PE 103 – Physical Activities towards Health and Fitness (Dance)

PRELIMINARIES

Course Title: Physical Activities towards Health and Fitness (Dance)

Course Number: PE 103
Course Description:
This course will provide physical activities for the purpose of optimizing health and
fitness through dance, sports and outdoor activities.
MODULE 1 – RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES

OVERVIEW
This module gives a basic understanding of how dance is defined, elements of Rhythms and Fundamental
movements of actions. It covers the following topics:

 Scope of Rhythmic Activities

 Fundamentals of Rhythm
 Fundamental Movement
 Basic Dance Position of Arms and Feet
 Basic Concepts of Movement, Movements Space and Rhythm

OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

 Define ‘Rhythmic Activities’

 Discuss and explain the meaning of ‘dance’/’dancing’
 Define the elements of rhythms
 Discuss the fundamental movement of actions
 Execute the fundamental positions of arms and feet
 Discuss the Basic Concepts of Movement, Movements Space and Rhythm

INDICATIVE CONTENT

Module 1: Introduction to Art Appreciation

This module gives a basic understanding of how dance is defined, elements of Rhythms and Fundamental
movements of actions. It covers the following topics:

Scope of Rhythmic Activities

Fundamentals of Rhythm
- Elements of Rhythm
Fundamental Movement
- Locomotor Movements
- Non-Locomotor Movements
- Manipulative Skills
Basic Dance Position of Arms and Feet
Basic Concepts of Movement, Movements Space and Rhythm
- Factors that govern or affect movement
- Movements Space
- Elements of Space
DISCUSSION

DEFINITIONS:
For better understanding of the discussions that follow, the following terms are hereunder defined:
 Rhythm is a measured motion or flow, characterized basically by recurrence of elements or
features as beats, sounds, or accents.
 Rhythms denote an aspect of the quality of movement, which is sometimes thought as dance.
 Dance is a series of movements set to music where there emerge organization, structure, and
pattern.
 Dancing is a means of expressing one’s emotions through movements discipline by rhythm.

SCOPE OF RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES

Rhythmic Activities
It is the response of a person displaying his emotional and mental reaction to rhythm. In all
nature, every individual makes rhythm like foot tapping, head movement, body sway while a music is
playing. In other words, the body moves as a physical response or as an expression of feelings and the
fundamental principles of time, space, and force are observed.

FUNDAMENTALS OF RHYTHM
To better facilitate the learning of dances and other rhythmic activities, we should first understand
the elements of rhythm, elements of movement space, and the qualities of movements.

Elements of Rhythm
1. Underlying Beat or Pulse Beat – It is the steady continuous sound that is heard or felt
throughout any rhythmical sequence. The constant steady pulsation is called the pulse beat.
2. Measure – This refers to the identical grouping of underlying beats.
3. Rhythmic Pattern – This refers to a definite grouping of sounds or beats related to the
underlying beat.
4. Phrasing – A musical phrase is a group of measures that gives the feeling of unity. The end of a
phrase may suggest a change in direction or movement.
5. Accent – This is the force or emphasis given to any one beat in a series of pulse beats in a
measure.
6. Tempo – This is the rate of speed of the movement, music or accompaniment.
7. Intensity – This is the quality of movement or music. It refers to dynamics or force such as heavy
or light.

FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENTS OF ACTIONS

There are three (3) basic natural movements: Locomotor, Non-locomotor and the manipulative
skills.
 Locomotor Movements are used to move the body from one place to another or to project the
body upward as in jumping and hopping.
Examples of Locomotor Movements:
Walking Leaping Trotting
Running Galloping Stomping
Jumping Sliding Twirling
Hooping Draw steps
Skipping Marching
 Non-Locomotor Movements are performed without appreciable movements from place to place
or movements of the various parts of the body in fixed base.
1. Flexion – bending or shortening of a body part occurring at a joint.
2. Extension – turning, twisting or circling
3. Arm Shoulder Circling
4. Pendular – swinging/swaying arms forward, backward or sideward
5. Percussive – striking and hitting; pushing and pulling
6. Vibratory – shaking and beating
 7. Sustained – a slow, smooth flowing movement with a balance of movement throughout the
entire series.
8. Suspended – a sharp movements followed by a series of slow or prolonged movements until a
peak is reached.
 Manipulative Skills involve object handling that develops manipulative skills like ball skills.
Other objects promote other skills like better hand and eye and coordination.

BASIC DANCE POSITION OF ARMS AND FEET

There are five fundamental feet and arms positions in dance.
POSTION FEET ARMS
Heels close together; toes apart Both raised forward in a circle in
1st Position with an angle of about 45 front of chest with the fingertips
degrees about an inch apart.
nd Astride sideward about a pace or Both raised sideward with a
2 Position
1 foot distance graceful curve at shoulder level.
One arm raised sideward as in
Heel of one foot close to in-step
3rd Position 2nd positions; other arm raised
of other foot
upward
One arm raised in front as in 1st
One foot in front of the other of
4th Position position; other arm raised over
a pace distance
head
Heel of front foot close to big toe
5th Position Both arms raised over head
or rear foot
BASIC CONCEPTS OF MOVEMENT, MOVEMENT SPACE AND RHYTHM
Movement is a change of position in space. This is governed by mechanical principles that limit
the ability of an individual to move effectively and efficiently.

Factors that Govern or Affect Movement:

1. Psychological Factors – Fear, anxiety, and other mental phenomena affect movement either
positively or negatively. All these may affect the performance of an individual.
2. Physiological Factors – Physical Fitness and body built are two main concerns that affect human
movement.
3. Sociological Factors – These refer to the relationships of the performer with a particular group
and his regard to social conformity and norms.

Movement Space
All movements take place in space. The two kinds of space occupancy are personal space and
general space.
Personal Space is the maximum space available to a person in a stationary position. This
includes the space that the person can reach by bending, stretching, and twisting.
General Space is the area, which include one or more persons moving space like gymnasia, the
swimming pool, classrooms, ballrooms, plaza, and others.

Elements of Space
1. Direction. This refers to the movements: forward, backward, upward, downward, sideways, right
and left, diagonals and combinations of all of these.
2. Level. As the body moves in a horizontal plane, it creates a movements identified as high,
medium, middle and low. It may be represented in a relative height while standing, sitting, lying
and kneeling.
3. Range. The maximum reach of an individual or sometimes referred to as personal space or the
size of movement.
4. Pathways or Space Designs. The line or design created in space as own moves, example of
which is an arm circling or line drawn from running to the first base in softball.
5. Focus. This is referred to as movement in space in relation to an object or a person’s attention of
direction.
Directions: Answer the following questions from the activities below. Refer back to your module as the course progresses. Please
write your answer in Long white coupon bond (type written).Font: Times New Roman, font size: 12

EXERCISE/DRILLS
I. Identify the following. Write the correct answer before each number.
1. A measured motion or flow, characterized basically by the recurrence of elements or
features as beats, sounds, or accents.

2. A movement set to music where there emerge organizations, structure and pattern.

3. An element of space referring to the movements: forward, backward, upward, downward,

etc.

4. It denotes an aspect of a quality of movement, which is sometimes thought as dance.

5. The response of a person displaying his emotional and mental reaction to rhythm.

6. This refers to the identical grouping of underlying beats.

7. One foot in front of the other of a pace distance; One arm raised in front as in 1 st position;
other arm raised over head.

8. A change of positions in space.

9. Movements that are used to move the body from one place to another.

10. A sharp movement followed by a series of slow or prolonged movements until a peak is
reached.

II. Execute the fundamental positions of arms and feet. (Take a photo of yourself
showing your arms and feet. Send it to our Group Chat.)
Note: Please wear the required PE Uniform:
White Round-neck T-shirt (With or without print)
Jogging pants
Rubber Shoes

EVALUATION

I. Discuss the following:

a. Rhythmic Activities
b. Dance
c. Fundamental movement of actions
d. Basic Concepts of Movement, Movements Space

REFERRENCE:
Physical Education 2: Rhythm and Dance

Prepared by:

ISHMAEL FAIZAL F. MERCURIO, LPT

Course Facilitator