Dance: History, Types, and Elements

ASST. PROF. VIRGIL JOY T. BALOYO ▪ is an art and a recreation. ▪ is an all-inclusive art referring to aesthetics of movement which tells a story, with set of moods, or expresses an emotion. ▪ is a rhythmic movement in spatial form of succession of movement which moves from a beginning to a...

ASST. PROF. VIRGIL JOY T. BALOYO ▪ is an art and a recreation. ▪ is an all-inclusive art referring to aesthetics of movement which tells a story, with set of moods, or expresses an emotion. ▪ is a rhythmic movement in spatial form of succession of movement which moves from a beginning to a middle and has an ending.  History of dance is filled with interesting events that shaped these foundations, inventors that created new styles, period when dance and music were put in the forefront of innovations, which all enable it to become the popular social pastime of today.  History of dance closely follows the development of human race. Since the earliest times of our existence, far before the creation of first modern civilizations, dance served as an irreplaceable way of expressing human thought and emotion. As our civilization traveled through millennia, dance was modified to the point of being popular means of expression, health, communication and competition. ▪It is said that the first use of dance was as a gesture in order to communicate. ▪As a means of religious expression. ▪ As an aid to military education. Ancient Greeks believe that a man’s grace in dance equaled his prowess in battle, therefore dance was incorporated in their basic education. ▪Way of expressing tribal unity. ▪As an approach for courtship. 1. To please the gods. 2. To please others. 3. To please themselves or self-expression. 4. To build community. 1. Folk Dance/Ethnic Dance 2. Ballroom Dance 3. Theatrical Dance ▪ are social dances that portray the beliefs, interest, habits, customs and practices of the natives. ▪ are not designed for public performance or the stage, although traditional folkdances may be later arranged and set for stage performances. ▪ are usually derived from ethnic dances. People all over the world have their own folk dances as distinct to their specific culture. Saut - A dance of male Talaanding tribe presenting their expertise in style and arts in fighting their opponents/ enemies with their ritual dances for offering to their Magbabaya (god). Dugso or "dance" - is a ceremonial dance among the Manobo people in Bukidnon, Agusan and Misamis Oriental. The Dugso (also Dugsu) is usually performed during important occasions like kaliga (feasts) or kaamulan (tribal gatherings). Itik Itik - The best description of the Itik-Itik is that the steps mimic the way a duck walks, as well as the way it splashes water on its back to attract a mate. According to popular tradition, the dance was created by a lady named Kanang who choreographed the steps while dancing at a baptismal party. The other guests copied her movements, and everyone liked the dance so much that it has been passed along ever since. Tinikling - The Tinikling is considered by many to be the Philippines’ national dance. The dance’s movements imitate the movement of the tikling bird as it walks around through tall grass and between tree branches. People perform the dance using bamboo poles. Singkil - Is a dance traditionally performed by a single woman to attract the attention of potential suitors. Dancers perform a series of graceful movements as they step in and out from the between poles which are rhythmically clapped together. Fans and scarves are often used to enhance the dancer’s movement. Sayaw sa Bangko - Is performed on top of the narrow bench. Dancers need good balance as they go through a series of movement that include some impressive acrobatics. This dance traces its roots back to the areas of Pangasipan, Lingayen and Pangasinan. Pandanggo sa Ilaw - Derived from the Spanish word fandango, this dance is one of several designed to show off the grace and balance, and dexterity of the performers. Three glasses of wine (or, in modern times, water) are held in the hands and on the top of the dancers’ head as they move, never spilling of a drop. ▪These are dances of public entertainment, usually performed in pairs in ballrooms, nightclubs, auditoriums, or in public places. Examples are waltz, swing, foxtrot, cha-cha, boogie, tango, body language, and rhumba. Waltz - This is the most commonly thought-of dance when someone mentions ballroom dancing. It is 28 bars per minute, done in 3/4 time, and it can be romantic. Tango - The Tango is a dramatic dance style that is popular in the United States and all over the world. It is characterized by sharp, staccato movements and a passionate attitude. Cha-cha-cha – this incredibly rhythmic dance created in Latin America managed to meld together both the slow and the energetic movements, making it an instant hit among the dancers around the world. Rumba – Popularity of the Cuban dance came from its focus on sensual hip movements of dance partners. Samba – is a famous dance and musical genre that originated from the coast of Africa and land of Brazil. ▪Are performed for the entertainment of the audience in a theater. Examples are ballet, modern dance, musical comedy dance, and tap dancing. Ballet - is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. Is characterized by light, graceful, fluid movements and the use of pointe shoes Interpretative Dance - Through the use of movement to convey human expression and emotion, interpretive dance is a storytelling dance. It can be used to convey anything, from worries about global pollution to a personal story of love or despair. 1. Theme – is the most basic element of a dance. It conveys the message of a dance. Thus, a dance that does not convey a message, even if there is movement, is not a dance. 2. Design – is the pattern of movement in time and space. Pattern in Time refers to the unaccented beats of movements into measures. Pattern in space refers to the path traced by the dancer’s feet on the floor (ground) and the levels on which they move. 3. Movement – refers to the bodily actions of the dancer that include his steps, gestures of the arms, hands, and body, and facial expression. 4. Technique – is the skill of movement executed by the dancer. 5. Music – is the auditory background to which a dancer moves. A dance is always accompanied by any form of music. 6. Costumes and body paraphernalia – are properties worn by the dancer that help reflect the message, customs, beliefs, and setting of the dance. Ariola, M.M (2014). Introduction to Art Appreciation: A Textbook in Humanities (Second Edition). C & E Publishing, Inc., Quezon City, Philippines. Sanchez, C.A., Abad, P.F., Jao, L.V., & Sanchez, R.A(2012). Introduction to the Humanities(Sixth Edition). Rex Book Store, Manila, Philippines.