Introduction To Dance PDF

IN THIS UNIT I. Nature and brief history of dance II. Benefits of dance III. Elements and characteristics of dance IV. How to appreciate and evaluate a dance performance WHAT IS DANCE? In its purest, most basic form, dance is art, the art of body movement.  CHAPTER I NATURE AN...

IN THIS UNIT I. Nature and brief history of dance II. Benefits of dance III. Elements and characteristics of dance IV. How to appreciate and evaluate a dance performance WHAT IS DANCE? In its purest, most basic form, dance is art, the art of body movement.  CHAPTER I NATURE AND HISTORY OF DANCE Nature of dance Dance differs from athletics and other daily activities because it focuses primarily on an aesthetic or even entertaining experience. 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. Brief history of dance I. as a means of religious expression ANCIENT EGYPT Brief history of dance II. as an aid to military education ANCIENT GREECE Ancient Greeks believed that a man’s grace in dance equaled his prowess in battle, therefore dance was incorporated in their basic education. Brief history of dance III. way of expressing tribal unity PHILIPPINES Brief history of dance IV. as an approach for courtship PHILIPPINES 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  CHAPTER II ELEMENTS OF DANCE ELEMENTS OF DANCE I. Space II. Time III. Energy IV. Bodily Shapes V. Group Shapes elements of dance SPACE elements of dance: SPACE - the area that the dance performers occupy and where they move - can be divided into four different aspects, also known as spatial elements elements of dance: SPACE I. Direction - The performers can go forward, backward, diagonal, circular, and so on. elements of dance: SPACE II. Size - Movements can be varied by doing smaller or larger actions. elements of dance: SPACE III. Level - Movements can be done in a high, medium, and low level. elements of dance: SPACE IV. Focus - Performers may change their focus by looking at different directions.  elements of dance: SPACE Similarity: Similarity: Movement Movement Difference: Difference: Sizes and Levels Focus and Levels elements of dance TIMING elements of dance: TIMING The movements in timing can be executed in varying tempo (speed). Performers move with tempo of an underlying sound known as beat or pulse.  elements of dance DANCE ENERGIES elements of dance: DANCE ENERGIES Movements are propelled by energy or force. This force can either initiate or stop an action. Dance uses different energies. Varied use of these minimizes the monotony of the movements in the performance. SIX QUALITIES OF DANCE ENERGIES I. Sustained II. Percussive III. Vibratory IV. Swinging V. Suspended VI. Collapsing qualities of dance energies: SUSTAINED Movements are done smoothly, continuously, and with flow and control. It does not have a clear beginning and ending. qualities of dance energies: PERCUSSIVE Movements are explosive or sharp in contrast with sustained movements. They are accented with thrust of energy. They have a clear beginning and ending. qualities of dance energies: VIBRATORY Movements consist of trembling or shaking. A faster version of percussive movements that produces a jittery effect. qualities of dance energies: SWINGING Movements trace a curved line or an arc in space. The movements are relaxed and giving in to gravity on the downward part of the motion, followed by an upward application of energy. qualities of dance energies: SUSPENDED Movements are perched in space or hanging on air. Holding a raised leg in any direction is an example of a suspended movement. qualities of dance energies: COLLAPSING Movements are released in tension and gradually or abruptly giving in to gravity, letting the body descend to the floor. A slow collapse can be described as a melting or oozing action in a downward direction.  elements of dance BODILY SHAPES elements of dance: BODILY SHAPES It refers to how the entire body is molded in space or the configuration of body parts. The body can be rounded, angular, or the combination of the two. Other body shapes can be from wide to narrow and from high to low. They can be symmetrical and asymmetrical. elements of dance: BODILY SHAPES Symmetrical bodily shapes Balanced shape; movements are practically identical or similar on both sides. elements of dance: BODILY SHAPES Asymmetrical bodily shapes Unbalanced shape; movements of two sides of the body do not match or are completely different from each other.  elements of dance GROUP SHAPES elements of dance: GROUP SHAPES In this element, a group of dancers perform movements in different group shapes/ they are arranges in ways that are wide, narrow, rounded, angular, symmetrical, or asymmetrical, and are viewed together as a total picture or arrangement. elements of dance: BODILY SHAPES Symmetrical, narrow group shape elements of dance: BODILY SHAPES Asymmetrical, rounded group shape  CHAPTER III DANCE APPRECIATION AND COMPOSITION What makes a good dance?  displays a significant meaning or conveys a message lifts and transports the audience from their seats  has a beginning, middle, and end / conclusion  must have a shape or form for an effective choreography  Terms to understand Form Form is the instrument by which ideas and elements are arranged or combined into a logical sequence which results in unity and consistency. It is the organizing factor of any dance composition. Phrase A phrase is the smallest unit of form in the whole dance. It can be related to a sentence in writing compositions. Motif A single movement or a short phrase of movement that embodies the style and intention of the dance is called a motif. A good dance contains this in order to be able to convey its meaning or intention to the audience. Motif example Itik-Itik dance It is easy to identify the motif of this dance as it simply portrays the movements of an itik (duckling).  Like any superb tasting dish, a dance will only be considered good if it has the right ingredients. Whether it has a meaning or may be presented abstractly, it must contain certain qualities that make the choreography effective. Characteristics of a good dance I. Unity II. Continuity and Development III. Variety and Contrast IV. Transition V. Repetition VI. Climax characteristics of a good dance UNITY characteristics of a good dance: UNITY The interconnected phrases of the dance are coherent and flow smoothly together. The movements fit together and each plays an important role that contributes to the entirety of a dance.  characteristics of a good dance CONTINUITY AND DEVELOPMENT characteristics of a good dance: CONTINUITY AND DEVELOPMENT The structure of the dance are organized progressively, making each movement phrase move naturally into the next. There is a continuous development of the movement phrase and the audience is swept along to the end.  characteristics of a good dance VARIETY AND CONTRAST characteristics of a good dance: VARIETY AND CONTRAST Variety and contrast in movement phrases add excitement and flavor to the dance. Changing the direction, use of energy, timing of a movement phrase, and avoiding repeating them in the exact way are ways to add variety to the dance. characteristics of a good dance TRANSITION characteristics of a good dance: TRANSITION This is the link between movements, phrases, and sections of the dance. It makes the logical progression of the dance flow smoothly. Also, it is vital because it keeps the unity and continuity of the dance. characteristics of a good dance REPETITION characteristics of a good dance: REPETITION Some phrases need to be repeated in choreography so that the audience can see those movements again and identify its significance. Usually, when a certain phrase or a section of choreography is repeated, it is the main message of the dance. characteristics of a good dance CLIMAX characteristics of a good dance: CLIMAX This is where the apex of energy in the dance is reached. It is similar to the climax in a story where a series of events culminates. The climax may be a fast and enraged blast of energy action, or it could fade away to a gentle and quiet exit that marks the end of a particular story. The music will often assist both the choreographer and the audience when determining this point of development. CHOREOGRAPHIC FORMS IN DANCE CHOREOGRAPHIC FORMS IN DANCE I. Sequential II. Contrapuntal III. Episodic IV. Other compositional forms SEQUENTIAL FORMS I. AB (two-part) form II. ABA (three-part) form III. Rondo Form (ABACA) IV. Themes and variations form CONTRAPUNTAL FORMS I. Ground bass II. Round or Canon III. Fugue or Accumulation IV. Suite OTHER COMPOSITIONAL FORMS I. Natural structures II. Collage III. Tableau IV. Chance EVALUATING A GOOD DANCE How is the quality of a dance evaluated? The success of any dance performance may depend on who the evaluators are. Appreciation on the importance of dance comes from the points of view of the choreographer, the dancer, or the audience.  Evaluators’ roles Choreographer They will evaluate a part of an ongoing process of developing a personal style which is both spontaneous and organized. Dancers They will evaluate according to the specific demands that the performance places on them. Motif They will evaluate according to the particular context of the dance. MAKING A DANCE CRITIQUE  Stages in assessing a dance Description Here, the evaluator / critic notes down the composition of the dance in terms of the elements and the characteristics of dance Examples of which are noting down the variation, unity, space, time, and so on. Interpretation Involves an appreciation of the ideas, content, images, and style contained within the dance. Evaluation Takes into consideration how effectively the features and context of the dance have been utilized in the actual performance of the dancers to portray the content and quality of the dance. Guide questions in Evaluating a Dance Performance END