DANCE AND ITS ELEMENTS

Appendix D
 DANCE
- A profound solitary artistic and creative
endeavor that requires introspection,
philosophical analysis, and complex
conceptualization.
I. CLASSIFICATIONS OF DANCE
A. Interpretative Dance
Dances that are meant to be interpreted for
performances and staging.
 Examples of Interpretative Dance:
- Folk Dance
- Ballroom Dance
- Ballet
B. Creative Dance
Dances that are created out of two approaches,
the elemental approach and creative approach.
Examples are:
- Modern-contemporary dance
- Jazz
- Hip-hop
II. Elemental Approach In The
Creation of Dance
1. Space
A. Floor Pattern – Patterns created by the
body as it moves through space examples of
which lines, letters, shapes or polygons and
other non-geometric patterns.
B. Direction – The course or way in which
movement is directed with reference to the
frontal plane of the body.
C. Focus – Point of attention by either the
performer or the audience. It may be a
personal focus or general focus.
D. Dimension – How performers appear
with reference to the audience’s view, the
nearer the performer, the bigger he would
appear, the farther the performer, the smaller
would he appear.
E. Balance –It may be static or dynamic in
nature. Static balance is balance at rest, while
dynamic balance is balance in motion.
F. Levels – They are classified as low, middle
and high with the lowest level the basis of
middle and high levels.
G. Mass and Volume – This is dictated by the
number of bodies performing through space.
There are dances or parts of the dance
performance that require more dancers while
some require less or few.
H. Contours and Shapes – Shapes and forms
created by the body or bodies as they move
through space.
2. Time
Time in dance dictates and determines its
speed or length, its mood, and the energy
required in its performance. Time in dance is
represented by music specifically, and is
predominantly influenced by rhythm, tempo,
dynamics, and melody.
3. Energy
Pertains to the amount of effort exerted in the
performance of dance or dance movements
and combinations.
B. With reference to the amount of energy
used in the performance of movement:
1. Pendular: Swinging, swaying
2. Percussive: Strong, big, abrupt and striking
movements.
3. Vibratory: Series of rapid and quickly
executed small percussive movements.
4. Sustained: Movement with no preparation,
beginning, and unnoticeable end.
C. With reference to the application of energy in
the performance of the movement:
1. Locomotor Movement – Allows one to
move from one point to another.
A. Walk – Series of steps executed by both
of your feet alternately in any direction. In
executing a walk, observe that there is this
movement when both feet are in contact
with the ground while one foot supports the
weight and transfers it to the other.
 B. Run – Series of walks executed quickly in
any direction wherein only one foot stays on
the ground while the other is off the ground.
C. Jump – This movement is simply described
by having both feet lose contact with the
ground. There are five ways to do it:
- Take off from one foot and land on the same;
- Take off from one foot and land on the other;
- Take off from one foot and land on both feet;
- Take off from both feet and land on one foot
- Take off from both feet and land on both.
2. Non-Locomotor Movement – These are
movements that are performed in one point in
space without transferring to another point.
A. Flexion – It is the act of decreasing the
angle of a joint. If you bend a joint, like your
elbow or knee, you are performing flexion.
B. Extension – This is the opposite of
flexion. You are extending if you are
increasing the angle of a joint. Stretching is
another word for extension
C. Contraction – A muscle movement done
when it shortens, narrows and tightens using
sufficient amount of energy in the execution.
D. Release – A muscle movement opposite to
contraction done when it lets go or lets loose
from being held.
E. Collapse – To deliberately drop the exertion
of energy in a body segment.
F. Recover – The opposite of collapse. This is
to regain the energy exerted in a body segment.
G. Rotation – To rotate is to move a body segment
to form a circle. It is not only limited to
circumduction which is done in ball and socket
joints. Rotation can also be done in the neck, wrists,
waist, knees, and ankles.
H. Twist - To move a body segment from an axis
halfway front or back or quarter to the right or left
as in the twisting of the neck allowing the head to
face right or left and the like
I. Pivot – To change the position of the feet of
any body part that carries the body’s weight
allowing the body to face in a less than 360
degrees turn.
J. Turn – To move in a turning movement with a
base of support, usually a pointer foot, the other
raised, while equilibrium is maintained until the
completion of the turn.
III. Improvisation
The art of creating movements that the body is
not familiar with. It is exploring potential
movements which can later be refined and
transformed into dance movements. This process
is the key to combining the different elements
discussed to create a masterpiece. Improvisation
is the act of creating something new, something
different, and something unusual an non-
habitual.
IV. Technique and Technique
Development
- Is the Exceptional way of performing or
executing a certain improvised movement
so that the body will adapt to it and later as
it adapts, will be executed automatically
and effortlessly. This is done by repeatedly
doing movements that the body is
unfamiliar with until mastery is achieved.
A. Lengthening Techniques:
Mirroring – Imitating the movements done by
a dancer in a face to face formation.
Succession – To repeat the same sequence of
movement or movement combinations after
every count, two, three, or even four,
depending on the need to repeat the movement.
Counterpoint – The levels of movement or
energy application in the execution of
movement.
Retrograde – Repeating a movement
sequence from the end to the beginning.
Theme and Variation – Each movement
combination has a common movement that is
seen in a succession of movement
combinations. That movement common to all
is called the theme with a little variation for it
to appear different from the rest.
Unison – All movement combinations are
done simultaneously by all dancers.
Canon – This technique is somewhat similar
with that of the succession but differ in ending,
all groups performing the same sequence of
movements will all arrive at a common
movement and end at the same time.
V. Creative Approach in the Creation
of Dance
- This approach is used in creating a storyline
of the whole dance performance and
experience. It is the finishing touch in
polishing a dance creation.
1. Need – The very reason why the dance needs to
be done. It might come in the form of tangible or
intangible (idea/object) that represents the whole
idea of the dance presentation.
2. Seed – An idea, tangible or intangible, that
may represent the need.
3. Picture – This represents the whole concept
of the dance presentation. The whole picture
speaks of the whole concept of the dance.
 4. Developmental Treatment – This represents
a draft of how the dance presentation should
progress and develop. This part requires a story
board to guide the development of the
performance.
Example (Clear Narrative):
A. Exposition – Introduction of the lead and
supporting characters, including the setting of
the dance presentation; introductory part of
the dance.
B. Complication – A scene or situation that leads
to the conflict of the dance presentation.
C. Conflict – The turning point of the dance
performance; it shows the need for a problem to
be settled or resolved.
D. Climax – The highest point of interest in the
dance performance or presentation where the lead
characters, both the protagonist and antagonist
take action against each other.
E. Resolution/Denouement- This is the point
where the conflict or problem is resolved in a
dance presentation. It is when either the fate of
the protagonist or antagonist in the dance is
finally determined.
F. Actualization – Improvisation of movements
that suit the scene that the dance wishes to
convey.
• Movement Familiarization
• Rehearsals
• Dance work-outs and workshops
G. Completion – Dress and technical rehearsals
with appropriate props and accessories using the
actual music for the performance of the dance
piece with all the elements of staging
incorporated and integrated.
Ball Change – A move that consists of a change
of weight between both feet.
Base - The role of the pair and group
competition that requires strength and balance.
Battement - Beating. A beating action of the
extended or bent leg
Cartwheel – Is a sideways rotary movement of
the body.
Chant – A short cheer, with simple arm
movements. A short repeated yell usually done
on the sidelines.
Chaines – A series of rapid turns on the points or
the demi-pointes done in a straight line or in a
circle
Chasse- Is a kind of gallop where one foot is
leading being chased by the other. Its step
pattern is step, close, step and its counting is one
and two.
Cheers – A longer yell, that involves motions,
pompoms, stunts, jumps, or tumbling.
Curls- To make curling motion by the hands
ending up with a point by the fingers.
Dismount – The act of getting off an apparatus
and the skill to do it. It can also be used to refer
to the flyer’s act of getting down from a
position done when lifted by bases in a pyramid.
Down Rock – To make bouncy movement
from the knees with an accent on the upward
movement during the extension of the knees.
Flier/Flyer/Floater – The person that is elevated
into the air by the bases or the person on top of
the pyramid or stunt.