UNIT I:

Introduction to Dance
 What is
DANCE?
 Dance is an activity which can take many
forms and fill many different needs. It can be:

Recreation
Entertainment
Education
Therapy
Religion
 “In its purest and most basic form,
dance is art, the art of body movement."
- Barbara
Mettler
- One of the oldest and most popular forms
of exercise
- Movement of the body in a rhythmic way
- Is an expression of the body
Why do people dance?

I. To please the gods

II. To please others
III.To please themselves or self expression
IV.To build community
Brief history of dance

It is said that the first use of dance was as a

gesture in order to communicate.
 Prehistoric Era
Europe in 15th and Ancient Egypt
16th Century

The Renaissance
DANC Ancient Greek
E
Dark and Early
Middle Ages Ancient Rome
Catholic Church
in Europe
BENEFITS OF DANCE
WHAT IS DANCE FOR?

“Dance is fun! It lifts the spirit, strengthens the

body, and stimulates the mind.” – Wayne Sleep
MAIN BENEFITS OF DANCE
I. Physical
II. Mental/Emotional
III. Social
IV. Cultural
PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF DANCE
• 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 OF
DANCE

• 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 OF DANCE
• 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 OF DANCE

• promotes cultural values