Introduction To Dance PDF

Unit 1 INTRODUCTION TO DANCE TIME ALLOTMENT This learning guide will be discussed for four (4) hours, equivalent to 2 sessions. INTRODUCTION Dance is an art form that shows expressions...

Unit 1 INTRODUCTION TO DANCE TIME ALLOTMENT This learning guide will be discussed for four (4) hours, equivalent to 2 sessions. INTRODUCTION Dance is an art form that shows expressions and is really involved with movement. Dance is normally for fun and entertainment. You usually dance to music. It is not possible to say when this form of art originated; however, it started thousands of years ago. Dance may be participatory, social, performed, ceremonial, or competitive. It is an important part of ceremonies, rituals, celebrations, and entertainment. Choreography may be performed solo, with a partner, or with a group; either way, each dance tells a story. This course will provide physical activities for the purpose of improving health and fitness. Students will be provided with opportunities through performing selected dance work out routines (Hip hop Aerobics, Latin Aerobics, Jazzercize, Barre, etc.) to maintain and improve their health and well-being. LEARNING OBJECTIVES  demonstrate a deep understanding of the nature of dance;  trace the history of dance; and,  explain the different purposes of dance. TOPICS 1. Basic orientation in Dance; 2. Definition of terms; 3. Brief History of Dance Exercise; and, 4. Benefits of Dance aerobics. BRIEF ORIENTATION OF DANCE Dance is known as an excellent way to improve physical fitness and develop social skills, thereby improving mental health, and is something that can be taken up early in life and still provide plenty of entertainment well after retirement. The best kinds of dancing to encourage people to take up are those that develop cooperation, either with a partner or within a set. Each type has its own qualities and makes its own demands but there should be something suitable for almost everyone in your area. Even wheelchair users have their own formation-dancing teams, providing a good non-competitive alternative to basketball. Dance also shares the ‘holistic’ practice approach. It is a complex sensorimotor rhythmic activity integrating multiple physical, cognitive, and social elements, all of which have the potential to ameliorate a wide range of physiological and cognitive fall risk factors. Furthermore, unlike exercise programs that require training from specialized instructors, dancing is already available in the community and therefore inherently sustainable. AEROBIC EXERCISE (CARDIO) Definition: It is physical exercise of low to high intensity that depends on the aerobic energy-generating process. Aerobic actually means “relating to, involving, or requiring oxygen”, and refers to the use of oxygen to properly meet energy demands during exercise. This improves the efficiency of the body’s cardiovascular system in transporting and absorbing oxygen. “Aerobic” is derived from the Greek language during the 19th century. BRIEF HISTORY OF AEROBIC EXERCISE According to Kenneth H. Cooper, a doctor of medicine and former Air Force Colonel from Oklahoma, pioneered the benefits of doing aerobic exercise for maintaining and improving health. He is the author of the 1968 book Aerobics, which emphasized a point system for improving the cardiovascular system. He was born on 4 March 1931, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. According to him, aerobics is consists in a system of exercises to prevent coronary artery sicknesses which was first put forwarded by him in San Antonio Air Force Hospital in Texas. Sometimes after the publishing of cooper's book concerning the exercise system, Aerobics in 1968, a person called Jackie Sorenson developed a series of dance routines known as aerobic dance to generously improve the cardiovascular fitness. So, aerobic dance and other forms of exercise gained existence and made their way prudently between the masses all over the United States and many other countries, and that too in a very short span of around two decades. The number of aerobics participators in the US alone rose from an estimated 6 million in 1978 to 19 million in 1987. As mentioned previously, one can easily observe the enormous popularity of aerobics among the people around the world. In the year of 1983 Howard and Karen Schwartz developed a very new and competitive sport called sport aerobics. In the year 1984, their group organization known as the sport fitness international has the credit of organizing the first national aerobic championship. Sport-aerobics at the beginning, started featuring competition in four categories namely individual male and female, mixed pairs, and trio which have the facility to include any of the three athletes. In the year 2002, the competition was improved to a group of six athletes. The finding of the competitors is done on a one-minute, forty-five-second routine done to music. Judges elect two criteria namely the artistic merit and the technical merit with an overall 10 pints each. In 1996 sport-aerobics was officially adopted as a Gymnastique discipline. Aerobics has grown at a tedious pace since the day of its prelude. All kind of people are identifying aerobics to be beneficial and helpful in preserving a fit and healthy body structure. Nowadays, the actual reality is such that every person among a heavy work schedule makes out at least half an hour to work out either in the gym or in the home. Every one today stress on the need to stay healthy and hence aerobics and all its form of exercises are rapidly gaining popularity. Jacki Sorenson. The "originator of Aerobic Dancing“ Aerobic Dancing- a program that combined the benefits of jogging with the fun of dancing. Sorenson created her program in 1969 after being asked to design a women’s fitness television program. Her dance exercise programs have grown and are still offered throughout the United States and in Japan and Australia. Juddi Sheppard Missette. Created one of the first dance exercise crazes called Jazzercise in 1969 which quickly grew in popularity worldwide. Offering a fusion of jazz dance, resistance training, Pilates, yoga, and kickboxing movements, Jazzercise is still a well-liked form of dance exercise and fitness with 32,000 classes held weekly in 32 different countries. Dance exercise forerunners Aerobic Dance and Jazzercise helped to pave the way for many new forms of dance exercise, such as 24 Dance, which combines various dance styles such as salsa, cowboy boogie, and tease into a total dance workout. With the help of successful dance competition programs on television, dancing in general is making a comeback. People realize the fitness benefits of dance exercise, such as burning 300 to 500 calories per hour, according to 24 Hour Fitness. Most gyms and other recreational venues offer a variety of dance exercise classes. For example, participate in Zumba for a Latin-flavored class or Bollywood Dance for an experience based on Indian traditional dances. Most classes are designed for all fitness levels but combine techniques and moves from interval training and dance routines for a workout that promotes ultimate fat- burning and fitness. Most facilities offer an array of dance exercise classes, from hip-hop to belly dancing. Ultimately, any form of dance including a lot of movement will provide you with aerobic or cardio exercise. The Evolution of Dance (Aerobics) Fitness: Through The Ages “It is easier to maintain good health through proper exercise, diet, and emotional balance than it is to regain it once lost.” - Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper (Father of the Modern Fitness Movement and Disease Prevention) Dance Fitness, also referred to as dance aerobics, is one of the coolest workout systems in the fitness industry. Today, dance fitness has the transformative power to meet the needs of almost any demographic (from kids to older adults) and cater to multiple dance interests (from Jazzercise to AquaFit). When Toronto gyms and recreation were forced to shut down due to COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions, I saw our team and dozens of fitness instructors across the city pivot by running online dance fitness classes to keep thousands of people staying fit and healthy for the safety of their own homes. With that in mind, let’s take a walk through group and dance fitness through the ages:   1950s: The Jack Lalanne Show was the first TV show to offer exercise routines to keep its viewers exercising from home, making it the first virtual home workout  1960s: Airforce physician Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper created the book “Aerobics” when he developed exercises to help prevent coronary artery disease. His book inspired dancer Jacki Sorensen (featured at the top of the page) to create a program combining dance moves, exercises, and music. The program was geared toward women and to not feel like a traditional workout.  1970s: Jazzercize, created by dancer Judi Sheppard Messet, was a dance fitness program that offered participants the fitness components of dance without training to be a dancer. Today, Jazzercize has 8500 franchisees globally  1980s: The rise in celebrity fitness (Richard Simmons, Jane Fonda) and Step Aerobics. Athlete Gin Miller came up with the infamous Step Aerobics program when she was stepping up and down a milk crate to strengthen her knee injury  1990s: The rise of the following group workout programs, Tao Bo (created by Billy Blanks), Spinning (created by Jonathan Goldberg), and Pilates (created by Joseph Pilates), a widely practiced workout focused on core strength, balance, posture/form and flexibility  2000s: Zumba (a Latin dance workout program) took the industry by storm and is now offered in over 186 countries. Zumba was created by the Colombian fitness instructor Alberto Perez. Following Zumba came the growth of other culturally diverse dance workout programs  2010s to Now: I (Sumera) have noticed a growth in the following group fitness programs: dance fitness (Bollyx, Socacize, Hot Hula Fitness, Samba Fit, Belly Fit, Salsa Babies). Yoga programs (Bikram, Ashtanga, Flow, Vinyasa, Power), kids fitness programs (circuits, Zumba kids, Pl3Y Inc Dance), and HIIT training programs (F45, Orange Theory, Jillian Michaels) Aerobic Dance Terminologies  From "Sweatin' to the Oldies" with Richard Simmons to "Joining the ZUMBA Party" with Beto Perez, aerobic dance has helped people burn calories, lose weight, tone, and have tons of fun for decades. Perhaps you've witnessed the fun from a treadmill across the gym and are considering giving an aerobic dance class a whirl. Although a class is sometimes comprised of countless choreography cues, understanding the terminology of steps commonly used will help you feel better prepared and will allow you to get comfortable in an aerobic dance class more quickly. The First Step There are many types of aerobic dance classes to choose from. If you're not sure where to start, think about your taste in music. A dance class that involves your favorite genres and songs will be more fun to attend. It's also important to start with a class that's designed for novice dancers. This will keep your expectations realistic and practical, especially if you haven't worked out in a long time. Plus, according to noted exercise physiologist Richard Weil, you'll be more likely to keep doing aerobic activity if it's simple and practical. On-the-Spot Steps Aerobic dance classes are typically progressive: they start with the most basic steps and conclude with the most advanced before you cool down. Steps that you perform in place usually begin a class and are often referred to as on-the-spot steps. These include steps such as marches, high knee jogs, front kicks, squat taps, and jumps. Forward and Backward Steps When your instructor sees that the majority of the class is performing the basic on-the-spot steps proficiently, she will cue you to bring it forward or take it back. Forward and backward-moving marches, jumps, kicks and gallops are among some of the most commonly cued aerobic dance steps that allow you to move closer to the front and back of the room. Side-to-Side Steps Much of the aerobic dance terminology you hear in class will direct you to move from side to side. Step touches, side gallops, grapevines, and glides are all aerobic dance steps that allow you to move from right to left during class. To make side-to-side steps easier to follow, aerobic dance instructors will often face you, providing a mirror image of how the steps should look. Turning Steps  Turning steps allow you to make a quarter, half, full, or multiple rotations so you change your orientation. You can perform pivots, two-foot spins, and soutenu turns by keeping your weight on both of your feet. You perform other turns, such as pirouettes and one-foot spins, with your weight on only one foot. As you progress into more advanced dance aerobic classes, you can try turns that use different body parts, such as knee spins. Jumping Steps In advanced dance aerobics, jumps and hops are more complex. They allow you to do a pose or movement as you push yourself off the floor. For example, a double stag allows you to jump with two bent legs. You can also do a stag leap by jumping with one bent leg and one straight leg. A more challenging move is a fouette, which allows you to hop, turn, and lift one leg at the same time. Compared to basic dance aerobic steps, jumping steps involve more coordination, focus, and strength. *Soutenu - Soutenu means supported or sustained. Most often, teachers use this term to describe a soutenu turn (assemblé soutenu en tournant), but the term itself can apply to a variety of movements because it describes a quality of movement rather than a specific step. Soutenu is pronounced [sut(ə)ny]. Sout sounds like "soup" with the final "p" switched to a "t". The "e" sound in the middle is optional depending on your pronunciation and sounds like "euh." And nu is similar to the first two letters of "nuclear" but the lips are very round and the lower jaw distends slightly. (This u sound is one that we don't have in English). Resist the American temptation to add a W sound to the end of nu. In executing and teaching soutenu en tournant include the following: the legs come together to fifth on demi-pointe/pointe to form a support post (imagine the supports hold up the roof in a large warehouse), imagine squeezing the legs together at the end of the turn to sustain the position for a moment before the demi-plié, or visualize a small block or saucer of tea on top of the head to ensure that the turn stays on the same level throughout the rotation. *Fouette - A Fouetté is a classical ballet term that refers to a specific type of turn that is commonly performed by dancers. The word “Fouetté” is French for “whipped,” which accurately describes the quick and precise movement that is characteristic of this turn. The Fouetté is a challenging and advanced technique that requires a great deal of strength, balance, and control to execute properly. The Fouetté is often used in ballet choreography to showcase a dancer’s technical skill and agility. It is a visually stunning movement that can add excitement and flair to a performance. The Fouetté is also commonly used as a transitional step between other movements, such as pirouettes or jumps, in a dance routine. Additionally, the Fouetté can help dancers improve their overall balance, coordination, and control. Benefits of Dance Aerobics With Aerobics come a whole lot of benefits. It not only lifts your mood but also helps you beat stress and stay relaxed!  Dance aerobic workout strengthens the body, including supporting bones and cardiovascular muscles.  It helps you lose weight and build muscle in your body. It is also recommended for those who want to tighten their muscles.  It is an aerobic exercise that can be easily done by men and women of all ages. However, older people should exercise briefly or with caution. Not recommended for very young children or pregnant women.  Dance aerobics increases blood flow and lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels.  An aerobic dance workout increases the flow of oxygen to your heart, lungs, and blood vessels, helping your body function properly.  Dance aerobics is a good workout to boost your immune system.  It gives you the freedom to personalize your dance steps. You can choose a piece of music and the dance steps of your choice, say, jazz, disco, hip hop.  It's a great stress reliever. Fun activities that will make you forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  Dance fitness provides a platform, day and night, for people to come together and sweat under the guidance and motivational support of a fitness instructor.  Dance fitness, specifically, gives participants without any formal dance training a chance to improve their coordination and memory skills as they learn different styles of dance movements and rhythms.  Group fitness exists to improve: one’s body composition (weight loss/maintenance), muscle conditioning (strength training), flexibility (to reduce injuries), and cardiovascular health (improving heart and lung function).  Mood enhancements (reducing stress levels, anxiety, and depression), preventing high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high/bad cholesterol, improving one’s self-image and confidence, better sleep, and chronic illness prevention. 74 FUNDAMENTAL POSITIONS