Dance & Health Notes - Condensed

Introduction to Dance

  • Barbara Mettler (1980): Dance is an activity meeting multiple needs (recreation, entertainment, education, therapy, religion) and, in its pure form, art—the art of body movement.
  • Dance teaches movement and fitness through diverse disciplines; dancers coordinate muscles to achieve proper positions.
  • Etymology: Dance from German damson; means to stretch or drag; reflects society by responding to historical, religious, social, and political events.
  • Dance definitions: Art form using rhythmic bodily movements with music; can tell a story, set a mood, or express emotion; also a form of recreation and socialization.

History of Dance (Periods)

  • Prehistoric Period
    • Egyptians first great culture to infuse society with dance; evolved from simple hunting rituals.
  • Greek Period
    • Dance evolved from a basic dramatic form combining dance, music, speech, and costumes; religious festival participation; 200+ dances for various moods/purposes.
  • Roman Period
    • Greeks influenced Roman entertainment; emphasis on spectacle and mime; dancing as a form diminished.
  • Medieval Period
    • Dance moved from churches to outdoors; Latin Mass movements; dance of death referenced.
  • Renaissance Period
    • Birth of theatre in dance in Italian courts; dance as political display of splendour and power.
  • Classic Period
    • Mid-17th century: ballet as court spectacle; performances blended poetry, music, dialogue, dance (ballets entrées).
  • Modern Period
    • 20th century: jazz and tap rise; ballet continues; social dances popular (foxtrot, two-step, Boston, Charleston, Castle Walk, Castle Polka, tango, conga, rumba).

The Elements of Dance

  • There are four Elements of Dance: SPACE, TIME, FORCE/ENERGY, BODY.

SPACE (1st Element)

  • Definition: The area surrounding a dancer in which movement occurs.
  • Subcomponents:
    • Shape
    • Level (High, Medium, Low)
    • Direction (forward, backward, up, down, sideways, diagonally, etc.)
    • Focus (where eyes look)
    • Size (large or small movements)

TIME (2nd Element)

  • Definition: The duration of movement.
  • Subcomponents:
    • Beat (underlying pulse)
    • Tempo (speed of movement)
    • Accent (strong beats at regular intervals)
    • Rhythmic patterns (long/short or strong/light movements)
    • Duration (length of each movement)

FORCE/ENERGY (3rd Element)

  • Definition: How energy is used in movement.
  • Characteristics:
    • Heavy vs. Light
    • Sharp vs. Smooth
    • Tensed vs. Relaxed
    • Bound vs. Flowing

BODY (4th Element)

  • Definition: Parts and shapes of the body; use of body to create form.
  • Aspects:
    • Part/Shape (circles, squares, triangles with body parts or whole body; symmetrical or asymmetrical; base)

What makes a good dance?

  • A good dance conveys significant meaning or message and portrays life experiences.
  • It has a beginning, middle, and end (conclusion).

Form, Phrase, and Motif

  • Form: arrangement of ideas and elements into a sequence.
  • Phrase: smallest unit of form; one phrase = eight counts; useful for building routines with an 8-count phrase.
  • Motif: a movement idea that conveys meaning or intention to the audience.

Choreographic Forms in Dance

  • AB (two-part) form: simplest sequential form; common in folk dances and songs.
  • ABA (three-part): theme A, contrasting theme B, restatement A (variation possible).
  • Rondo: ABACADA; Canon: one theme with overlapping voices.
  • Themes and Variations: motif with variations throughout the choreography.

Narrative (Choreographic Form)

  • A dance that tells a story using movement with no words.
  • Examples: Ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty.

Evaluating a Good Dance

  • Roles in evaluation:
    • CHOREOGRAPHERS: evaluate ongoing development of personal style (spontaneous yet organized).
    • DANCERS: evaluated according to performance demands.
    • AUDIENCES: evaluate based on context of the dance.

Stages in Assessing a Dance (Dance Critique)

  • Description: recounting what you see and hear; focus on individual elements.
  • Interpretation: personal reading; critic’s imagination to find meaning.
  • Evaluation: considered judgment of the work (elements, characteristics).

Are You Ready? / Take Note!

  • Analyzing and evaluating dance does not come naturally; beginners need guidance.
  • Use provided guide questions to simplify assessment and evaluation.