Health Optimizing

P.E. ([Link]) 3
Ms. Garily C. Camatison, LPT
 Introduction to Dance
• According to Barbara Mettler, 1980,

“Dance is an activity which can take many forms

and fill many different needs. It can be recreation,
entertainment, education, therapy and religion. In
its purest and most basic form, dance is art, the art
of body movement”.
 Dance
It is a form of art using rhythmic bodily movements
expressing ideas and emotions and accompanied by
music.
As an art form, it may tell a story, set a mood, or
express an emotion.
It is also a form of recreation.
It is also a form of socialization.
 HISTORY
Prehistoric Period
The Egyptians were the first great culture to infuse its
society with the magic of dance; which evolved from the
most simple rituals used by hunters to find their prey.
Greek Period
Greek dance evolved from basic dramatic form
which incorporated dance, music, spoken words, and
costumes.
Participation in dance and drama festival was a
religious exercise not merely an amusement.
There were more than 200 Greek dances designed
for every mood and purpose.
Roman Period
Rome imported entertainers from Greece to
perform theatrical pieces in honor of the gods and to
amuse a population weary from a plague. Romans were
influenced by Grecian models, putting the most
emphasis on the spectacle and mime to the extent that
dancing itself almost disappeared.
Medieval Period
Originally dance movements were part of
dramatic rituals, the best-known of which is the
Latin Mass. By the middle ages these works moved
from inside the churches to the out-of-doors.
Another important rite of the Middle Ages was
known as the dance of death.
Renaissance Period
This Period saw the birth of the theatre in
dance in the courts of Italian City states, where
such dance was used as a political machinery to
show splendour, wealth and power.
Classic Period
During the middle 17th century, ballet became a
spectacle in every court. Public ballet performances
involved more than just dancing because they were a
mixture of poetry, music, dialogue, and elaborate
dance. Such ballet performance was known as ballets
a entrees.
Modern Period
During the 20th century, jazz and tap dance
became popular as classic ballet continued to
flourish. Social dances such as the fox trot,
two-step, Boston, Charleston, Castle walk,
Castle polka, tango, conga, and rumba.
 Benefits of Dance and Creative
Develops cardiovascular &
Movement
• Physical
muscular endurance
Improves coordination, balance,
• Mental/
flexibility, & bodyEmotional
composition Helps keep the brain sharp
Lowers
• Social
cardiovascular disease, Decreases incidence of dementia &
BMI, resting heart rate Alzheimer’s disease, depression
• Cultural
Enables joint mobility Increase self-esteem & improve body
image
Give sense of togetherness within
a group
Encourages positive social
Promotes cultural valuesinteraction &interpersonal rel. in a
group
Potential for self-actualization in
society
The Elements of Dance

There are

4
Elements of Dance.
 The Elements of Dance

SPACE
TIME
FORCE/ ENERGY
BODY
1st Element of Dance

SPACE
Area surrounding a person
in which he/she is able to
move.
2. Level: The vertical distance
from the floor.

(High, Medium, or Low)

3. Direction: Where the body
moves.

(e.g. Forward, backward, up,

down, sideways, diagonally,
etc.)
4. Focus: Where the dancer’s
eyes look as he/she is dancing.

5. Size: How large or small

movements.
 SPACE
•Shape
•Level
•Direction
•Focus
•Size
2nd Element of Dance

TIME
The duration of the movement
• Beat- The on going underlying pulse.
• Tempo- How fast or slow the movements.
• Accent- Strong beats that usually occur at regular
intervals.
• Rhythmic Patterns- arranging long and short
movement or strong and light movement.
• Duration- The length of time the movement
lasts.
3rd Element of Dance

FORCE
How the body uses energy while
moving.
FORCE
FORCE = ENERGY
•Heavy / Light
•Sharp / Smooth
•Tensed / Relaxed
•Bound / Flowing
4th Element of Dance

• Part
BODY
• Shape
circles, squares, triangles, etc. made
with parts of the body, the whole body,
with groups of people, or by moving
through space. Symmetrical or
Asymmetrical
• Base
What makes a good dance?
• A good dance display a significant meaning
or conveys a message, it also portrays life
experiences.

• It has a beginning, middle and end/

conclusion.
Form- is the instrument by which ideas and
elements are arranged or combined into a logical
sequence.

Phrase- is the smallest unit of form in the whole

dance. A single phrase consists of eight (8)
counts. It is easier for building routines and
choreographic combinations with an 8-count
phrase.

Motif- to be able to convey its meaning or intention

to the audience.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD DANCE
• UNITY- interconnected phrases of the dance are
coherent and flow smoothly together. It attracts and
holds the audience’s attention.

• VARIETY and CONTRAST- add excitement and flavor

in 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- also vital because it keeps the unity and

continuity of the dance. It may vary from length and
complexity. They may be long or short, gradual or
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD DANCE

• REPETITION- usually when a certain phrase or a

section of choreography is repeated, it is the main
message of the dance. Also the audience can see those
movements again and identify its significance.

• CLIMAX – the apex of energy in the dance is reached.

 Choreographic Forms in Dance

AB(two-part) form- the simplest of the sequential forms.

This form is commonly used in many folk dances and
songs.

ABA(three-part)- dance theme A followed by a contrasting

theme B, ending with a restatement A which may be a
variation of original A. in songs, chorus (A) a verse (B)
and a repetition of the chorus (A)
 Choreographic Forms in Dance
Rondo- (ABACADA)-

Canon- one theme with several voices in succession and overlapping

harmony.

Themes and Variations- the motif is a series of movements to

which variations are added throughout the development of the
entire choreography.
Choreographic Forms in Dance
Narrative
•A dance that tells a story using
only movement.
•NO WORDS!
Choreographic Forms in Dance
Narrative
Examples: Ballets like…
The Nutcracker Cinderella
Swan Lake Sleeping
Beauty
Swan Lake
 Evaluating a Good Dance
“the Evaluators roles”
• CHOREOGRAPHERS- 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 specific demands that

the performance places on them.

• AUDIENCES- they will evaluate according to the particular context of

the dance.
 Stages in Assessing a Dance
( Dance Critique)
• Description is a straightforward recounting of what you
see and hear. It is focused on the individual elements of
a dance rather than on the whole.
• Interpretation involves a personal reading of either the
entire work or aspects of it; this is where the critic’s
imagination is fully involved in finding meaning in the
work. Appreciation of the ideas, content, images and
style.
• Evaluation is your considered judgment of the work,
which may be either implicitly or explicitly stated.
(elements, characteristics)
ARE YOU READY?
Take Note!
• Analyzing and evaluating dance does not come out
naturally and does not happen overnight.

• As a beginner evaluators you need guidance and

direction in conceptualizing a dance critique.

• For easier assessment and evaluation, consider the

guide questions that will be provided for you.
 Guide Questions in Analyzing and
Evaluating Dance Performance
• What was the title of the dance?
• Who was the choreographer?
• When was it performed? (Date of performance)
• What was the genre / style of the dance?
• What was the accompaniment?
• Who were the dancers/ company?
• Were there specific demands placed on dancers
in the performance? If yes, what were these?
• What are the movements and forms of the dance
• What does the set look like?
• What were the costumes / props used during the
performance?
• How was the lighting of the show / performance?
• Who was the designer of the show/performance?
• What were the context and/or significance of the
dance?
• How will you evaluate the overall dance
performance?
Sample Dance Analysis and
Evaluation
Title of the dance:
Choreographer:
Date:
Genre/Style:
Accompaniment:
Dancers/ Company:
Specific demands placed on dancers in
performance:
Movement and form:
Costumes / prop:
Designer name:
Context and significance / evaluation:
• By pair (Fish bowl)
• Search a video of a dance and critique
it. Use the guide questions and sample
evaluation for your output.
• 1. Hip-hop
• 2. Festival dance
• 3. Modern Dance