Comprehensive Study Guide for Health Optimizing Physical Education (H.O.P.E. 3): Introduction to Dance
Introduction to Dance
The word "dance" originates from the Old German word "Damson," which translates to "to stretch."
Dance is defined as an art, specifically the art of body movement.
It is considered the oldest of the arts.
Dance serves as more than just an individual or group experience; it acts as a cultural mirror reflecting the spirit, character, and artistry of a people.
It changes over time as people use it and is described as a visual and auditory feast, involving specific meanings, costumes, props, and music.
Dance is a rich source of ethno-historical information.
It functions as both an art form and a form of recreation.
It is an expression of an intensified sense of life through rhythmic movement, often referred to as "poetry in movement."
The purpose of dance may be to tell a story, set a particular mood, or express a specific emotion.
Elements of Dance
Body Movement: This includes the quality of movement (e.g., gentle or rapid) and the level at which it is performed (low, medium, or high).
Action: Refers to any human movement included within the act of dancing.
Space: The area that dance performers occupy and move through. It is divided into four main aspects:
Direction
Size
Level
Focus
Timing: The execution of movements relative to tempo, which refers to the speed of the dance.
Energy: Movement is propelled by the energy of force. Dancers utilize different types of energy; the varied use of these energies helps minimize monotony during a performance.
Reasons and Purposes for Dancing
Reasons for Dancing:
Worship: Dance has historically been used in religious contexts.
Courtship: It has played a role in courtship rituals, serving as a way for a man and a woman to become acquainted before marriage.
Joy: Children dance because of the joy they feel.
Magic and Health: Primitive peoples believed dancing could bring magic powers, ensure victory, or restore health to life.
Social Interaction: Social dancing is performed for the sake of companionship, to have fun, or to entertain others.
Inspiration: Dance is used to provide beauty and inspiration to observers.
Purposes of Dance:
It is the most personal of all art mediums because it employs no instrument other than the human body itself.
It allows observers to glimpse the core or psyche of a nation.
It serves as a means of communication and the expression of feelings.
It is used for therapeutic purposes.
Types of Dance
The primary categories of dance include:
Traditional (Folk and Ethnic)
Modern and Contemporary
Ballroom Dance
Cheer Dance
Street Dance
Festival Dance
Traditional Dance: Folk and Ethnic
Traditional (Folk and Ethnic) Dance: Typically performed at social functions by individuals with little to no professional training. It is often set to traditionally based music and is designed for public performance. Its execution is dominated by inherited tradition rather than innovation.
Ethnic Dance: Any dance form identified as originating with a specific ethnic culture. it expresses the movement aesthetics of a particular race or country.
Types of Ethnic Dance:
Ritual Dances: Dances depicting ritual ceremonies. Examples include the Dugso of Bukidnon and the Pagdidiwata of Palawan.
Life-Cycle Dances: Dances relating to the human life cycle, including birthing, courtship, weddings, and funerals. Examples include the Binasuan of Pangasinan and the Daling-Daling (a courtship dance from Sulu).
Occupational Dances: Dances that depict the occupation of the dancers. Examples include the Mag Asik of Cotabato and the Managat of Cebu.
Folk Dance: Requires both ethnic identification and a participatory/aesthetic tradition. It is developed by people within a specific region.
Characteristics of Folk Dance:
It is traditional.
It is dominated by simple, basic rhythms that establish the movement patterns.
It performs a specific function in the lives of the folk people.
Francisca Reyes-Aquino: Recognized as the first National Artist for Dance and the "Mother of Philippine Folk Dance."
Traditional Folk Dances of the Philippines
Itik-itik: The movements mimic the way a duck walks and how it splashes water on its back to attract a mate.
Tinikling: The national dance of the Philippines. It imitates the movements of the tikling bird as it walks through tall grass and between tree branches. Dancers perform using bamboo poles and execute three basic steps: singles, doubles, and hops.
Pandanggo sa Ilaw: Similar to the Spanish Fandango, it is a lively dance from Lubang Island. Dancers balance three oil lamps—one on the head and one in each hand. The music is in time and is usually accompanied by castanets.
Maglalatik: A mock war dance depicting a fight over coconut meat (a highly prized food). It is danced in religious processions during the fiesta of Biñan as an offering to San Isidro de Labrador, the patron saint of farmers.
Cariñosa: A dance designed for flirting. Dancers use fans or handkerchiefs to hide and peek at one another, representing the courtship between two sweethearts.
Modern, Contemporary, and Ballet
Contemporary Dance: A style of expressive dance combining elements from multiple genres, including modern, jazz, lyrical, and classical ballet. It is considered a raw form of dance that does not follow strict rules.
Modern Dance: A style that rejects many of the strict rules of classical ballet, focusing instead on the expression of inner feelings.
Ballet: Derived from the Italian word ballare (to dance) and ballo (referring to dances in a ballroom). It is an artistic, programmatic, scenic dance accompanied by music.
Ballroom Dance and Dancesport
Ballroom Dance: A set of partner dances enjoyed both socially and competitively. Due to its entertainment value, it is featured on stage, in films, and on television.
Dancesport: A combination of art and sport, formerly known as competitive ballroom dancing. It involves pairs (male and lady) competing against others on the floor simultaneously. It provides discipline for both the body and the mind of dance athletes.
Dance Styles in Ballroom:
Latin American Dances (Rhythmical): Samba, Cha-Cha-Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive.
Standard Dances (Harmonic): Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, and Quickstep.
Specific Styles Described:
Samba: Originated in Brazil.
Cha-cha-cha: One of the most popular social American dances and the most popular Latin American dance. Couples face each other and must dance both forward and backward.
Rhumba/Rumba: Known for a sensual feeling with significant hip and body action; often referred to as "Cuban motion."
Jive: The quickest dance in the style, featuring many kicks, high energy, and personality.
Foxtrot: A smooth dance where partners glide across the floor as if on ice skates.
International Tango: Features quick, dramatic movements and shapes. Dancers utilize a staccato technique in their walking.
Waltz: Graceful in character and movement, characterized by a strong "rise and fall" (up and down) technique throughout the figures.
Cheer Dance, Street Dance, and Festival Dance
Cheer Dance: Coined from "cheer" and "dance."
Cheer: Shouting words or phrases to motivate a team to perform better.
Dance: A physical activity expressing emotions or gestures through bodily movement, usually in time with rhythm.
Competitions in the Philippines: Major competitions include the UAAP Cheerdance Competition, the NCAA Cheerleading Competition, and the National Cheerleading Championship (NCC).
Street Dance: Formally described as vernacular dance, it originated in New York in the 1970s, specifically in the streets of Manhattan and the Bronx. It evolved in urbanized cities and has no set rules, emphasizing improvisation and freestyle. It is described as freely expressing music with the body.
Festival Dance: Cultural dances performed to strong percussion beats by a community sharing the same culture. These are usually done in honor of or as thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.