HOPE 3

• 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 Movement

✔Develops cardiovascular & muscular

endurance
✔Improves coordination, balance,
• Physical
flexibility, & body composition
• Mental/ Emotional
✔Helps keep the brain sharp
✔Lowers cardiovascular disease, BMI, resting heart rate
• Social
✔Enables joint mobility
• Cultural
✔Decreases incidence of dementia &
Alzheimer’s disease, depression
✔Increase self-esteem & improve body image
✔Give sense of togetherness within a
group
✔Encourages positive social interaction
&interpersonal rel. in a group
Promotes cultural values
✔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
SPACE

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
•Shape
BODY
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 abrupt.
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)

WHAT I KNOW

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