Introduction to Dance Elements

Introduction to Dance

• Dance is a performance art involving steps coordinated with music, using the body as a medium.
• Dance serves as a universal means of communication across cultures.
• Dance is accessible to all people and promotes various benefits like motor skill development, self-esteem, and social interaction.
• Dance has evolved from primitive movements to traditional and classical forms, reflecting cultural expressions and historical events.

Elements of Dance

• Dance elements are the building blocks of dance, often with one or two elements dominating in a particular style.
• The five main elements of dance are actions, body, relationship, dynamics, and space.
• Actions encompass the body's movements, guided by mechanical principles that influence how individuals move.
• Body is the tool of dance, representing the dancer's physical presence.
• Relationship refers to the interactions between dancers, dancers and objects, or even parts of a dancer's body.
• Dynamics involve qualities of movement, such as duration, energy, speed, and time, contributing to dance expressiveness.
• Space is the medium of dance, encompassing the area where the dancer moves.

Categories of Body Movements

• Loco-motor movements propel the dancer around an area, involving overall body movement.
• Non-loco-motor movements are stationary, focusing movement within a fixed location.
• Manipulative skills involve the use of hands or feet in handling equipment.
• Fine motor skills utilize the hands and fingers for precise movements.
• Gross motor skills involve larger muscle groups, often associated with individual and team sports.

Forms of Dance

• Classical Dance follows standardized rules and restrictions for structured movements.
• Classical Ballet is a highly stylized form of dance learned through specialized academies, originating in Italy and evolving in France and Russia.
• Modern Dance, deviating from the principles of classical ballet, emphasizes natural and authentic expressions of the human body and spirit.

History of Cheer Dance

• Key Individuals:
  • Thomas Peebles introduced Princeton cheers to the University of Minnesota.
  • Johnny Campbell organized the first organized cheer using a megaphone.
  • Lawrence "Herkie" Herkimer, a Southern Methodist University cheerleader, organized the first summer cheerleading clinic.
  • Jeff Webb, NCA's general manager in 1974, founded the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA).
• Significant Years:
  • 1869: The first intercollegiate game was held between Princeton University and Rutgers University.
  • 1898: Johnny Campbell organized the first organized cheer at the University of Minnesota.
  • 1923: Women were allowed to cheer for the first time at the University of Minnesota.
  • 1948: Lawrence Herkimer held the first summer cheerleading clinic.
  • 1961: The National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) was established.
  • 1974: The Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) was founded by Jeff Webb.
  • 1987: The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) was created.
• Key Schools:
  • Princeton University and Rutgers University hosted the first intercollegiate game.
  • The University of Minnesota was the first to allow women to cheer.
  • The University of Oregon introduced the use of flashcards by cheerleaders.
  • Southern Methodist University was where Lawrence Herkimer studied and cheered.
  • Sam Houston State Teacher's College hosted the first summer cheerleading clinic conducted by Lawrence Herkimer.

Terminologies in Cheer Dance

• Individuals/Members:

  • Base: The person(s) on the bottom of a stunt, supporting the flyer.
  • Captain: The leader of a cheerleading squad or team.
  • Flier/Flyer/Floater: The person elevated in the air by the bases, on top of a stunt or pyramid.
  • Spotter: The person on the ground, watching for safety hazards during stunts and ready to catch the flyer if they fall.

• Cheer Dance Terms:

  • Chant: A short, repetitive yell often accompanied by simple arm movements, typically done from the sidelines.
  • Cheer: A longer yell involving movements, pom-poms, stunts, jumps, or tumbling.
  • Coach: The person who instructs or teaches cheerleaders.
  • Dismount: Returning to the floor position after a routine or mount.
  • Execution: The performance of a stunt or routine, emphasizing its form, style, and technique.
  • Mount: A skill where one or more people are supported in the air, similar to a stunt.
  • Prep: The lower level of height in a stunt, where the bases hold the flyers' feet just below their chin level.
  • Pyramid: A group of interconnected stunts or mounts arranged next to each other.
  • Squad: A smaller group within an athletic team, organized for a specific purpose.

• Skills:

  • Jump: A coordinated movement where both feet leave the ground, involving arm and leg placements, with three phases: preparation/approach, lift, and landing.
  • Stunt: A skill involving tumbling, mounting, a pyramid, or tosses.
  • Tumbling: Any gymnastic skill used in cheer, dance, or for crowd appeal, executed individually or as a group in unison.

Explore the fundamental concepts and elements of dance in this quiz. Learn about the progression of dance as a form of art and its significance across cultures. This quiz covers the five main elements that define dance and their impact on performance.