DANCE

Theme: Dance as a health-enhancing physical activity.
Definition: Dance can be characterized as movement—the movement of the human body in relation to time and space. Dancing is a means of expressing one’s emotions through movement disciplined by rhythm. It is the act of moving rhythmically and expressively to an accompaniment.
Etymology: The word dancing came from an old German word “danson” which means to “stretch.”

DANCE FORMS overview:
- BALLET: originated in the Italian courts during the Renaissance period.
- ALIGNMENT: proper alignment is the foundation of all dance techniques and relates to developing good posture.
- Posture: the arrangement of the different parts of the body (Smith et al. 1996) and relates to the position of the joints at a given situation (Kendall et al. 1952).

First Position: Heels together, feet turned out so the toes point in opposite directions.
Second Position: Feet are turned out, with heels spaced apart at a distance of about one foot length.
- Distance note: $d \,\approx\, 1\ \mathrm{ft} \approx 30.48\ \mathrm{cm}$
Third Position: One foot is placed in front of the other, with the heel of the front foot touching the arch of the back foot.
Fourth Position: One foot is placed in front of the other, with a space between them, similar to the spacing in second position, but with one foot in front.
Fifth Position: Feet are turned out, with the heel of the front foot touching the toe of the back foot, and vice versa.

Turn-out: natural rotation from the hips, making the knees and toes point diagonally outward.
Weight distribution and balance: proper distribution of weight among the legs develops balance and strength, helping the performer move efficiently without falling.
Pull-up: means that the performer feels the floor under their feet while consciously thinking of muscles stretching upward; described as “feeling tall.”

FOLK DANCE: traditional or native dance form expressing a people’s distinct cultural thoughts, emotions, and way of life; handed from generation to generation.
- Example: Tinikling is a traditional Philippine folk dance that imitates the movement of birds dodging over bamboo traps.
BALLROOM DANCE: traditional partnered dance form performed by a couple in a closed dance position (embrace).

DANCESPORT is the term for competitive ballroom dancing.
STANDARD and LATIN categories:
- Standard: Slow Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Slow Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep, Paso Doble, Jive
- Latin: Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, Samba, Jive (note: listed dances reflect typical Latin-Standard breakdowns; exact lineup may vary by federation)

Description: A cultural movement known for its impact on music in the form of the genre of the same name.
Origin: Bronx, New York City during the 1970s; popularized by African Americans and influenced by Latin Americans.
Pillars of Hip-Hop culture: DJing, rapping, breakdancing, graffiti art.

LOCKING: Freezing from a fast movement and “Locking” in a position, holding briefly then continuing at the same speed.
POPPING: Continuous contraction of the muscles to the beat (like a wave) to give a jerky/snapping effect—bouncy style.
BREAKING (B-BOYING): Commonly called breakdancing; four basic elements: toprock, downrock, freezes, power moves.

Toprock: Footwork-oriented steps performed while standing.
Downrock: Footwork performed with both hands and feet on the floor.
Freezes: Stylish poses performed on your hands.
Power moves: Full-body spins and rotations that give the illusion of defying gravity.

Description: Choreographed dance to a specific music with a repeated number of steps; dancers perform in lines and rows.

Origin of term: Coined by Dr. Kenneth Cooper in 1968.
Cooper’s role: US Air Force researcher and flight surgeon who studied aerobic capacity.
Jacki Sorensen: Air Force wife with a background in dance; developed a fitness television program for Air Force wives at the base.