Pathfit 2

ELEMENTS, RHYTHM, AND

PATTERNS OF DANCE
SABALA, KIN F.
FECA, IREAS O.
TEJADA, RUFAMAE N.
"DANCE IS THE HIDDEN
LANGUAGE OF THE SOUL."
TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION 1 ELEMENTS

2 RHYTHM

3 PATTERNS
 WHAT IS DANCE?

the movement of the body in a

rhythmic way, usually to music and
within a given space, for the purpose
of expressing an idea or emotion,
releasing energy, or simply taking
delight in the movement itself.

https://www.britannica.com/art/dance
 ELEMENTS

The Elements of Dance are the

foundational concepts and vocabulary
that help students develop movement
skills and understand dance as an
artistic practice.

https://www.elementsofdance.org/
The acronym BASTE helps students remember
the elements:

Body
Action
Space
Time
Energy
 BODY
In dance, the body is the mobile figure or shape,
felt by the dancer, seen by others. The body is
sometimes relatively still and sometimes changing
as the dancer moves in place or travels through
the dance area. Dancers may emphasize specific
parts of their body in a dance phrase or use
their whole body all at once.
PARTS: Head, eyes, torso, shoulders, fingers,
etc.

PATTERNS: Upper/lower body, homologous,

contralateral, midline

BODY SHAPES: Symmetrical/assymetrical,

rounded, twisted, angular, arabesque
BODY SYSTEMS: Muscles, bones, organs, breath,
balance, reflexes
 ACTION

Action is any human movement included in the

act of dancing— it can include dance steps, facial
movements, partner lifts, gestures, and even
everyday movements such as walking.
 SPACE

Dancers interact with space in myriad ways.

They may stay in one place or they may travel
from one place to another. They may alter the
direction, level, size, and pathways of their
movements.
 TIME

The keyword for the element of time is When?

Human movement is naturally rhythmic in the
broad sense that we alternate activity and rest.
Breath and waves are examples of rhythms in
nature that repeat, but not as consistently as in
a metered rhythm.
 ENERGY

Energy is about how the movement happens. Choices

about energy include variations in movement flow and
the use of force, tension, and weight. An arm gesture
might be free flowing or easily stopped, and it may be
powerful or gentle, tight or loose, heavy or light. A
dancer may step into an arabesque position with a
sharp, percussive attack or with light, flowing ease.
Energy may change in an instant, and several types of
energy may be concurrently in play.
 RHYTHM

This is a measured motion of flow, characterized by

basically regular recurrence of elements of
features as beats, sounds, or accents. This
definition implies measurement of time, space and
energy. Denotes an aspect of a quality of
movementthatis sometimes thought of as a dance.
 RHYTHM

RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES
-Is the response of an individual
displaying his emotional and mental
reaction to music or any rhythmic
accompaniment.
 RHYTHM
The close relation between dance and
music is based on the fact that both are
organized around rhythmic pattern;
thus, the rhythm of the accompanying
music may be used to determine the
rhythm of the dance, to give it
emphasis, or to help the dancers
maintain the same beat.
WHAT ARE THE RHYTHM DANCES, AND WHERE
DID THEY COME FROM?

The five rhythm dances are Cha Cha,

Rumba, Swing, Mambo and Bolero.

https://arthurmurrayofdanbury.com/2020/03/09/what-are-the-rhythm-dances/
 MAMBO

Mambo started its career with music, and people

developed steps that fit the rhythm of this new
sound. It was created by the fusion of
American jazz and Cuban danzon in the 1940s.
At first, the Mambo was danced by only the
wealthy in Cuban society. It wasn’t until the
band leader, Perez Prado, introduced Mambo
music to La Tropicana nightclub in Havana in
1943 that the dance truly caught fire.

https://arthurmurrayofdanbury.com/2020/03/09/what-are-the-rhythm-dances/
 CHA-CHA

This new dance, because of its origin, was

first named the “Triple Mambo.” Legend has it
that the Cha Cha got its name from the sound
that the dancers’ feet made as they shuffled
across the floor in the triple step action.

https://arthurmurrayofdanbury.com/2020/03/09/what-are-the-rhythm-dances/
 SWING

Mambo wasn’t the only dance born from jazz

music. Swing dancing came about from the
black community in the 1920s while they
danced to contemporary jazz music in
America. During the ‘40s, the media used the
terms Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Lindy and Swing
all to describe the same dance that was
taking place in the streets, clubs and movies.

https://arthurmurrayofdanbury.com/2020/03/09/what-are-the-rhythm-dances/
 RUMBA

To anyone who knows Spanish, you may relate

this word to the verb rumbar, which means to
go out, dance, and generally have a good
time. This iconic dance is very often referred
to as the “dance of love” because of the
sensual, music paired with the flowing hip
motion. Its origin, however, was not always
as amorous.

https://arthurmurrayofdanbury.com/2020/03/09/what-are-the-rhythm-dances/
 BOLERO

Bolero, the slowest of the American rhythm

dances, is often referred to as the “Cuban
dance of love.” Similar to Swing dancing in
America, Bolero had many different forms in
18th century Spain as it was first gaining
popularity. The dance’s origins are numerous,
from regional Spanish folk dances to classical
ballet.

https://arthurmurrayofdanbury.com/2020/03/09/what-are-the-rhythm-dances/
PATTERNS
Dance moves or dance steps (more
complex dance moves are called dance
patterns, dance figures, dance
movements, or dance variations) are
usually isolated, defined, and organized
so that beginning dancers can learn
and use them independently of each
other.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_move#:~:text=Dance%20patterns%20may%20be%20
described%20according%20to%20combinations%20of%20quick,patterns%20danced%20to%2
0polka%20music)%2C
 PATTERNS

Dance patterns may be described by

difficulty. Dance patterns may be
described according to combinations
of quick and slow steps and often by
the rhythm or meter of the music
 PATTERNS
For example waltz steps (three-count
step patterns danced to waltz music),
swing steps (four-count patterns
danced to swing music), polka steps
(four-count patterns danced to polka
music), and shuffle steps (four-count
Texas Shuffle/foxtrot patterns).
 THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING
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