GE1709

Rhythmic Dancing

I. Types of Dance
There are many styles of dance to choose from, each with its own attractions. Popular styles of dancing
include the following:
• Ballet – mostly performed to classical music, this dance style focuses on strength, technique, and
flexibility.
• Ballroom dancing – this involves a number of partner-dancing styles such as the waltz, swing, foxtrot,
rumba, and tango.
• Belly dancing – originating in the Middle East, this dance style is a fun way to exercise.
• Hip-hop – performed mostly with hip-hop music, this urban dance style can involve breaking, popping,
locking, and freestyling.
• Jazz – a high-energy dance style involving kicks, leaps, and turns to the beat of the music.
• Pole dancing – has become increasingly popular as a form of exercise. It involves sensual dancing with
a vertical pole and requires muscle endurance, coordination, and upper- and lower-body strength.
• Salsa – involving a mixture of Caribbean, Latin American, and African influences, this dance style is
usually done in pairs. It emphasizes rhythms and sensuality.
• Square-dancing – a type of folk dancing where four (4) couples dance in a square pattern, moving
around each other and changing partners.
• Tap dancing – focuses on timing and beats. The name originates from the tapping sounds made when
the small metal plates on the dancer’s shoes touch the ground.

II. Rhythmic Activity

Rhythmic activities are physical movements combined with beats, songs, or music. It frequently results in
synchronized dancing with preplanned movements. Line dancing, dances like the waltz, and other popular
social group dances are considered rhythmic activities.

Why are rhythmic activities used?

Rhythmic activities are combinations of sounds and beats along with movements of the body that can enable
people to:
• physically express themselves and their personalities;
• exercise;
• break down social barriers by including different levels of learners; and
• promote friendship, community, and fun.

History of Rhythmic Activity

Rhythmic activities have been taking place for thousands of years. Tracing back to the Olympics, rhythmic
activities like gymnastics have been combined with the use of rhythm, or a beat, coming from within the
person or through music as a form of physical expression with strength and ability. Now, rhythmic activities
commonly extend to physical games with elements of song and dance. Some current examples include
jump rope games, popular dance workouts like Zumba, or even the use of noisemakers. Rhythmic activities
vary largely by culture. This means that groups of people in different parts of the world have formed rhythmic
activities to express their religion, faith, and beliefs. Forms of rhythmic activities are found in celebratory
dancing, festivities, and tradition.

III. Rhythm in Dance

A good sense of rhythm is important in dancing. The beat in dance music is usually produced by the bass
drum. It is very important that steps are taken on the correct beat. To help develop timing, one may try
tapping one foot to the beat of a drum or stepping to the beat.

Musical Structure
Meter is probably the most important musical element for the dancer, even though tempo is the speed of
the music being played. This is because rhythm is determined by the meter, the time value the notes in a
measure are played.

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Musical time signature is denoted by fractions, such as 4/4, in which the upper number shows how many
beats are in a measure and the lower number shows which note gets one count, in this case, the quarter
note. Examples are foxtrot, written in 4/4 time, waltz, written in 3/4 time, and tango, written in 2/4 time.

Some notes in music are accented, or get a stronger beat with the primary, which gets the strongest beat,
denoted by “>” and the secondary, which gets a relatively stronger beat than the others, denoted by a “/”.
For example, normally in 4/4 time, the primary accent is on the first beat and the secondary accent on the
third beat.

However, when music is syncopated, the accent of the first beat is shifted to some other count within the
measure. Syncopation can also mean the continuing of one note into another, usually accented note. When
this happens in dance music, the dancer normally takes three (3) steps for two (2) syncopated notes (“beat1”
and “beat2”). Also, some dancers will not dance to the beat of the music but the “offbeat.”

Dance Count and Dance Time

Musical count is the number and sequence of beats in a measure, whereas, dance count describes the
sequence of steps and whether it should be for one (1) or two (2) musical beats. Dance instructors have
developed the concept of dance time to help learn partners dancing. Steps are either “quick” or “slow”, in
which “slow steps” take twice as many beats as “quick steps.” For example, in the Rumba, the music is
written in 4/4 time, but all step patterns have six (6) steps completed in eight (8) beats or two (2) measures.
The dance time will be “quick quick slow quick quick slow.” However, some dances such as waltz have
steps that are all “quick.”

Rhythm Patterns
Using three (3) types of rhythm patterns is how some dance instructors prefer to teach dance:
• Single Rhythm. This is one (1) step taken for two (2) beats of music. The step is taken on the first beat
with an added tap (toe step), brush step, kick or “hold” taken on the second beat. Types of dance such
as tango and foxtrot use this rhythm pattern.
• Double Rhythm. This is two (2) steps taken on two (2) beats of music, such as in marching. In this
rhythm pattern, the dancer starts with one (1) foot and ends with the opposite foot. Types of dance such
as waltz and most salsa variations use this rhythm pattern.
• Triple Rhythm. This is three (3) small steps taken for two (2) syncopated beats. Types of dance such
as samba and the cha-cha use this rhythm pattern.

IV. What does it mean to have perfect timing in dance?

In dance, timing refers to moving to the beat of the music. However, having perfect timing means more than
performing basic steps perfectly to music beats. It is not difficult to move to the beat, but it takes a lot of
practice to teach the mind and body how to actually feel the beat of the music.

Perfect timing is being able to let go and allow one's self to express feelings through movements, instead
of trying to keep count of the beats in the head. Once perfect timing is achieved, dancing will appear relaxed
and natural. One will no longer need to count beats, as the body will be fully aware of its place in the music
at all times.

Good timing is not limited to any specific style of dance. It is important in every type of dance. Below are
some tips toward perfect timing in dance:
• Don't just listen to the lyrics. Timing is more than just the literal words spoken or sung.
• “Dance like no one is watching.” That is a cornerstone to feeling the beat. It can help to practice feeling
the beat of music alone.
• Practice improvisational dancing without a routine, series of steps, or plan.
• Try dancing with eyes closed and without watching one's self in the mirror.
• Pick a few specific dance moves to be incorporated into a song and then fill in the blanks between them
with movements. Also, set a specific intention or theme to the dance moves that the body can follow.
For example, dance like you’re asleep, like a fairy, be inspired by a cat or a bird, or choose movements

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that expand and contract. Setting a movement inspiration can sometimes help shut off the thinking part
of the brain and helps to drop into the music deeper, which can help to connect with the beat.
• Start by just feeling the spaces around. One can close his/her eyes and begin by walking around the
room to the music. Or one may start on the floor with stretching movements. Ease into it.
• Don't take the idea of timing too literally. One doesn't have to hit every single beat. Own timing will flow
with and complement the music, but also be individual and unique. Perfect timing doesn't necessarily
mean dancing like the drum line of a marching band.

V. Elements of Dance
Dance is an art form focused on creating a performance that is impermanent and fluid. It is unique but still
very much a form of art and, thus, dancers and choreographers have their own compositional elements to
work with. Understanding these elements and how to use them is the key to a great work of art. Below are
the fundamental compositional elements of dance:
• Body – Dancers should use their body in interesting ways in their choreography including body activities,
shapes, and sizes.
• Action – It refers not only to steps and sequences but also to pauses and moments of relative stillness.
This includes dance steps, facial movements, partner lifts, and gestures.
• Space – It 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. These spatial designs are an integral part of dance,
giving dancers a purposeful reason for moving (e.g., shape, size, levels, directions, floor pattern, plane,
and spatial relationships).
• Time – It refers to the tempo, accents, and length of music.
• Energy – This is the dynamic applied to the movement.

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References
Bedinghaus, T. (2018). What is timing in dance? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-timing-in-
dance-1007087
Campbell, A. (n.d.). Categories of rhythmic activities. Retrieved from
https://study.com/academy/lesson/categories-of-rhythmic-activities.html
Kilbride, A. & Algoso, A. (1979). The complete book on disco and ballroom dancing. Retrieved from
http://www.auburn.edu/~linmary/dance.html
Muscato, C. (n.d.). Elements of dance: Space, time, levels & force. Retrieved from
https://study.com/academy/lesson/elements-of-dance-space-time-levels-force.html
Perpich Center for Arts Education. (2015). The elements of dance. Retrieved from
https://www.elementsofdance.org
Tasanathan. (n.d.). Elements of dance. Retrieved from https://quizlet.com/39155926/elements-of-dance-flash-
cards

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