DANCE AND ITS ELEMENTS

Presented by Harold Garcia

 Dance

a profound solitary artistic and creative

endeavor that requires introspection,
philosophical analysis, and complex
conceptualization.
Classification of Dance
1. Interpretative Dance

2. Creative Dance
 Classification of Dance
1. Interpretative Dance
Dances that are meant to be interpreted for
performances and staging. Dance literatures
and signature basic steps are already inherited to
these dances which serves as an identifying step
to the dance. Such dances include folk dance,
ballroom dance and
ballet.
Classification of Dance
1. Interpretative Dance

2. Creative Dance
Classification of Dance
2. Creative Dance
Dances that are created out of two approaches, the
elemental approach, and the creative approach.
These dances are highly improvisational in nature
considering the different elements necessary in the
creation of dance. Dances that fall under the
classification include modern-contemporary
dance, jazz, pop and hip-hop(b-boying).
 Elemental Approach in the Creation of Dance
A. Elements of Dance
1. Space
a. Floor Pattern- Created by the body as it moves through space,
examples of which includes lines, letters, shapes or polygons and other
non-geometric pattern.
b. Direction- the course or ways in which movement is directed with
reference to the frontal plane of the body. Examples include forward,
backward, sideward, diagonally sideward, and upward.
c. Focus- point of attention by either the performer or the audience. It
maybe a personal focus or a general focus. Personal focus is the point
of attention by the performer while performing, while general focus is
the point of attention that the performers draw the audience to.
 Elemental Approach in the Creation of Dance
A. Elements of Dance
1. Space
d. Dimension- how performers appear with reference to the audience's
view. The nearer the performer the bigger he would appear; the farther
the performer, the smaller he would appear. Dimension has something
to do with perspective.
e. Balance- it may be static or dynamic in nature. Static balance is
balance at rest, while dynamic balance is balance in motion.
f. Levels- they are classified as low, middle, and high with the lowest
level the basis of middle and high level.
 Elemental Approach in the Creation of Dance
A. Elements of Dance
1. Space
g. Mass and volume- this is dictated by the number of bodies
performing through the space. There are dances or parts of the dance
performance that require more dancers while some requires less or
few.
h. Contours and Shapes- Shapes and form created by the body or
bodies as they move through space.
 Elemental Approach in the Creation of Dance
A. Elements of Dance
2. Time in dance dictates and determines its speed or length, its mood,
and energy required in its performance. Time in dance is represented
by music specifically, and is predominantly influenced by rhythm,
tempo, dynamics, and melody. Rhythm guides the movement count,
tempo dictates the speed of movement, and dynamics and melody
speak of the move of movement. Pertains to the amount of effort
exerted in the performance of dance or dance movements and
combinations. Energy in dance makes the difference in terms of the
intensity or movement but differ in the manner of execution and level
of energy exerted.
 With reference to the amount of energy used in the
performance of movement:

1. Pendular: swinging, swaying

2. Percussive: strong, big, abrupt, and striking movements

3. Vibratory: series of rapid and quickly executed small percussive

movements

4. Sustained: movement with no preparation, beginning and

unnoticeable
 With reference to the amount of energy used in the
performance of movement:
LOCOMOTOR MOVEMENT- allows one to move from one point to
another

Walking- A series of steps executed by both of your feet alternately in

any direction.
Run- Series of walk executed quickly in any direction wherein only one
foot stays on the ground while the other is off the ground.
Leap-Spring from one foot and land at the other foot in any direction.
Jump- Take off from both feet and land on the on both.
Hop- Take off from one foot and land on the same.
 With reference to the amount of energy used in the
performance of movement:
Skip- A combination of a step and hop on the same foot followed by a
step and hop on the other foot. The rhythm is uneven long-short. Long
(the step and short (the hop).
Gallop- A forward movement where one foot leads the gallop while the
other foot follows. The lead foot steps with a bent knee and pushes off
into the air and landing on the trailing foot. The rhythm is uneven, long
short. Long (the step) and short (the landing).
 With reference to the amount of energy used in the
performance of movement:
2. Non-Locomotor Movement- these are movements that are
performed in one point in space without transferring to another point.
They do not allow you to move from one place to the other. These
movements include:

Flexion/Bending- It is the act of decreasing the angle of a joint. Another

term of flexion is to bend.
Ex. Arm bend and Knee bend.