WHAT I NEED TO KNOW?
Identify the different elements of dance
Show enthusiasm in learning by self-assessing health-related fitness status
Develop a simple dance video incorporating the different elements of dance.
WHAT IS IT
DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF DANCE
“Existence is a movement. Action is movement. Existence defined by the rhythm of forces in Natural
balance”
The Elements of Dance are the foundational concepts and vocabulary that helps students develop
movement skills and understand dance as an artistic practice.
BODY
BODY SHAPED
This refers to how the entire body is molded in space on the configuration of the body parts. The body
can be rounded, angular, or a combination of two. They can be;
SYMMETRICAL – balanced shaped; movements are practically identical or similar on both sides
ASYMMETRICAL – unbalanced shaped; movements of two sides of the body do not match or
completely different from each other
In this element, a group of dancers perform movement in different group shapes. They are arranging in
ways that are wide, narrow, rounded, angular, symmetrical, or asymmetrical and are viewed together as
a total picture or arrangement within.
ACTION
Any human movement included in the dancing – it can include dance steps, facial movements,
partner lifts, gestures, and even everyday movements such as walking. Dance is made up of streams of
movement and pauses, so action refers not only to steps and sequences, but also to pauses and moments
of relative stillness.
SPACE
This is the area the performance occupies and where they move. It can be divided into four
different aspects also known as spital elements.
DIRECTION – dance movement can travel in any direction. The performer can go forward, side,
backward, diagonal, circular and so on.
SIZE – movements can be varied by doing larger or smaller actions.
LEVEL – movements can be done in a high, medium, or low level.
FOCUS – performers may change their focus by looking at different directions.
TIME
Rhythmic pattern may be metered or free rhythm. Much of western music uses repeating
pattern, but concepts of time and meter are used very differently throughout the world. Dance
movements may also show different timing relationship such as simultaneous or sequential timing, brief
to long duration, fast to slow speed, or accents in predictable or unpredictable intervals.
Time may also be organized on other ways including:
CLOCK TIME – The dance is based on units of seconds, minutes, and/or hours.
SENSED TIME – Dancers pick up on each other’s timing such as gradually increasing from a walking
tempo to running tempo by cueing off each other rather than a music score.
EVENT-SEQUENCE – An internal and external event signals a change such as repeating a traveling
phrase over and over until everyone arrives at a corner of the stage.
ENERGY
The movement here propelled by energy or force. A force can either initiate or stop an
action. Dance uses different energies and varied use of these minimizes the monotony of the movement
s in a performance. There are six qualities of dance energies presented below.
SUSTAINED – movements are done smoothly, continuously, and with flow and control does not
have a clear beginning and ending.
PERCUSSIVE – movements are explosive or sharp in contrast with sustained movement. They are
accented with thrust of energy. They have clear beginning and ending.
VIBRATORY – movement consists of trembling or shaking. A faster version or percussive
movements that produce a jittery effect. (Minton, 2007)
SWINGING – movements traced a curved line or arc in space. The movements are released and
giving in to gravity on the downward part of the motion, followed by an upward application of
energy.
SUSPENDED – movements are perched in space or hanging on ai, holding a raised leg in any
direction is an example of a suspended movement.
COLLAPSING – movements are released in tennis and gradually or abruptly giving in to gravity.
Letting the body descent to the floor. A slow collapse can be described as a melting or oozing
action in a downward direction (Minton, 2007).
