Comprehensive Study Notes on Dances and Rhythms

Fundamental Definitions & Concepts of Dance

• Dance: Movement set to music characterized by organization, structure, and pattern; a composition that arranges parts into a cohesive form.

• Dancing: Expressing emotions through movement disciplined by rhythm; derived from the old German word damson (meaning "to stretch"), consisting fundamentally of stretching and relaxing.

• Rhythm: Measured motion or flow marked by the regular recurrence of beats, sounds, or accents, governing the measurement of time, space, and energy.

Historical Evolution of Philippine Dance

• Primitive Era:

  • Dance served as an unrefined, pure expression of community life, animating rituals and ceremonies directed to gods or household spirits called anitos.

  • Cordillera (Mountain) Tribes: Comprises six ethnolinguistic groups in Northern Luzon (Philippine skyland)—Ibaloy, Kankanai, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao, and Bontocs. Movements feature downward hand gestures to show affinity to the earth, obliquely forward/upward arm extension for prayer, and downward palms for celebrations.

  • Islamic/Moslem Groups: Nine tribes embraced Islam, including the Maranao, Maguindanao, Sanggil, Yakan, Samal, Jama Mapun, Tausug, Malbog, Palawani, and Badjaos; their dances absorbed and combined Hindu-Malayan-Arabic traits.

  • Classifications of Primitive Dances:

    • Ritual Dances: Connect the material world to the spiritual, centered around the Babaylan or baylan (e.g., Pagdiwata, Dugso, Sohten, Bendian, Tahing Baila).

    • Life-cycle Dances: Celebrate birth, baptism, courtship, wedding, and demise (e.g., Manmanok, Daling-daling, Himog, Pangalay Pangantin).

    • Occupational Dances: Transform defense and livelihood into celebratory, vibrant performances (e.g., Tudak, Tauti).

    • Mimetic Dances: Imitate surrounding animal or bird behavior (e.g., Sayaw tu Baud, Pinuhag, Inamo-amo, Ninanog).

• Spanish Colonial Period:

  • Began March 16, 1521, lasting 333 years. Catholic missionaries integrated modified native dances into church rites and religious fiestas to proselytize the population.

  • European dances were adopted and adapted to local tastes and tropical conditions: jota, valse, fandango, habanera, rigodon, mazurka, schottische, paseo, and paso doble.

  • European steps were softened with characteristic Filipino languid grace; uncolonized mountain tribes of Luzon, Visayas, Palawan, Mindanao, and Sulu preserved original indigenous dance forms.

• American Colonial Period:

  • Initiated after Spain ceded the Philippines in the Treaty of Parish on December 10, 1898, for 20 million dollars ($20,000.00), with direct rule from 1906 to 1946.

  • Introduced physical education in public schools, bodabil (from French voix de ville), ballet, modern dance, and social/ballroom dances (Cakewalk, Swing, Big Apple, Lindy Hop, Charleston, Foxtrot, Slow Drag, Tango, rumba, samba, Paso doble, mambo, cha-cha, limbo rock).

  • In 1927, Dr. Jorge C. Bocobo (President of the University of the Philippines) commissioned Mrs. Francisca Reyes Tolentino (later Mrs. Francisca R. Aquino) to collect, transcribe, and record Philippine folk dances for preservation.

Phases of the Dance Program

• Fundamental Rhythms: Establishes basic movement skills centered on locomotor, non-locomotor/axial, and manipulative skills.

• Creative Rhythms: Focuses on communicating feelings and moods through movement guided by rhythm, prioritizing creativity over functional movement.

• Folk Dance: Traditional, spontaneously evolved communal dances handed down through generations.

• Social Dance: Group participation dances set to popular music, originating primarily in the United States around World War I.

• Theatrical Dances: Form of dance performed on stage or in theaters to entertain spectators:

  • Ethnological Dance: Resulting from centuries of development within a specific ethnic group (e.g., Flamenco, Cordillera tribal dances).

  • Ballet: Highly stylized performance dance originating in Italy, developed in France, and perfected in Russia.

  • Modern Dance: Unconstrained expression founded by Isadora Duncan and Ruth St. Denis.

  • Modern Jazz: Creative fusion of modern dance, ballet, primitive, and African folk styles interpreted to a lively beat.

Movement Skills & Movement Space

• Locomotor Movements (movement through space from one place to another):

  • Even Movements: Walk, Run, Jump, Hop, Leap.

  • Uneven Movements: Skip, Gallop, Slide.

• Non-Locomotor / Axial Movements (movements performed in place around a body axis):

  • Types: Bending/Flexing, Stretching, Swinging, Twisting, Turning, Swaying, and Resistive Actions (Pushing, Pulling, Lifting).

• Manipulative Object Handling: Handling play objects (e.g., tambourines, hoops, wands, sticks, balls) using hands or feet.

• Elements of Movement Space:

  • Direction: Path taken (forward, backward, sideward, diagonal, upward).

  • Level: Height in space (high, medium, low).

  • Range: Spatial area covered (small/stationary to large).

  • Floor Pattern: Spatial path design on the floor (circle, square, straight line, zigzag).

Creative Rhythms & Elements of Rhythm

• Kinds of Creative Rhythms:

  • Fundamental Motor Rhythms: Problem-solving tasks incorporating locomotor movement patterns.

  • Expressive Movements: Gestures and movement forces communicating specific moods or feelings.

  • Identification Motion: Mimicking characters, creatures, objects, machines, or nature.

  • Dramatization: Acting out stories or holiday celebrations (Christmas, Flores de Mayo, Dinagyang).

  • Singing Movement Songs: Action games guided by song verses (e.g., Hickory Dickory Duck, Baa Baa Black Sheep).

• Elements of Rhythm:

  • Measure: Grouping of underlying beats between bar lines.

  • Underlying Beat: Continuous pulse beat that serves as the constant unit of measure.

  • Rhythmic Pattern: Grouping of sounds/beats relative to the underlying beat.

  • Phrasing: Group of measures expressing a unified movement idea.

  • Accent: Special force or emphasis given to a specific beat.

  • Tempo: Rate of speed of movement or music.

  • Intensity: Dynamic quality or force of movement/music (heavy vs. light).

Philippine Folk Dance Essentials

• Fundamental Positions of Arms & Feet:

  • 1st Position: Arms rounded in front of waist with palms facing in; heels together with feet turned out at a 45⁰ angle.

  • 2nd Position: Arms raised horizontally sideward; stride stand sideward position (~6 inches apart).

  • 3rd Position: One arm overhead, other in 2nd position; heel of one foot touches the instep of the other foot.

  • 4th Position: One arm overhead, other in 1st position; front foot slid diagonally forward in stride.

  • 5th Position: Both arms rounded overhead; heel of one foot touches the big toe of the other foot.

• Key Dance Terms: Abrasete, Arms in Lateral Position, Arms in Reverse "T", Bilao, Brush, Cast Off, Do-Si-Do, Hapay, Hayon-Hayon, Jaleo, Kewet, Kumintang, Masiwak, Panadyak, Salok, Saludo, Sarok, Whirl Turn.

• Standard Formations: File/Column/Rank, Longway/Contra Set, Set of Two/Three/Four Couples, Single Circle.

Social & Ballroom Dancing

• Nature & Development: Couple performance emphasizing sociability; derived from 17th–18th century European court dances, expanding into 19th-century cotillions and 20th-century public cabaret, open-air hall, and competition formats.

• Types of Ballroom Dances: Waltz, Line Dance, Cha-cha, Rumba, Tango, Jive, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Samba, Paso Doble, Mambo, Lindy Hop.

• Hand Positions: Vertical Hand Position, Rumba and Mambo Hold, Lindy Hand Hold, Two-hand Hold, Single-hand, Shaking Right/Left Hands.

• Key Ballroom Terminology: Body lines, Cha Cha Chasse, Cuban Motion, Dip, Draw, Floor Design, Follow-through, Footwork, Jive Chasse, Lead, Line of Direction (LOD), Open Break, Promenade, Step-out-position, Swirl.

• Physical & Social Benefits: Muscle toning, improved neuromuscular coordination, reduced hypokinetic diseases, correct body alignment, increased aerobic capacity, and enhanced social grace.