History of Dance

• Dance is an art form and a recreational activity
• Dance is an all-inclusive art that uses aesthetics, movement, storytelling, sets of moods, and emotional expression
• Dance involves rhythmic movements in a spatial form of succession, with a beginning, middle, and end
• History of dance is filled with events that shaped foundations, new styles, periods when dance and music were at the forefront of innovations
• Dance history is intertwined with the development of the human race
• From early times, dance served as a way of expressing human thought and emotion
• Over millennia, dance evolved into a means of expression, promoting health, enabling communication, and fostering competition

History of Dance

• Dance was first used as a gesture to communicate
• Dance was used as a means of religious expression
• Dance was used as an aid to military education
• Ancient Greeks believed grace in dance equaled prowess in battle
• Dance was incorporated into their basic education
• Dance served as a way of expressing tribal unity
• Dance served as an approach for courtship

Reasons Why People Dance

• To please the gods
• To please others
• To please themselves or for self-expression
• To build community

Types of Dances

• Folk dance/ethnic dance
• Ballroom dance
• Theatrical dance

Folk Dances/Ethnic Dances

• These are social dances that showcase the beliefs, interests, habits, customs, and practices of the natives
• These are not designed for public performance, but can be arranged for stage performances
• These are derived from ethnic dances
• Cultures worldwide have their own distinct folk dances

Examples of Ethnic Dance

• Saut is performed by the male Talaanding tribe and presents their expertise in style, and fighting techniques to their opponents, with ritual dances to honor their god Magbabaya
• Dugso, also known as "dance", is a ceremonial performance by Manobo people in Bukidnon, Agusan, and Misamis Oriental for important occasions like kaliga feasts or kaamulan tribal gatherings

Examples of Folk Dance

• Itik Itik mimics duck movements and splashing water to attract a mate and was created by a lady named Kanang at a baptism
• Tinikling is considered the Philippines' national dance, imitating the movements of the tikling bird using bamboo poles
• Singkil is performed by a single woman to attract potential suitors through graceful rhythmic movements between clapped poles with fans and scarves
• Sayaw sa Bangko is performed on a narrow bench with impressive acrobatics, originating from Pangasipan, Lingayen, and Pangasinan
• Pandanggo sa Ilaw, derived from the Spanish word fandango, demonstrates grace, balance, and dexterity with three glasses of wine or water balanced while dancing

Ballroom Dances

• These are public entertainment dances performed in pairs in venues like ballrooms and nightclubs
• Examples include waltz, swing, foxtrot, cha-cha, boogie, tango, body language, and rhumba

Examples of Ballroom Dance

• Waltz is a common ballroom dance at 28 bars per minute in 3/4 time
• Tango is dramatic, popular in the United States and worldwide, with sharp, staccato movements and passionate expression
• Cha-cha-cha originated in Latin America and blends slow and energetic movements
• Rumba is a Cuban dance that emphasizes sensual hip movements between partners
• Samba is a famous dance and musical genre originating from coastal Africa and Brazil

Theatrical Dances

• These are performed for audience entertainment in a theater
• Examples are ballet, modern dance, musical comedy dance, and tap dancing

Examples of Theatrical Dance

• Ballet originated in the Italian Renaissance during the fifteenth century and developed in France and Russia
• Ballet is characterized by light, graceful, fluid movements and pointe shoes
• Interpretive Dance uses movement to convey human expression and storytelling, relating anything from global pollution to personal stories

Elements of Dance

• Theme is the most basic element of a dance, conveying a message, without a message it is not a dance
• Design is the pattern of movement in time and space
• Pattern in Time refers to unaccented beats of movements into measures
• Pattern in Space refers to the path traced by the dancer's feet on the floor and the levels on which they move
• Movement refers to the steps, arm gestures, hand gestures, body gestures, and facial expressions of the dancer
• Technique is the skill of movement executed by the dancer
• Music is the auditory background for the dancer's movements
• Costumes and body paraphernalia worn by dancers should reflect the dance's message, customs, beliefs, and setting