ELEMENTS OF DANCE  

The elements of dance are the ingredients of dance.
Often one or two elements predominate in dance but all
elements are present. The different ways of combing and
using the elements determine the expression of the
dance.
       1 . ACTIONS are what the body is doing.
Movement is a change of position in space that is
governed by mechanical principles that limit the ability
of an individual to move effectively and efficiently.
Cone (2012) reiterates that dance contributes to one’s
development of movement abilities in the following
ways;   
2. THE BODY is the instrument of dance. Awareness of
the body is encouraged on the dance program as students
learn about the following body concepts: 
1. Body parts –head, arms, hands, legs, feet,
torso, elbows, wrists, shoulders hips, knees
and ankles.
2. Body zones – body areas of front, back, left
side, right side, upper half, and lower half.
3. Body bases- whatever supports the rest of
the body, for example when standing—the
feet; when kneeling, the knees.

1. Increasing the ability to perform locomotor

3.  RELATIONSHIP refers to the correspondence or
and nonlocomotor movements and patterns
connection between things, be they the dancers to each
or sequences of movements while applying
other, dancers to objects or a dancer’s body part to each
the dance elements of space, time, force,
other. Students will continue to explore the relationships
flow and relationship in a variety of ways;
of connecting, leading, following, meeting, parting, near,
2. Developing strength, flexibility, cardio-
far passing by and surrounding.
respiratory endurance. coordination, speed,
and balance;
4. DYNAMICS describe how the body moves. It is an
3. Adding to the number of experiences that
umbrella term and includes the factors which give
promote learning about the infinite ways the
movements various qualities. Therefore, dynamics is the
body is capable of moving;
element that gives dance its expressiveness. Knowledge
4. Enhancing motor learning through repetition
of dynamics is encouraged in the dance strand by
and practice of dance movements;
learning about the following concepts;
5. Learning to safely move as one expresses
and communicates ideas, feelings, and
understanding. a) Duration - the length of time needed to
do a movement duration is on a continuum
of very short to very long.
Edwards (2013) emphasizes that the language of
movement is revealed through the dancers who choose b) Energy - the muscular tension used to
not to be restrained by convention as they present their move, energy is on a continuum of a little to
understanding of space, time, and form in ways that are a lot.
personally satisfying and pleasing. The following are
factors that govern or affect movement; c)  Even - movements of equal duration; for
example, walks rhythm
 Psychological Factors: Fear anxiety and
other mental phenomena affect movement d) Uneven - movements of unequal
either positively or negatively which may duration; for example, skips rhythm
affect the performance of an individual.
e) Quality - characteristics of a movement;
 Physiological Factors.  Physical fitness and for example strong or light.
body built are the two main concerns that
affect human movement. Poor muscle Examples are swinging, percussive, sustained, vibratory,
development and low fitness level will collapsing and suspension.
surely affect movement.
f)  Speed - velocity of movements; speed is
 Sociological Factors. These refer to the on continuum of very slow to very fast.
relationship of the performer with
a particular group and his to social
conformity and norms. 
 g)  Time – refers to tempo or rhythm. It can
be slow or fast and a succession of muscular
relaxation and rest(rhythm).
          5. SPACE is where the body moves. It is the
medium of dance. As dancers move through space, their
bodies create patterns on the floor and in the air.
Edwards (2013) mentions that the perception of space is
viewed in relation to the body, the space of others, and
the unoccupied place or general place.  Awareness of
space is encouraged in the dance strand by learning
about the following space concepts;
1. General -   the dance area.
2. Personal -  the space reached while
stationary.
3. Directions  - forward,, backward, sideways,
upwards, or downward
4. Focus -   where the eyes or the intention of
the movement is directed.
5. Levels - high, middle, low, or deep.
6. Pathways - the patterns or design made in
the air or on the floor by the person’s
movements, pathways appear as straight
lines, curved lines, or combinations of
straight and curved lines.
7. Shape - the design of the body’s position.
8.  Size - the magnitude of the body shape or
movement, size is on a continuum of small
to large.
DANCE FORMS
1. Classical Dance: Dances with standardized
rules and restrictions. It can be a religious-
related dance or for court and royal
entertainment.  11.Creative Dance: It is a form of dance in which you
2. Classical Ballet: Dance of supreme
standards learned from academe. Ballet used
to be a court dance that developed into the
highly stylized theatre art that it is today. It
had its beginning in Italy, developed and
nurtured in France, and perfected in Russia.  al, 2016). According to Gilbert(2015), creative dance is
3. Modern Dance: A deviation from the
principles of classical ballet developed by
Isadora Duncan. It was developed in
Germany and USA. It is characterized by
the natural and true expression of the human
body and soul. This dance attempts to
express an idea without setting rules as to
how the idea is to be conveyed.
4. Contemporary Dance: A combination of
ballet and modern dance. 
5. Ethnic and Tribal dance: A dance
particularly found in a group of people
living together in a locality with common
beliefs and customs.
6.Recreational Dance: Includes dance mixers, square
dancing, and round and a couple of dances.
 7. Social and Ballroom dance- includes all dance
forms which bring individual together in dances
designed for group participation and enjoyment. A dance
set in a social gathering with a more formal atmosphere
than the simple and informal parties in which the
recreational dances are the usual forms. This is usually
held in the evenings and participants are usually in
formal attire for the purpose of recreation and
entertainment. It is usually accompanied by popular
music. 
 8. Popular Dance: Highly recognized as a dance form
in television and other dance centers like disco houses
and social gatherings. 
  9. Dance sports: An international ballroom
competition consisting of two categories namely
the Modern Standard (Tango, Foxtrot, Waltz, Viennese
Waltz, and Quickstep)  and Latin American
dances( Chachacha, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive, and
Samba).
  10. Folkdances are traditional dances of a specific folk
handed from generation to generation to generation in
the manner of all traditions. These dances are usually
native to one group of people who developed them based
on their daily activities. These are social expressions of
the mores, thoughts, lifestyles, practices, and feelings of
people through bodily movements. These are the
outbursts of people’s feelings. A folk dance is the
heartbeat of the people.
create the dance steps or movements according to your
experiences, thoughts, and feelings. You create your
own dance movements according to how you interpret
your ideas, feelings, and sensory impressions and
express them symbolically using your body. ( Battad et
best taught through concept. Dances should have the
knowledge and time to create their own steps and
choreography, developing personal voices that will
surely enrich the world of dance. The following are a
benefit of a conceptual dance approach;