UNIT 4: DANCE AS COMPETITION

LESSON 4.1: Latin American Dances

Dance is one of our universal languages, yet some dances reflect their cultural heritage more than others. One of these dances is Latin American dance, whose indigenous heritage, colorful history, and numerous influences are represented in this beautiful, moving art form. Latin American dances have been a strong influence not only on the dance floors worldwide but also in annual global sports competitions. These dances are so popular that they are also part of the world’s most prestigious sporting competition, the Olympic Games!

Competitive ballroom dance, or what is currently known as dancesport, involves a male and a female executing rehearsed dance routines when competing with other pairs during the contest. The couple has to manifest artistry in their performance while maintaining discipline over their bodies and minds while dancing. This is why dancesport is said to be a meeting point of sport and art.

Samba, Cha-cha-cha, Rumba, Paso Doble, and Jive are dances that originated from Latin America. These are considered by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) as dance styles, together with Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, and Quickstep as standard dances. The International Olympic Committee recognizes dancesport which led to its inclusion in the quadrennial meet of athletes - the Olympic games. Under the supervision of the World Dance Council (WDC) and the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), dancesport is promoted, monitored, and developed.

The five dances enumerated below are part of the international Latin dances, which are well known for their prominence in the world of dancesport. Each dance has its own cultural and traditional background which is rooted in its birthplace.

Samba is Brazil’s official national dance although its origin is from a different continent - Africa. It is accompanied by lively and upbeat music to express fun and celebration during a big celebration like the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

·         Time Signature: 2/4 with a pulsing first beat (usually a large percussion instrument) and the second layer of the beat using other percussion instruments.

·         Contrasting Rhythms: 1 2, 1 a 2, 1 a 2 a 1 a 2, 1 2 3, SQQ, SQQQQQQ, QQS, SSQQ

The African slaves brought their native rhythm in dancing the Rumba to America, although Cuba is the most related country to this dance in the 1600s.

The Guaguancó, the Yambú, and the Columbia are the three rhythms present in the Rumba. These originated from the African rhythms.

·         Time Signature – The rumba music has a time signature of 4/4.

·         Counting in beats 2 3 4 1 - Count 2=1 beat. Count 3 =1 beat. Count 4 1=2 beats half beat.

Inspired by the iconic Spanish event bullfighting, the Paso Doble involved sharp and quick actions, suggesting pride and confidence.

·         Time Signature– The time signature of Paso Doble is 2/4.

·         Counting 1 2. Count 1=1 beat. Count 2=1 beat.

Even if people started to perform this in the fifties, Cha-Cha-Cha is relatively new in the Latin American dance scene.

The spotlight hit this Latin dance after the success of Mambo. The famous Cuban composer Enrique Jorrin later on came up with a rhythm to which Cha-Cha-Cha’s movements fit. With this, the dance was renamed using the same title of Jorrin’s masterpiece, Cha-cha.

·         Time Signature – 4/4 with accented beats present on the first and fourth of each bar.

·         Counting in beats 2 3 4 and 1. Count 2 = 1 beat. Count 3 = 1 beat. Count 4 = half beat. Count and = half beat. Count 1 = 1 beat.

The Jive or “Rock n’ Roll” dance reached the limelight across European countries and the United Kingdom because of its perky, energetic, and very happy movements. This dance with a lot of kicks, flicks, and twirling traces its roots in the United States.

·         Time Signature – There are four beats to the bar with accent on the first, second, and fourth beats

·         Counting 1 2 3a4 3a4. Count 1= 1 beat. Count 2= 1 beat. Count 3 = 3/4 beat. Count a= ¼beat. Count 4= 1 beat.

LESSON 4.2: Modern Standard Dances

“Ballroom” is actually the generic term for all partner dances which includes the Latin American dances. The word “ballroom” traces its origin to the Latin word “ballare” which means “to dance.” The ballroom should be a large space specifically designed and used for dancing.

Some of these dances include the “Old Time” and “Sequence” dance. To differentiate itself in the evolution of music and movement, the term “modern” was used for newer dances. The term “standard” is another name for “ballroom” dancing.

Some dances in the modern standard category find their roots back in the nineteenth century. However, most modern ballroom dances in the twentieth century took their characteristics from couples moving independently, and to the rise of new kinds of music like jazz.

Dances are tied to music. New dance movements were invented from 1910 to the 1930s. There are five standard dances that are part of international competitions. The origins and influences of these dances come from different parts of Europe and the Americas.

In Europe before World War I, tango was first danced. The steps of this dramatic dance were first seen in performances in the slums of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and are popular with the immigrant laborers, musicians, and people in Argentina and Uruguay.

·         Time Signature: 2/4 (both beats are accented)

·         “Slow” count: 1beat

·         “Quick” count: ½ beats

·         Counting in beats and bars: 1 & 2 &, 2 & 2 &, 3 & 2 &, 4 & 2 &, etc.

It took almost fifty years for Waltz to become as popular as Tango. From its England debut in 1874, it only caught the limelight in 1922. Nevertheless, a vast improvement in its dancing mechanics and technics resulted in more alternative versions of the dance. This was further refined by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) as they have set a standard in executing the steps for this smooth, rise-and-fall dance.

·         Time Signature: ¾ with an accented 1st beat

·         Each step: 1 beat

·         Counting in beats and bars: 1 2 3, 2 2 3, 3 2 3, 4 2 3, etc.

Foxtrot inherited its name from the American actor-comedian Harry Fox who performed the dance for the first time in 1914. This early twentieth-century dance is a compressed or shortened ragtime combination of steps and was popularized in the USA by Irene and Vernon Castle. The routine consists of slow walking and side steps which are executed smoothly like performing Waltz.

·         Time Signature: The first and third beats are accented in a 4/4 time signature.

·         “Slow” count: 2 beats

·         “Quick” count: 1 beat

·         Counting in beats and bars: 1 2 3 4, 2 2 3 4, 3 2 3 4, 4 2 3 4, etc.

Quickstep is a dance created around the 1920s and was first performed by Black Americans. It was introduced in New York and became a popular dance form in ballrooms. Foxtrot shares similar fundamentals with Quickstep, with the latter being a bit slower.

·         Time Signature: The first and third beats are accented in a 4/4 time signature

·         “Slow” count: 2 beats. “Quick” count = 1 beat.

·         Counting in beats and bars: 1 2 3 4, 2 2 3 4, 3 2 3 4, 4 2 3 4, etc.

Viennese Waltz is a very popular and highly-criticized German dance in the eighteenth century, and is believed to have originated in Austria. Women who participate in the dance have to keep their gowns from being stepped on.

·         Time Signature: 6/8 with the first beat accented

·         Counting in beats and bars: 123,223,323,423, etc.

The following are dancesport’s fundamental characteristics as a dance style (Radler, 1998):

·         POSTURE – shows the dancers’ confidence in executing the moves

·         TIMING - the degree to which the dancers are in sync with the music

·         BODY LINE- focuses on how long the dancers’ body stretches from head to foot.

·         POISE - woman’s projection to the audience which involves stretching of her body upwards and outwards, and leftwards with respect to the man’s body

·         TOGETHERNESS - the harmony or movement of the pair as if they are one

·         MUSICALITY AND EXPRESSION - refers to the blending of the movement and choreography with the music

·         PRESENTATION - measures the impact to the audience which includes costume and grooming

·         POWER - the intensity at which the couple is performing

·         FOOT AND LEG ACTION - the impact of lower extremities on the overall performance

·         SHAPE - strategic turning and swaying to achieve the desired position

·         LEAD AND FOLLOW - internal communication between the pair through non-verbal communication

·         INTANGIBLES- refers to how the pair blends into one pair and how they behave as they dance their costumes, and everything looks.

·         FLOORCRAFT - spatial techniques to avoid bumping other dancers during the competition or performance

UNIT 5: DANCE-RELATED INJURIES AND PREVENTION

LESSON 5.1: Injury Risk Factors

The damage to a tissue or organ caused by unintentional or intentional harm is called an injury. Bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles are the musculoskeletal parts that are usually harmed in the dancer’s body. These structures can get injured due to an unexpected movement shift or a poor execution of a skill. A poorly executed technique can result in significant pressure on these structures, which may be beyond their capacity to sustain. Studies have shown that there is an increasing number of young dancers who are getting injured while performing their art.

Researchers have tried to distinguish the elements that affect injury risks. A critical study on this is the Meeuwisse model (1994), which involves a predisposed athlete characterized by intrinsic risk factors becoming susceptible to injury through interactions with extrinsic risk factors. This model means that internal factors such as age, previous injury, and flexibility play a part in injury risks. Similarly, external factors such as game equipment and playing conditions can also lead to injury risks.

Some of the factors that can increase risks of dance injury include the following:

Poor Body Alignment and Improper Technique

Some intrinsic factors that may lead to injury are the anatomical misalignment and the technique the dancer utilizes. In dancing, the limbs are required to move in a controlled way, so the trunk needs to be stable enough and the spine has to be aligned appropriately to ensure the preciseness of the body movements. Poorly aligned spine and trunk instability can lead to injury. Many dance styles require precise routine execution to ensure the safety of the dancer. For example, break dancing requires speed, endurance, strength, momentum, flexibility, and control to execute the routine in a precise and safe manner.

Intense Workout and Excessive Training Period

Damaged tissues need time to heal and fully recover. Thus, limited time recovery and continued intense training will further compromise the healing and recovery process of the tissues. It is important to take note that repetitive loading due to intense training can create microscopic cracks in the musculoskeletal structures that propagate little by little. Getting enough rest and adequate nourishment can heal the body tissues and consequently prevent severe injury. A sudden change in intensity training could also result in severe injury.

Inappropriate Dance Floor

A dance floor is not just an area where dancers can perform their routine; it has to meet the dancers’ performance needs and conform to safety requirements. Ideally, a dance floor should be able to sustain the impact of the moves of the dancers. A hard floor has the effect of returning the force to the dancer with the same intensity, and the constant pressure of landing by the foot would harm it along with the different parts of the lower extremity.

Improper Footwear

Appropriate footwear can help keep the feet healthy and the body safe from injury. Wearing the right shoes can cushion and support the feet from the impact generated by the dancer, so shoes should properly fit or be able to absorb shock to avoid injury. It is essential to choose shoes designed to provide slip resistance to prevent slips and falls.

Muscular Imbalance

Muscle groups should be in balance for optimal movement and function. Muscle imbalance happens when a muscle or group of muscles on one side of the body is uneven in size or stronger or weaker than the other side’s corresponding muscle(s). Having poor posture can lead to muscle imbalance of the upper body, especially the shoulders and upper back. Take note that posture is the resting position of the body, and maintaining poor posture can result in faulty, inefficient movement patterns that increase injury risk. For example, rolling your body forward in a slouched position can shorten the muscles of the shoulders, creating unnecessary length in the upper back muscles.

Common Types of Dance-Related Injuries

Musculoskeletal injuries can generally be classified in two ways: acute and chronic. Acute injuries can be characterized as sudden and severe and are usually isolated to one body part and respond well to treatment. Acute injuries happen when the force absorbed by the musculoskeletal structure is more impactful than what it used to absorb. On the other hand, chronic injuries often result from repetitive trauma and overusing of one body area over a long period of time. In this type, the body’s recurring injury gets insufficient time to recuperate, so pain

and other related symptoms show up slowly. The affected musculoskeletal structure usually deteriorates with continued activity.

ACUTE DANCE-RELATED INJURIES

injury

- ankle sprain

cause

- accidental or sudden twisting of the ankle or landing awkwardly on a foot after a pivot or jump

symptom

- swelling, tenderness, pain at the ankle side, discoloration

prevention

- warming up before exercising, performing, strengthening exercises to improve balance, wearing sturdy, quality footwear

injury

- anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear

cause

- sudden change in direction or pivot against a locked knee

symptoms

- pain and weakness in the knee, swelling

prevention

- performing knee-strengthening exercises to improve balance

injury

- back strain

cause

- overstressing the back muscles, improper lifting

symptoms

- pain in the lower back, muscles cramping

prevention

- back-strengthening and stretching exercises, maintaining proper posture

injury

- dancer’s fracture

cause

- rolling the foot and ankle toward the outside

symptoms

- pain in the outer foot part, swelling, difficulty walking

prevention

- warming up before exercising, performing strengthening exercises to improve balance, wearing sturdy, quality footwear

injury

- forearm fracture

cause

- falling on an outstretched arm, direct blow

symptoms

- pain, swelling, deformity, bruising, numbness

prevention

- falling on side or behind

COMMON CHRONIC DANCE-RELATED INJURIES

injury

- achilles tendinosis

cause

- intense or repetitive straining of the achilles tendon (located in the back of the leg)

symptoms

- severe pain after exercise, pain and stiffness in the morning, recurring swelling

prevention

- strengthening calf muscles (increasing intensity gradually), proper rest

injury

- osteoarthritis of hip and knee

cause

- repeated stress on the hip and knee joints (repetitive loading)

symptoms

- joint pain and stiffness

prevention

- maintaining healthy weight

injury

- runner’s knee

cause

- muscle overuse, imbalance, and injury

symptoms

- pain at the knee front (around kneecap) aggravated when doing activity

prevention

- proper aligned and technique, maintaining healthy weight

injury

- plantar fasciitis

cause

- repetitive strain injury due to bad landing after a jump, excessive running or walking, poor footwear

symptoms

- heel and foot pain, stiffness, tenderness

prevention

- proper stretching exercise, wearing optimal footwear

injury

- stress fracture

cause

-Repetitive force and overuse, sudden increase activity intensity

symptoms

- Pain at the front of the leg (shin), tenderness and swelling around the painful area

prevention

- Proper nutrition, performing low-impact activities, wearing optimal footwear

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