DANCE FOR FITNESS

1st Quarter / 1st Semester

Week 2

What I Need to Know

CONTENT STANDARD
The learner demonstrates understanding of dance in optimizing one’s health as a
habit; as requisite for physical activity assessment performance, and as a career opportunity.
PERFORMANCE STANDARD
The learner leads dance events with proficiency and confidence resulting in
independent pursuit and in influencing others positively
MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY (MELC)
Self-assesses health and skill-related fitness (HRF & SRF) status, barriers to physical
activity assessment participation and one’s diet.
Sets FITT goals based on training principles to achieve and/or maintain HRF & SRF.

This lesson will help you learn and understand the different health-related and skill-
related fitness components. This is designed to help you clearly identify the different abilities
of the body in order for you to be physically fit for dancing. You are considered physically fit
whenever you can do series of dancing activities without being or feeling tired.

What I know
Can you tell which benefits of dance are being described below? Choose the letter of
the correct benefit of dance:
a. Physical b. mental/emotional c. social d. cultural
____________1. Watching dancers or dancing myself helps me understand my heritage.
____________2. Dancing keeps me in touch and at the same time have fun with my friends
and also meet new ones.
____________3. Dancing helps me develop or maintain my endurance, balance, flexibility,
agility and coordination skills.
____________4. Dancing helps me cope with physical and mental stresses brought by daily
challenges, pressures, obstacles and sometimes rejections.

What’s in
Elements of Dance: Which element of dance are being described below. Choose the
letter of the correct answer.
a. Space b. Timing c. Energies d. Body Shape e. Group Shape

1.

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 2.

3.

4.

5.

What’s new
Folk Dances
Folk dances represent musical, cultural heritage, reflections of daily life or ethnic
history of people who live in a certain region or country.
Popular all around the world in hundreds of unique variations and styles, folk dances
(also known as traditional or ethnic dances) are usually performed at dance gatherings with
the accompaniment of traditional music of the region.
Majority of folk dances are not regulated, and they slowly morph during the passage
of time.

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What is it
Classifying Philippine Folk Dances
Types of Philippine Folk Dances
A. Geographical origin
1. National dances - found throughout the islands with little or no modifications.
2. Regional dances - found within a particular Region.
3. Local dances - found in specific locality.
B. Nature
1. Occupational dances-depicts actions of labor or of a specific occupation.
2. Religious ceremonial dances - dances with religious vows and ceremonies.
3. Comic dances - depicts funny movements intended for entertainment.
4. Game dances - done with play element.
5. Wedding dances - performed during wedding feast.
6. Courtship dances - depict the act of courtship or dances with love themes.
7. Religious Festival dances - suitable for special occasions or any social gatherings.
8. War dances - show imagery of combat or duel.

Performing Philippine Folk Dances by Suites

 Cordillera Suite - Tribal dances from the mountainous region in the north by people
generally known as Igorots.

 Maria Clara Suite-Spanish influenced dances. The name came from the character
created by Dr. Jose Rizal in his novels “Noli Me Tangere” and “El Filibusterismno.” A
true image of a Filipino woman.

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 Muslim Suite-Dances from Muslim Mindanao.

 Tribal Suite - Dances from Mindanao by Non-Muslims or pagan tribes.

 Rural Suite-Dances from the rural areas.

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What’s more
ACTIVITY: The Five Basic Hands and Feet Positions. Perform this activity in front of a mirror.
Feet Positions: Follow the given diagram below. Practice one position at a time then
practice them in succession while counting 1 - 5 with 1 second interval. The diagram below is
doing the right side where the right foot is doing the movements. After learning this side,
learn also the left side by moving instead the left foot.

Arm/Hands Positions: Follow the given diagram below. Practice one position at a time then
practice them in succession while counting 1 - 5 with 1 second interval. The diagram below is
doing the right side. After learning this side, learn also the left side. And also, in the diagram
below, feet position is already included. Learn first the arms/hands positions before
combining them to the feet positions.

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The Fundamental Folk Dance Steps
Most Folk Dances are based on several fundamental dance steps. According to Lopez
(2006) Philippine folk dances should have simple, basic rhythm that dominates the dance and
establishes the pattern of movement. With this, it is imperative to review and learn the
different fundamental dance steps in order to perform several folk dances. The origin of these
steps varies and depends on the influences of different cultures. The following are some of
the fundamental steps that are useful in learning how to perform folk dances.

Waltz ¾ time 1,2,3 (count 1) Step left (right) foot in fourth position in
front, (count 2) Step right (left) close to left (right
in first or third position in rear, (count3) Step left
(right) in fourth position in front.

Gallop 2/4 time 1, ah, 2, (count 1) Step right (left) foot in fourth position in
ah front,
(count ah) cut the right (left) foot with the left
(right) thus displacing it and at the same time
taking the weight of the body with the left (right)
foot, (count 2, ah) repeat counts 1 and ah. This is
executed with one foot always leading and may
be done in any direction. There are two gallops to
one measure
Change 2/4 time 1, and, 2, (count 1) Step right (left) foot in fourth position in
step or front, (count and) Step left (right) foot close to
Two-step right (left) foot in third position rear or in first
position, (count 2) Step right (left) foot quickly in
fourth position in front.
Polka 2/4 time 1, and 2, (count) Step left (right) foot in fourth in front,
and (count and) Step right (left) close to left (right)
foot in third position in rear, (count 2) step left
(right) foot in fourth position in front, (count and)
pause. Bend the b o d y to the same direction of
the step.
Mazurka ¾ time 1,2,3 (count 1) slide right (left) foot in second position,
(count 2) cut right (left) foot sideward with the
left (right), (count 3) hop on the left (right)foot
and beat in rear or Infront the right (left) foot
close to the ankle of the left (right) foot. This is
executed with one foot always leading and may
be done in any direction.

Sway ¾ time 1,2,3 to a Footwork: (counts 1,2) step right (left) foot
balance measure obliquely forward right (left) (count 3) step left
(with a (2 (right) foot across the right (left) foot in front,
Close, measures) (counts 1,2) step right (left) obliquely backward
Point, right, (count 3)
Brush, close/point/brush/hop/raise/waltz left (right)
Hop, foot in fourth or third position in front.
Front:

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 Raise, Arms in fourth position with right arm high.
Waltz)- Kumintang Right hand when pointing with the left
the left foot on counts 2, 3 of the second measure.
Close step-2/4 time - 1,2-(count 1) step right foot
in fourth position in front, (count 2) close left to
right foot in third or first position rear Note: when
done sideward, one-foot leads to the directions of
the step.

¾ time 1,2,3 (counts 1,2) step right foot in fourth position

Infront, (count 3) close left to right foot in third or
first position rear or (count 1) step right foot in
fourth position in front, (counts 2, 3) close left to
right foot in third or first position rear

Leap 2/4 4/4 1,2 1 A spring from one foot, landing on the other foot
count per in any direction
leap
Touch 2/4 (Allegro) 1,2 (count 1) point right foot in fourth position in
Step front, (count 2) step right foot close to left foot in
first position. Or (count) hop on left and point
right foot in front,

What I have learned

Reflect on Philippine Folk Dancing that you have just read above. The beginnings of
the sentences are already provided below. Complete these sentences. You may use additional
paper if the space provided below is inadequate then include your output to this learning
material when returning them.

In Philippine Folk Dancing, I learned that ____________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________ .

When dancing Philippine Folk Dance, I realized that ____________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________ .

To understand more of my cultural heritage, I intend to ________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________ .

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What I can do
Identify which Folk Dance Suite (Igorot, Maria Clara, Muslim, Tribal or Rural) the
following Folk Dance given below belongs to. Write your answer on the blank. If the dance is
not familiar to you, you may search for them in youtube.com.

Paunjalay-_________________________

La Jota Mongcadeña-_________________________

Wasiwas-_______________________

Kapa Malong-malong-_________________________

Bumajah (or Bumayah)-__________________________