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LESSON 1
Brief History and Nature of Dance
The human being has an innate yearning for regular rhythmic movement. Whether this is in form of
athletics, activities of daily living, or dance, the human body is the primary instrument for each. Dance Uses the
body as an instrument of expression in time and space.
What is dance?
Dance differs from athletics or other daily activities because it focuses primarily on “an aesthetic or
even entertaining experience.”
Ancient Greeks…
Linked with other experience, such as
Aid to military education among boys in Athens and Sparta
Also for entertainment and display
Greek philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle and Socrates strongly supported this art as an integration
of the body and soul.
Ancient Rome…
gave less importance on dancing
stopped valuing such qualities in art as the nation grew wealthy and powerful.
dance became brutal (slaves and captives from many nationalities; gruesome purposes)
became integral part of corruption, resulting in condemnation of dance by the early Christians.
First Christian emperors came and theatrical dance entertainment was prohibited
Only performed in church and religious ceremonies.
Early Renaissance…
Dance was wholly accepted in courts as capitalist class produced patrons of learning and art in Europe
Dance and art gained and impetus
Entertainers became valuable appendage to the courts of Italy and France
15th and 16th Century…
vast dance movement occurred
new dance courts performed by nobility; rise of the art of ballet in Italy and France.
ballet, contemporary dances emerged and evolved in Europe.
Polly de Mille- an exercise Physiologist at the Women’s Sports Medicine Center In New York: benefits through
dancing are similar to other of activities
1. Physical
Develops cardiovascular and muscular endurance
Improves coordination, balance, flexibility, and body composition
Lowers risk of cardiovascular diseases
Lowers body mass index
Lowers resting heart rate
Improves lipid metabolism
Enables joint mobility
Helps improve and maintain bone density, thus helps prevent osteoporosis
Helps recover coordination and neuromuscular skills after injury
2. Mental/Emotional
Helps keep the brain sharp
Decreases incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Decrease depressive symptoms
Increases sell-esteem and improves body image
Aids in releasing emotional and physical tension
3. Social
Gives sense of togetherness within a group
Encourages positive social interaction and interpersonal relationship in a group
Contributes to the individual’s potential for self-actualization in society
4.Cultural
Promotes cultural values
LESSON 2
ELEMENTS OF DANCE
1. Space- this is the area that the performers occupy and where they move.
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John Kevin L. Espiritu
Subject Teacher
THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL-NIGHT CLASS
San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
School Year 2020-2021
2. Timing- may be executed in varying tempo(speed): the tempo that underlying sound is known as BEAT OR
PULSE.
Sequence of movement or group of phrases is done in varying tempos they generate rhythmic patterns.
3. Energy/Dance Energy or Force- can initiate or stop action, minimizes the monotony of the movements in
the performance
Six Qualities
Sustained- movements are done smoothly, continuously, and with flow and control. It does not have a
clear beginning and ending.
Percussive- movements are explosive or sharp in contrast with sustained movements. They have
accented with thrust of energy. They have clear beginning and ending
Vibratory- movements consist of trembling or shaking. A faster version of percussive movements that
produces jittery effects
Swinging- movements are traced a curved line or an arc in space. The movements are relaxed and
giving in to gravity on the downward part of the motion, followed by an upward application of energy
Suspended- movements are perched in space or hanging on air. Holding a raised leg in any direction in
an example of a suspended movement.
Collapsing- movements are released in tension and gradually or abruptly giving into gravity, letting the
body descend to the floor. A slow collapsed can be described as melting or oozing action downward
direction
4. Bodily Shapes- body is molded in space on in configuration of body parts. Can be rounded, angular, or
combination. Can be wide to narrow and from high to low. They can be symmetrical and asymmetrical
Symmetrical- balanced shapes; movements are practically identical or similar on both sides
Asymmetrical- unbalanced shape; movements of two sides of the body do not match or completely different
from each other
5. Group Shapes- a group of dancers perform movements in different group shapes Arranged in ways that are
wide, narrow, rounded angular, symmetrical, asymmetrical and viewed ass total picture.
LESSON 3
DANCE APPRECIATION AND COMPOSITION
Dance Fitness
Increase cardiovascular endurance, strength, flexibility, fitness
A good dance lifts and transports the audience from their seats during the performance it has
beginning, middle, end/conclusion:
Beginning- may come in shape, pose entrance
Middle- development of exploration of main idea
End/conclusion- clear; shape, pose, exit
A good dance therefore, must have a shape or form for its choreography to be effective
Form
which ideas and elements are arranged or combined into a logical sequence that results to unity and
consistency
content and idea can be expressed and communicated
must be done from the beginning to end
Each dance is composed of phrases (small units) that are smoothly connected
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John Kevin L. Espiritu
Subject Teacher
THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL-NIGHT CLASS
San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
School Year 2020-2021
Minton (1997)-suggest that movement must vary in length and shape, most of the dances these days
use equal length phrases: eight counts
Motif
a good dance must contain motif, convey its meaning or intention
single phrase that shows style and intention of dance is called motif
may be repeated, varied and developed by manipulating movements. Example is itik-itik (itik concept)
1. UNITY- the interconnected phrase of the dance is coherent and flow smoothly together. The movement
fits together and each plays an important role that contributes to the entirety of a dance
2. CONTINUITY AND DEVELOPMENT- the phrase of the dance that are organized progressively,
making each movement phrase move naturally into the next. There is a continuous development of the
movement phrase and the audience is swept along the end.
3. VARIETY AND CONTRAST- making one or several variations that highlight the facet of motif. This
provides variety with in the development of a dance. It also add excitements and flavor in the dance.
4. TRANSITION- this is the link between movements, phrases, and section of the dance. It makes the
logical progression of the dance flow smoothly. Also, it is vital because it keeps the unity and continuity
of the dance.
5. REPETITION- it emphasizes movements and phrases that are important to the dance and gives a
feeling of closure to a work (Minton, 2007). Some phrases need to be repeated in choreography so that
the audience can see those movements again and identify its significance. Usually, when a certain
phrase or a section of choreography is repeated, it is the main message of the dance.
6. CLIMAX- this is where the apex of energy in the dance is reached.
CHOREOGRAPHIC FORMS
The success of any dance performance may depend on who the evaluators are. The evaluators’ role are
categorized as:
1. Choreographers- they will evaluate a part of an ongoing process of developing personal style which is
both spontaneous and organized.
2. Dancers- they will evaluate according to the specific demands that the performance places on them.
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John Kevin L. Espiritu
Subject Teacher
THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL-NIGHT CLASS
San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
School Year 2020-2021
3. Audience- they will evaluate according to the particular context of the dance
STAGES ON ASSESSING A DANCE
1. Description- involves close observation of all the elements, characteristic and components of a dance
as described in the previous section of this module.
2. Interpretation- involves an appreciation of the ideas, content, images, and style contained within the
dance
3. Evaluation- takes into consideration how effectively the features and context of the dance have been
utilized in the actual performance of the dancers to portray the content and the quality of the dance.
LESSON 4
WORLD OF DANCE
Dance comes in different forms. All dance style is not alike and they are distinctive.
DANCE AS AN ART
“Dance is an art which deals with the motions of the human body” –James K. Feibleman, a great
philosopher.
Dance is an art of rhythmic bodily movement that projects ordered sequence of moving visual patterns
of line, solid shape, and color (Thomas Munro in Kraus and Gaufman, 1981). Some of these dances that are
considered an art are folk dance, ballet, and contemporary dance.
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John Kevin L. Espiritu
Subject Teacher
THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL-NIGHT CLASS
San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
School Year 2020-2021
1. TRIBAL DANCES FROM THE CORDILLERAS- Include non-Christian dances from the Cordilleras
2. LOW LAND CHRISTIAN DANCES- Dances coming from places with western influences such as that
of the Tagalos, Ilokanos, Pampanguenos, Bisayans, ang Bicolanos. These dances are influenced by
Hispanic and European culture.
3. MUSLIM DANCES- Dances from the people of the southern islands of the Philippine such as Mindano
and Sulu. These dances are influenced by Arabic and Indo-Malayan culture.
Philippine folk dances, regardless of their classifications, may also be categorized as:
1. Life Cycle Dances- dances that serve as ritual as one passes to a different stage in life such as from
birth to childhood to adulthood; from singlehood to marriage; and from life to death. Below are the
different dances that portray life cycle.
A. Courtship dances
B. Wedding dances
C. Funeral dances
2. Festival Dances- dances that are either religious or secular and are connected with the celebration of
recurring events of special significance.
3. Occupational Dances- dances that are depict the means of livelihood of the Filipinos people. Palay
Festival, a national dance in rice-growing regions, is an example of an occupational dance wherein
dancers portray different steps in rice growing-from planting to harvesting to threshing, flailing,
pounding, airing, and winnowing (Aquino,1979)
4. Ritual and Ceremonial Dances- Dances perform as part of the rituals and ceremonies of a certain
tribe or group of people.
5. Game Dances- Derivations from local folk games. One example of these dances is the Pukol dance
from Aklan and Capiz in the Panay region. Pukol means “to sktrike or bum to each other”
6. Joke and Tricksters Dance- include jokes or tricks played by a dancer on another or a group of
dancers who is one of them. The intention is to render that individual “to a physical or mental indignity
or discomfort”. Example of these is the Pandanggo s Sambalilo dance from the tagalog regions wherein
a girl teases her male partner by playing wityh his hat then pushes him when he is about to succeed in
getting back and putting his hat from the floor.
7. Mimetic or Drama Dances- Dances that mimic animals, inanimate objects, or other people. The
dancers get into roles other than themselves and become actors totally immersed in the story the
dancers tell. The Itik-itik dance from surigao is an example of mimic dance as it imitates the movement
of a duck.
8. War Dances- Dances that express feud and enmity wherein two male dancers engage in physical
combat with Spartan-like intensity. Maglaltik is an example of a war dance as this depicts a battle
between Muslims of Southern Philippines and the Christian Filipinos of the low lands over latik.
9. Social Amenities Dances- Dances that express social graces, hospitality, and offerings of gifts to
friend. All social ballroom dances and most of the “Filipinized” Western dances that show camaraderie
merriment belong to this group. Example are Minuete Yano, Alay, and Habanera Botolena dances.
LESSON 5
BALLET
It is taken from the Italian word ballare, meaning to dance and Ballo refering to dances
performed in a ballroom.
According to Haskell (1965) ballet is a combination of the arts of dancing, poetry, music, and
painting.
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John Kevin L. Espiritu
Subject Teacher
THE STO. NIÑO FORMATION AND SCIENCE SCHOOL-NIGHT CLASS
San Roque, Rosario, Batangas
School Year 2020-2021
Burian (1963) stated that ballet is an artistic, programmatic, scenic dance accompanied by
music.
1. Warm-Up – limbring and stretching exercise that warm and gently stretch the muscles before trying the
difficult moves.
2. Barre exercises – the students hold on a barre to help maintain balance and correct placement of the
body.
3. Center Work Exercises – after the barre exercise the students move to the center of the room to do
more stretching and relaxing exercises to loosen the back and the muscle in other parts of the body
which have worked hard in the previous exercises. (Dufort, 1985)
4. 4. Corner Drills – consist of sequence of steps combining big jumps, leap turns which cover large areas
and put the demands on the body’s strength, endurance and control.
LESSON 6
MODERN DANCE
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John Kevin L. Espiritu
Subject Teacher