness

 Recreational dance is a social activity in which people of all ages can participate.
Includes folk, cultural, and historical dances, and social dances from the past and
present.
 Dance fitness is a fun way to increase cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility.
Various dance genres support fitness (Ex. Zumba fitness and Cardio dance).

What Makes a Good Dance?

 displays a significant meaning or conveys a message

 may be presented abstractly and symbolically but still convey emotion and meaning.
 has a beginning, middle, and end/conclusion:

Beginning – may come in a form of shape, a pose, or an entrance

Middle - development or exploration of the main idea.

End - clear and may be in a form of shape, pose, or an exit.

1. Form

A form is the instrument by which ideas and elements are arranged or combined into a logical
sequence which results in unity and consistency, and by means of which the content or idea can
be expressed and communicated.
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The form should progress through time from the beginning to the end of choreography. Each
section is composed of several units that are smoothly connected to each other.

2. Phrase

Phrase is the smallest unit of form in the whole dance. Choreographers and dancers use
movements phrasing when working on dance. Commonly, a single phrase consists of eight
counts.

3. Motif

A good dance contains a theme or a motif to be able to convey its meaning or intention to the
audience. A single movement or a short phrase of movement that embodies the style and
intention of the dance is called a motif.

One good example of a dance is the Itik-Itik Philippine folkdance. It is easy to identify the motif
of this dance as it simply portrays the movement of an itik (duckling).

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD DANCE

1. Unity - The interconnected phrases of the dance are coherent and flow smoothly.

2. Continuity and Development - The phrases of the dance that are organized progressively,
making each movement phrase move naturally into the next.

3. Variety and Contrast - Making one or several variations that highlight the facet of the motif.

4. Transition - This is the link between movements, phrases, and sections of the dance. It
makes the logical progression of the dance flow smoothly. Transitions may vary from length and
complexity.

5. Repetition - It emphasizes movements and phrases that are important to the dance and
gives a feeling of closure to a work.

6. Climax - This is where the apex of energy in the dance is reached.

CHOREOGRAPHIC FORMS IN DANCE

1. Sequential Forms

These forms contains themes/motif which progress in a specific order. They are arranged
accordingly.
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a) AB (two-part) form is the simplest of the sequential forms and is similar to a verse and a
chorus of a song. It is a binary form with two contrasting sections consisting of a beginning
section (A) followed by a second section (B).

b) ABA (three-part) form composed of introductory theme (A), a contrasting theme (B), and a
restatement of the original theme (A). (A) is the unifying theme and the center of interest, then
(B) gives contrast.

c) Rondo Form (ABACA) - in this form the unifying theme (A) returns after each contrasting
theme.

d) Theme and Variation form the motif is a series of movements to which variations are added
throughout the development of the entire choreography.

2. Contrapuntal Forms

Here, several themes are woven together in choreography to form a complex structure. The
main theme is seen against itself or against one or more other themes.

A. Ground Bass - Single theme starts the dance and is repeated all the way through the dance
while other contrasting themes are simultaneously performed with it.

B. Round or Canon - Consists of two or more movement phrases or theme in which the main
movement phrases is imitated exactly and completely by the successive movements, but done
in staggered manner.

C. Fugue or Accumulation - A choreographic form that is constructed by adding on different

movement or dance phrases in every repetition of the main movement theme. The movement
phrases can be developed by reversing, inverting, argument, or diminishing throughout the
dance.

D. Suite - Every section of the dance (beginning, middle, and end) use different tempos and
qualities.

3. Episodic Form

Episodic forms are not musical forms. Instead, they are found in literature. They tell a story
through connected and progressive sections called episodes.

4. Other Compositional Forms

a. Natural Structures - mostly come from natural structures such as the seasons, life, cycles, and
everyday life experiences.
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b. Collage - consists of "a series of movement phrases that are often unrelated but have been
brought together to create a single dance with a beginning, middle, and end.

c. Tableau - different movement phrases are performed by different dancers simultaneously in

the same space.

d. Chance - the movement phrases are performed in random order and spatial placing.

EVALUATING A GOOD DANCE

How is the quality of the dance evaluated?

Evaluators’ roles are categorized as:

1. Choreographers - They will evaluate a part of an ongoing process of developing a personal

style which is both spontaneous and organized.

2. Dancers - They will evaluate according to the specific demands that the performances places
on them.

3. Audiences - They will evaluate according to the particular context of the dance.

STAGES IN ASSESSING A DANCE (DANCE CRITIQUE)

1. Description - Involves close observation of all the elements, characteristics, and components
of a dance. Here, the evaluator/critic notes down the composition of the dance in terms of the
elements and the characteristics of dance.

2. Interpretation - Involves an appreciation of the ideas, content, images, and style contained
within the dance.

3. Evaluation - Takes into consideration how effectively the features and the context of the
dance have been utilized in the actual performance of the dancers to portray the content and
the quality of the dance.

CHAPTER III: DANCE AS AN ART

The movement of the body in a rhythmic way.

 Idea
 Emotion
 Energy

How is Dance considered as an Art?

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The art of dance is the impulse that is channeled by skillful performers into something that
becomes intensely expressive also delights the audience.

 Dance is a powerful impulse.

 It is a skillfully choreographed art.
 It is an art form in which human movement becomes a medium for sensing,
understanding and communicating ideas, feelings, emotions and experiences.
 It has its own content, vocabulary, skill, and technique.

TYPES OF DANCE AS AN ART

Philippine Folk Dance

Folk dance is a form of dance developed by a group of people that reflects the traditional life of
the people of a certain country or region. It is a recreational or ceremonial dance performed
usually by members of the community to traditional.

Major Classification

 Cordillera Dance
 Spanish Influenced
 Dance Muslim
 Dance Tribal dance
 Rural dance

Ballet

Ballet is an elegant dance style with classy, precise, and flowing movements that depends upon
an elaborate formal technique. It is dramatic, with props, lighting, and costumes used to perform
it for an audience on a stage. It may express a thoughts, concept, or feeling, or it might tell a
story.

Modern Dance

Modern dance often referred to as contemporary or lyrical. It is a genre of dance that was
introduced in the early 1900s. Modern dance is a creative type of dance that is contemporary in
form and uses abstract movements to portray ideas, feelings, and emotions.

Modern dance uses a variety of movements, such as no boundaries and the use of space to
formulate a unique style. It is often referred to as contemporary or lyrical.

Contemporary Dance

Contemporary dance usually means that it has been created recently, is performed to
contemporary music, and is a fusion of ballet, jazz and modern styles.
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Lyrical

Lyrical dance is most often performed to songs with lyrics and is all about smooth, fluid
movement and expression of emotions.

CHAPTER IV: DANCE AS A COMPOSITION

Dance as a composition is learning how to make a dance. During the dance composition process,
you explore a movement idea by creating dance movement or selecting steps in some dance
genres, and then you manipulate these elements and materials of dance into movement modules
of various lengths to compose a dance.

ELEMENTS

SPACE Where is the movement performed?

TIME When is the movement performed?

FORCE How is the movement performed?

BODY What is being used to performed?

FORM How is dance structured?

TYPES

 Salsa
 Ballet
 Kathak
 Hip-hop
 Ballroom
 Breakdancing

CHALLENGES

Dancers face challenges like physical demands, injuries, mental stress, financial instability, and
societal pressures, along with the technical mastery and balancing their work and personal life.

 Time Signature Twist

 Color Inspiration
 Limited Space
 Non-Traditional Music
 Partner Exchange

CHAPTER V: DANCE-RELATED INJURY

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Dance-Related Injury

Injury resulting from the physical demands of dancing is referred to as dance-related injury.
Overuse, improper technique, or accidents during rehearsal or performance can all lead to these
injuries.

TWO TYPES OF MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES

 ACUTE INJURY
 CHRONIC INJURY

COMMON ACUTE DANCE-RELATED INJURIES (WOZNY, 2010)

1. Ankle Sprain

CAUSE: Twist the ankle after a jump

SYMPTOPMS: Pain at the side of the ankle

PREVENTION: Exercise that strengthens the ankle and improves balance

2. Dancer’s Fracture

CAUSE: Twist the foot when turning

SYMPTOMS: Pain in the outer part of the foot

PREVENTION: Exercise that strengthens the foot and improves the balance

3. Back Strain

CAUSE: Sudden movement of the trunk

SYMPTOMS: Pain and stiffness in the lower back

PREVENTION: Proper posture and technique

COMMON CHRONIC DANCE-RELATED INJURIES (WOZNY, 2010)

 Stress Fracture
 Achilles Tendinosis
 Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

1. Stress Fracture

CAUSE: Prolonged repetitive loading

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SYMPTOMS: Pain at the front of the leg

PREVENTION: Adequate rest

2. Achilles Tendinosis

CAUSE: Excessive training

SYMPTOMS: Pain near the hell in the morning

PREVENTION: Adequate rest

3. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

CAUSES: Muscle imbalance

SYMPTOMS: Pain at the knee side of the knee

PREVENTION: Strengthening and flexibility exercises

COMMON FACTORS AMONG DANCERS WHO HAVE AN INJURY:

 Poor body alignment and technique

 Excessive training duration and intensity
 Hard dance floor
 Poor shoe design
 Muscle imbalance

WHAT WILL HELP YOU TO PREVENT DANCE-RELATED INJURIES?

 Warm-up and cool down

 Strength and flexibility
 Proper technique
 Nutrition and hydration
 Rest
 Listen to your body
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