PhEd 13

Physical Fitness Towards Health and

Module 1: Introduction to
Philippine Folk Dance
Module Overview
The varieties of dances originate in a country reflects the culture, art, and nature of
the folks. Even before the Spaniards set foot on the Philippine soil, the kinds of dances
found in the Philippines show the strong Filipino culture. A great number of dances are
found in the Philippines, owing to the dispersed locations of the 7,641 Philippine Islands.
The Filipinos, as a people, enjoy music, dancing and feasting. Singing, playing musical
instruments, and dancing have for decades been people's recreational activities while it is a
way of life in indigenous communities. They've got dances and songs for every occasion.
Philippine Folk Dance combines elements from settlers and conquerors, while retaining
strongly Filipino origins at the same time. Folk dances in the Philippines is a direct
representation of the daily life in past centuries though at the same time enchanting the new
audiences. This was also a root of people’s connection with society. A great diversity of
dances in various forms and dynamics in this diversified country which evolve out of
different periods, circumstances and experiences. This module promotes and appreciates
Philippine Folk Dance, Indigenous and Traditional dances which include the benefits of
dancing as a physical activity

Motivation Question
Based on a World Health Organization’s (2018) study, insufficient physical activity is
one of the world's leading risk factors for death. Lack of physical activity is a major non-
communicable disease (NCD) cause, such as cardiovascular disorders, obesity and
diabetes. Globally, one in four adults is not active enough and more than 80 percent of the
adolescent world population is inactive. Hence, physical education plays a significant role as
the subject in the curriculum, requiring complete engagement of physical activities to
prevent inactivity leading to a healthier lifestyle and alert citizenry. And one of the physical
activities enjoyed by many is dancing.
What is your preparation in becoming physically active?
Are you aware that Philippine Folk dances are also a physical activity?
 Can you name a particular folk dance which can boost your cardiovascular
endurance?

Module Pretest

Name: Date:
Course & Year: Course Offering #:

Instructions:
1. Below are the factors which determine, qualifying and supplementing
coherence to physically healthy and active living. Read every single
sentence. Encircle the number under the most suitable response for you:
strongly agree, agree, or disagree.
2. Determine a score by summing the four members for each factor category
when you have responded to all the items. Summarize then the three
scores (determining, qualifying, supplementing) to get the total score.
3. Record your scores in the results section.

Strongly
Determining Factors Agree Agree Disagree Score
1. I am very knowledgeable about
physical activity. 3 2 1
2. I strongly believe physical
activity is beneficial. 3 2 1
3. I appreciate doing daily physical
activities and exercise. 3 2 1
4. I have confidence in my abilities
in sports, exercise, and other 3 2 1
physical activities.
Determining Scores

Strongly
Qualifying Factors Agree Agree Disagree Score
5. I do have good sporting/dance
skills. 3 2 1
6. I know how to design my own
physical activity program.
3 2 1
7. I have a spot close to my home
to perform physical activities.
3 2 1
 8. I have the appropriate
apparatus to execute the
physical activities or workouts 3 2 1
which I like.
Qualifying Scores

Strongly
Supplementing Factors Agree Agree Disagree Score
9. I have my family’s assistance in
doing my regular physical
activities. 3 2 1
10. I have many friends who admire
and enjoy the same type of
physical activities that I do. 3 2 1
11. I have the support of my
community for participation in
activity. 3 2 1
12. I have a professional doctor
and/or relatives who 3 2 1
encourages me to exercise.
Supplementing Scores

Lesson 1.1: Introduction to Dance

Lesson Summary
 Figure 1 Sample Image of Dancing
Source: https://www.hottapdanceschool.co.uk/
The word "Dance" come from an Old German word 'Danson' which means "to
stretch". Dance is a form of art crafted by the purposeful recreation of chosen sequences of
human action. Historians believe that the social, celebratory, and ceremonial dances are one
of the important factors in the growth of early human societies.
Dance consists of different movements of the body to convey feeling and emotion.
Our bodies travel in ways that use locomotor and non-locomotor gestures that convey
themselves. Timing is crucial for every dance. We follow the rhythm or tempo to match the
tone of the music to our actions. Just like with conversation, we communicate and react
using our bodies. It then compares where a person is positioned, compared to where other
people or things are in the space.

Learning Outcomes
1. Demonstrate the Elements of Dance
2. To execute the locomotor and non-locomotor movements
3. To apply the elements of dance in every performance or presentation.

Motivation Question
Dancing is a way to keep fit for people of all ages, styles and sizes. This has a broad variety
of physical and mental advantages including enhanced heart and lung function, body
strength, stamina and motor health, and increased cardiovascular activity. You can dance
with a partner or in a group, or on your own. There are several different locations where, for
example, you can enjoy dancing at dance schools, social clubs, town centers and in your
own residence. Dancing has since become so popular that most fitness clubs are now
offering dance lessons in their group workout programs.
Are you aware of the advantages of engaging dancing as a physical activity to your
daily lifestyle? Does rhythm directly involve in dancing? Why? In relation to the different
genres of dance, how oriented or familiar are you in our own Philippine folk dances?

Discussion
Long before the advent of written language and recorded literature, the dance was
still with us, as our early civilizations developed using oral and performing forms to transfer
the tales from one generation to the next. Many scholars agree that the social, celebratory,
and ceremonial dances are one of the important factors in the growth of early human
civilizations.
Dance is a medium of art created by the purposeful reproduction of sequences of
human action selected, which can be imbued with the values of beauty which recognized by
performers and spectators throughout the world. The dance itself may be unstructured, or a
predefined choreography may be available that may or may not comply with original or
historical practices.
The word “Dance” come from an Old German word “Danson” which means “to
stretch”. All dancing is made up of stretching and relaxing.
Dance defines…
 As an art form commonly relating to body movement, typically rhythmic and
music, used as a means of expression, social contact or portrayed in an
environment of spiritual or performance.
 As an art which normally uses non-verbal action to construct a shape, order or
statement
 As movement that transcends function and becomes communication.

Elements of Dance

In order to create an expressive and meaningful dance, the dance artist (or
choreographer) has to make decisions about the look, flow and timing of the movements,
drawing on the broad range of visual designs, qualities of emotion, and rhythm that are
possible in movement. These elements help a dance artist to discover expressive and
unique movements. Those five dance elements are the building blocks of all artistic
movement styles.

Elements of Body

Dance consists of different movements of the body to convey feeling and emotion.
The bodies function in ways that use locomotor and non-locomotor movements that convey
themselves.
The body is dance instrument. Just as a painter paints with a brush, it is in dance that
movements appear through the body. You can use: the whole body, body parts, body zones
(front, back, left side, right side, top half, etc.), and body bases (what supports the body ex:
feet, hands, head).
Initiation: Dance movements are initiated, or originated by the body.
Body Part: the part of the body that is performing the movement. i.e. hand
Body Shape: the different shapes made by the body. i.e. straight and bent
Body Base: the base of support of your body weight i.e. feet, knees, back, bottom, and hand.

Elements of Energy

Degree of muscle tension and energy consumption when on the move. It refers to the
strength of an action. Energy is the force around which our body movements are articulated.
Are you on the move with rough movements or soft movements? How do you want to come
in? Sustained, explosive, percussive, spinning or vibratory?
Dynamics: how a movement is done; how the body moves
Flow: continuity of movement (bound/free flowing/ balanced/ neutral)
Weight: strength or lightness of movement (heavy/ light)

Elements of Space

We need to use our surroundings well to demonstrate variety and movement. We zig,
zag, move high and low. We use the entire space around us and below us. It is where the
body moves. It is the place where the body moves. It is the area that the dancer's body
occupies; includes direction, size, pathways, levels and shapes.
Direction: Every direction a dancer faces or moves; for example, forward, backward,
sideways, upwards and downwards.
Size: Magnitude of shape or action of the body; from minor to broad movements
Pathways: Patterns made as a dancer travel through the air or on the floor (straight, vertical,
horizontal, zig-zag); may be made individually or in conjunction with locomotive or non-
locomotive motions.
Levels: Perpendicular drop to ground. Movements arise on three levels: high, medium or low,
and deep.
Shapes: Shape created by positioning the body in space. Type dimensions are open / closed,
symmetric / asymmetric, linear, and curved.

Elements of Time

Timing is crucial for every dance. We follow the rhythm or tempo to match the tone
of the music to our movements. Sometimes when we work with others, we imitate someone
else using time.
TIME: The relationship of one movement or part of a movement to another.
How fast or slow (tempo) a dance movement
How even or uneven (beat) a dance movement
How long or short (duration) a dance movement
Varying the speed of movements provides variety.
Elements of Relationship

Relationship is the connection between entities, whether they dance to each other,
dancers to objects, or the body parts of a dancer to each other. We also perform in dance
with another person, or with a number of people in a group. We interact and respond using
our bodies much as we do with speech. This then measures where an individual is located,
in contrast with where other people or objects are in space.
Relationship words: in front, beside, behind, over, under
For a brief and concise explanations, visit the link below. Have fun learning.
https://bit.ly/3gOcNSo

Learning Tasks/Activities
Students are tasked individually to create movements based from the five Elements of
Dance.

Assessment
Guide Instructions:
1. Create a basic movement (i.e. locomotor or non-locomotor movements) that has the
content of the elements of dance.
2. Select any genre of music suited to your movements.
3. Read the rubrics attached below.
4. Memorize the movements and keep on practicing for mastery.
5. Record your performance in a video recorder
6. Maximum length of the presentation is 2 minutes and 30 second, minimum of 2
minutes.
7. Scores are guided by rubrics below.
Table 1 Rubrics for assessing students’ performance in elements of dance
Instructions on how to submit student output
Guide Instructions:
1. For online classes, upload your output in your YouTube account and send the link
to your instructors’ email or e-classroom.
2. For modular class, you may submit your output by recording the video in Mp4
format and store/burn into a compact disc (CD).
3. Write your complete name, course & year and schedule on the details as you
upload your output. For the burned compact disc, you may attach label in the
case of the CD.