Health Optimizing P.E. (H.O.

PE) 3
WEEK 1 & 2

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 splendor, 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
• Physical
• Mental/ Emotional
• Social
• Cultural Develops cardiovascular & muscular endurance Improves coordination, balance,
flexibility, & body composition Lowers cardiovascular disease, BMI, resting heart rate Enables
joint mobility Helps keep the brain sharp 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 Potential
for self-actualization in society Promotes cultural values

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.
 Level: The vertical distance from the floor. (High, Medium, or Low)
 Direction: Where the body moves. (e.g. Forward, backward, up, down, sideways,
diagonally, etc.)
 Focus: Where the dancer’s eyes look as he/she is dancing.
 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 = ENERGY
•Heavy / Light •Sharp / Smooth •Tensed / Relaxed •Bound / Flowing Part • 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 4th Element of Dance BODY

What makes a good dance?

• A good dance displays 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.

Narrative •A dance that tells a story using only movement. •NO WORDS! Choreographic
Forms in Dance
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)
 ACTIVITY #1
Choose 1 Dance performance and write here the link / url of the video that you’ve chosen on
internet.

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?
38. 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:

• 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
Ms. Ma. Katherine R. Victoria
P.E Teacher
09755440940