chapter 5 dance

MEANING AND NATURE OF DANCE

Dance - is a bodily expression hi rhythmic movement of an intensified feeling of life; an expressive body
movement usually coordinated into a pattern and adapted to musical accompaniment. It is the oldest
form of arts which mirrored man's age-old need to communicate his joy or grief by
Using the most immediate instrument at his disposal, his body.

PURPOSE OF DANCE
1. The dance employs no other instrument but the human body itself, which is ever available as the
most eloquent and responsive of all instruments at his disposal. Thus the dance is the most personal of
all the media of art.
2. The dance is dependent on the human body, its possibilities, limitations and malformations. The
human body has technical attributes. Even when lying down, sitting, and standing, jumping, and twisting
on air, all the while with support from spine.

KIND OF DANCE
1. Communal Dance Members of primitive tribal societies made use of the dance as a form of magic, or
a method for in their struggle for existence against the elements of nature.
2. Ritual Dance - Unlike the primitive dance, ritual dance is an organized dance, with a definite design,
purpose and meaning used to celebrate nature and mythology.

3. Folk Dance - It evolved from the traditional memories of older motifs in communal dance. Folk dances
reflected a people's "unconscious paganism" in events such as the celebration of the harvest and in
some ordinary events. Exp. Rain dance, fertility dance
4. Social Dance - This dance has a gay and lively character. Its nature reflected related elements of the
respective time periods-the elaborate and colorful designs in clothes, the spacious floor areas of court
and places, and the elegance of the successive periods.
COMPONENTS ELEMENTS OF MOVEMENTS

1. Space - It is the area that surrounds the dancer; it is the place where one can have such movements
that create patterns and designs.
2. Time - dance utilizes time in ways that determine the rhythm, tempo, and duration of movements.
3. Duration - it refers to the length of time expanded by a movement. It can be measured and regulated
by drum beat or musical accompaniment.
4. Force - It is an energy which is always present when motion occurs.
5. Dynamics -is the force of movement.

ELEMENTS OF DANCE
1. Theme -an important element of dance which refers to the message conveyed by the dance. What
does it want to communicate?
2. Design - refers to the plan or organization of movement in time and space. It immediately
distinguishes one dance from another.
3. Movement - It is the action or moves of dancers and how they use their bodies to create or organize
pattern.
4. Techniques - it refers to skill in executing movements; a technically proficient dancer has complete
control over the muscles of his body.
5. Music- It motivates and synchronizes the movement of the dancers. The rhythm, melody, and
harmony are used as accompaniment in dance. It also serves as a musical background that can further
captivate the audience.
6. Costume and Props - these enhance the visual effects of the dance. They are elements which are
reflective of the customs, beliefs, and environment of the people.
7. Choreography- It refers to the forms, arrangements, and organization of dance steps and movements.
8. Scenery it refers to the setting of background, the place of action and other props to make the dance
more artistic and beautiful.