Dance

 It is differenet from athletics or other daily activities because it focuses primariy on “ an aesthetic or even
entertainment experience
 It can be seen among all the people and civilizations of the world.
 It was used as a way of expressing and reinforcing ritual and social expression within primitive cultures.
 Considered to be the oldest and most popular forms of Exercise.
Elements of Dancing
Space-the area where the performers occupy and where they move.
Four Spatial Elements
1. Direction-dance movements can travel in any direction
2. Size- movements can be varied by doing larger or smaller actions
3. Level-movements can be done in high,medium or low level
4. Focus-performers may change their focus by looking at different directions
Timing-performers move with the tempo of an underlying sound known as beat or pulse.
Dance Energy – the movements here propelled by energy or force. A force either iniate or stop an action.It also use to
minimizes the monotony of the movements in a performers.
Four Qualities of Dance Energy
 Sustained- movements are done smoothly,continuously and controlled.
 Percussive –movements are explosive or sharp contrast with sustained movements.
 Vibratory – the faster version of percussive movements that produces jitters effect.
 Suspended – movements are released in space or hanging in air
Body Shapes- it refers to how the entire body is molded in space or the configuration of the body parts.
1. Symmetrical – balanced shape; movements are practically similar on both sides.
2. Asymmetrical – unbalanced shape; movements of two sides of the body do not match or completely different
from both sides.
Composition of Dance
1. Form- the instrument by which ideas and elements are arranged into logical sequence.
2. Motif- single movement that embodies the style and intention of the dance.
Folk Dances
 These are the indigenous dances of any specific “ folk” or the common people
 Related to the daily activities such as customs, rituals and occupations.
 Traditional dances found in a certain country.
 Francisca Reyes-Aquino – pioneer of folk dancing in the Philippines.
Three Major Classifications of Philippine Folk Dances
1. Tribal dances- includes the non-Christian Dances
2. Lowland Christian Dances- dances coming from the Western influences.
3. Muslim dances- dances from the Southern Islands of the Philippines.
Classifications of Philippine Folk Dances
1. Life-cycle dances- dances that serve as ritual as one passes to a different stage in life.
2. Festival dances- dances that are connected with the celebration of recuuring events.
3. Occupational dances –dances that depict the means of livelihood of the Filipino people.
4. Ritual and ceremonial dances- dances performed as part of the rituals and ceremonies of a certain tribe.
5. Game dances-derivations from local folk games
6. Mimetic or drama dances-dances that mimic animals,inanimate objects or other people.
7. War dances- dances that express feud and enmity of certain person/s.
Ethnic Dance- also called as ethnological dances that are performed in primitive tribes such as religious ritual and
community custom.
Types of Ethnic Dance
1. Ritual dances- Depicts ritual ceremonies.
2. Life-Cycle dances- relating the cycle of human life.
3. Occupational dances- exhibit work and occupation of the dancers.
National Folk Dances – also called as traditional folk dances but have a national scopes; popular throughout the
country.