PE Reviewer - Introduction to Social Dance PDF

PE REVIEWER LESSON #1 Introduction to Social Dance Social Dance - A group dance or couple dance done for social and usually recreational purposes. - Social dancing is danced for enjoyment, socialization, recreation and health. - Social dance is nearly always accompanied by music, which no...

PE REVIEWER LESSON #1 Introduction to Social Dance Social Dance - A group dance or couple dance done for social and usually recreational purposes. - Social dancing is danced for enjoyment, socialization, recreation and health. - Social dance is nearly always accompanied by music, which not only helps to keep the dancers in time with each other but also increases the power and excitement of the dance, encouraging the dancers to abandon themselves to their movements. Sometimes individual dances have developed. - Social dances are dances that have social functions and context.Social dances are intended for participation rather than performance. They are often danced merely to socialize and for entertainment, though they may have ceremonial, competitive and erotic functions. Social Dance Positions and Steps - This genre of dance has its roots in early courtship dances. Social dances are partner dances; they reflect our need to be socially connected to others. Ballroom dance is one form of social dance, as are contemporary partner dances like the tango and the Lindy. When used in choreography, the steps will be true to form, but social dances may be altered some because they are used in a performance setting and need to keep the audience involved. Basic Partner Positions Shine position - In this position, the partners face each other without touching Two-hands joined position - Partners stand facing each other. Both the man and the woman hold their elbows by their sides with their forearms extended.They can both have their palms facing down, and the man can place his thumb in the woman's palm and wrap his fingers around the top of her hands, or the man can have his palms facing up and place his thumb on top of the woman's fingers and his fingers in her palm. One-hand joined position - This position is the same as the two-hands joined position except that each partner uses only one hand Closed position - The partners face each other in this position. The man's left hand holds the woman's right hand. Palms are touching, and fingers and thumbs are loosely clasped around each other's hands. The man's right hand rests on the woman's back, cradling her left shoulder blade. The woman's left arm rests on top of the man's right arm, and her left hand rests gently on his right shoulder Semiopen position - In this position, the partners stand beside each other with their bodies turned at a 45-degree angle to each other. The man places his right hand below the woman's left shoulder blade with his elbow slightly bent. The woman's left arm rests gently on the man's right arm, and her left hand is in front of his right shoulder. Both partners extend their outside arms and hold hands Inside-hands joined position - The partners stand side by side. The man extends his right arm and offers his right hand to his partner, and the woman places her left palm in the man's right hand. Both place their outside hands on their hips Basic Steps In social dance, basic movements are connected in recurring patterns to create the dances. Because social dances are partner dances, someone always leads the movement, typically the male, and someone follows, typically the female. The lead usually begins the steps on the left foot, and the person who is following uses the right foot to begin the patterns. Here are some of the common steps you will need to know. Step hop - For a step hop you step from one foot onto the other, shifting your weight, and then hop on that foot. Triple step - In this step you take three steps in two counts. You step on the right foot, then step on the ball of the left foot, and conclude with another step on the right foot. This step is counted "1 and 2." A series of triple steps are often done together and in various directions. Rock step - In this step you transfer weight from one foot to the other with a rocking motion. You step backward on one foot with a full transfer of weight and complete it by stepping forward on the other foot while again transferring your weight. The rock step can also be done by rocking and stepping forward with the first foot and then stepping back onto the second foot. Each step receives a full count. Box step - This six-count step makes a box, or square, pattern on the floor. The lead starts with the left foot stepping forward. A step to the side with the right foot follows, and then the left foot steps in to meet the right foot. The right foot then steps back, the left foot steps side, and the right foot steps in to meet the left. The person following begins with the right foot stepping backward and reverses the pattern. LESSON #2 Classification of Social Dance LATIN AMERICAN DANCES - Type of ballroom and club dances that spread throughout Europe in the 19th century and became very popular. They owe their wide popularity to curiously mixed cultures of the Americas including European and local folk dances. - Latin Style has movements that are passionate, fiery, and flashy. Generally faster-paced, more sensual and have more rhythmic expression. - Distinguish themselves by the costume worn by the performers. They are somewhat revealing, tight fitting, and sexy yet sophisticated in nature. - Cha-cha, rumba, samba, paso doble, jibe/boogie, swing, merengue, salsa, mambo, MODERN STANDARD DANCES - MODERN BALLROOM is the term used to describe a collective of dances: Modern waltz, quickstep, slow foxtrot, tango, viennese waltz. These five dances are internationally recognised as the Modern Ballroom, or the Standard dances for the purpose of competition and teaching diplomas. - Include waltz, foxtrot, tango, quickstep, and viennese waltz - Standard dances wear formal, ankle length gown for females and coat and tie for males Latin American Dances Cha Cha A fast ballroom dance of Latin America origin, similar to the mambo, that follows a rhythmic pattern based upon a quick three-step movement. Rumba The American Rumba is a mixture of International Cha Cha and Rumba. This dance allows for faster speed and steps than its International Rumba counterpart. Danced with a bent-to-straight leg action, the American Rumba is upbeat with strongly accentuated hip actions known as "Cuban Action." Waltz The classic, elegant, International Waltz is the quintessential, “ballroom dance” (think, Cinderella!) Known for its characteristic “123,” the Waltz is danced in a closed hold (partners do not break their frame and remain connected) from start to finish. This is a unique element to all International Ballroom dances. Modern Standard Dances Foxtrot - Foxtrot is a progressive dance. It’s designed to be very smooth, it comes with continual flowing movements. It’s danced to the big band music, especially vocals. Foxtrot was created during the 1910s, and it reached its peak in the 30s. However, there are still lots of people that practice it now because it’s very distinctive and fun. Tango - The eccentric and passionate Smooth Tango merges the International Style with classic Argentinian Tango elements. Staccato actions, straight lines, sharp changes are typical of this dance. Other Modern Standard Dances Viennese Waltz The Smooth Viennese Waltz is a billowy, emotional, and fast-paced dance to round out the four American Smooth Style dances. Significantly slower than the International Viennese Waltz, it allows dancers to evolve throughout a multitude of dance positions and styling for optimal storytelling. Quickstep Leaps, kicks, and running down the floor, all while being connected to another person? In the Quickstep, dancers seem to play Tetris while dancing and navigating in and out of "traffic" on the floor. It's a true talent. Latin American Dance ( Cha cha cha ) Cha Cha Type: American Latin Dances, International Style Dances (Latin) Description - This is a fun, flirty dance that grew out of the Cuban Mambo and became immensely popular in the United States in the 1950’s. It consists of triple chasse steps (cha cha cha’s) and rock steps.  - Cha Cha has a modified Cuban Motion hip action, because of the speed. This is an exuberant dance that will get your heart pumping and put a smile on your face. History - Cha Cha originated in Cuba and evolved from a slow version of Mambo called “Triple Mambo” or Mambo with guiro rhythm. This musical rhythm inspired dancers to dance a hip syncopation to the forward and back breaks of a mambo which late evolved to a triple step. - Mambo evolved from a fusion of danzon, son and American jazz. Danzon has its origins from Europe (chamber music) and African/Haitian drum rhythms. Enrique Jorrin, a Cuban Violinist created the first cha cha song in 1948. He named it after the shuffling sound the dancers shoes made when they dance to this type of music. - In 1952, an English dance teacher Pierre Lavelle visited Cuba and saw dancers dancing this triple step to slow rumba and mambo music. On his return to Britain, he taught this as a separate dance and it has since evolved to Ballroom Cha Cha. - Cha Cha was introduced to the US in 1954 which replaced mambo as the latest dance craze. After its introduction to the US, the traditional violins and flutes were exchanged with big band instruments such as trumpets, trombones and saxophones. - Cha Cha is a lively, fun, cheeky and playful dance. It is a non-progressive dance that emphasizes Cuban motion, distinguished by the chasses (cha-cha-cha) typically danced during the 4&1 counts of the music. Cuban motion in Cha Cha is more staccato than - Rumba to reflect the music with emphasis on count 1. The Cha Cha frame is a typical Rhythm frame. Musical Information Time signature – 4/4 Tempo – 30 measures per minute Timing – 1234& Beat value is 1-1-1-1/2-½ Modern Standard Swing Dance - Swing is a lively, non-progressive partner dance that can be danced to a wide variety of music, from blues to rock & roll. Non-progressive means it's mostly performed in one spot, so it's very  convenient on a crowded dance floor. - Swing is one of the most versatile partner dances you can learn - very social and beginner friendly. Easily adaptable to a wide range of tempos, it involves movements with lots of swinging, spinning and rhythmic, creative footwork.