Introduction to Dance

- Nature and brief History of Dance

- Benefits of Dance
- Dance Genres
- Elements and Characteristics of Dance
- How to appreciate and evaluate a dance performance

What is Dance?

- is an activity which can take many forms and fill many different needs

- Dance differs from athletics and other daily activities because it focuses primarily on an aesthetic or
even entertaining experience.

- in its purest, most basic form, dance is art, the art of body movement

- an aerobic exercise

Nature of Dance

- Dance differs from athletics and other daily activities because it focuses primarily on an
aesthetic or even entertaining experience.
- It can be a form of communication, recreation, entertainment, therapy, and religion

Why do people dance?

- To communicate

- To please the gods

- To please others

- To please themselves or self-expression

- To build community

Brief history of dance

- It is said that the first use of dance was as a gesture in order to communicate

As a means of religious expression (ancient Egypt)

As an aid to military expression (ANCIENT GREECE)

- ancient greece/greeks believed that a man's grace in dance equaled his prowess in battle, therefore
dance was incorporated in their basic education.

Way of expressing tribal unity; Philippines

As an approach for courtship (Philippines; folk dance, ballroom)

What is dance for?

“Dance is fun! it lifts the spirit, strengthens the body, and stimulates the mind." -Wayne Sleep

Main Benefits of Dance

- physical

- mental/emotional

- social

- cultural

Physical Benefits

- develops muscular and cardiovascular endurance

- improves flexibility, coordination, balance, and body composition

- enables joint mobility

- helps prevent osteoporosis

- lowers risk of cardiovascular diseases

Mental/Emotional Benefits

- helps keep the brain sharp

- decreases risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease

- decreases depressive symptoms

- increases self-esteem and improves body image

- aids in releasing emotional tension

Social Benefits

- 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

Cultural Benefits

- promotes cultural values

Traditional Dance

- are dances of indigenous communities that show cultural traits of people from a specific time and
place.

- Customs and traditions (through dance steps and costumes) are preserved in traditional dance.

- handed down from generation to generation, with fixed sets or patterns, these dances can either be
ethnic or folk.

Can be interchanged

- Exploration

- Art purposes

- Educational purposes

- Physical Activity purposes

Folk Dances

- Folk dances are classified according to geographical location and the nature of the dances.
o According to geographic locations, folk dances can be national (dances with common
basic movement, with slight variations or local/regional (dances that are unique to
certain localities only).
o According to the nature of the dance, folk dances can be occupational dances, religious
or ceremonial dances, courtship dances, game dances, and social dances.

Ethnic Dance

- According to some literature, ethnic dances in the Philippines are classified into two categories.
o One is that of the dances of non-Christians, referring to the pre-Hispanic and the
Muslim dances.
o The other category is that of the Christians. Performed mostly by the lowland Filipinos,
dances under this category have strong influence from the Western culture, particularly
from Spain.
- Ethnological dances are those performed on primitive tribes and have retained their kinship
with religious ritual and community custom.
- These dances may “retire a certain level of special performing skills” that are symbolic in
meaning, making it harder for those outside the group to understand.