Dance as an Art

The Definition and Historical Origins of Dance as an Art

  • Foundational Definition: Dance is defined as the rhythmic and expressive movement of the human body through successive motions, typically accompanied by music.

  • Historical Significance: Dance is frequently referred to as the "mother of the arts." It is considered the oldest of all art forms, reflecting the age-old human necessity to communicate a wide spectrum of emotions, including joy, grief, and excitement.

  • Origins in Human Life: Dance began as an integral part of human existence, serving as a medium for almost all life occasions and aspects, including:

    • Birth.

    • Death.

    • Healing of the sick.

    • Asking for forgiveness.

    • War.

    • Marriage celebrations.

    • Giving thanks for a successful harvest.

    • Religious festivities.

    • Purely pleasurable physical expression.

  • Emotional Impact: Dance uniquely intensifies various moods and emotions, serving to deepen the feelings of both the participants and the observers.

Significant Features and Kinds of Movement

  • Two Primary Kinds of Movement:

    1. Movement Within the Body: This involves localized actions, specifically including the use of the hands and arms.

    2. Movement from One Space to Another: This involves the physical relocation of the body through a given area.

The Purpose and Functions of Dancing

  • Worship: It has a long history of being used in religious and spiritual practices.

  • Courtship: Dance plays a significant role in romantic rituals.

  • Social Acquaintance: It serves as a method for men and women to become acquainted with one another.

  • Expression of Joy: It is a primary vehicle for expressing the internal happiness one feels.

  • Victory and Health: It is used to mark victory or to somehow restore life and health.

  • Entertainment: It serves as a performance to entertain others.

  • Communication: It provides a personal and effective means of communication beyond words.

Essential Features of Dance as an Art Form

  • Music: Music is closely related to dance and plays a significant role as an accompaniment. It serves to motivate the movements of the dancer.

  • Movement: This refers to the specific actions taken by dancers using their bodies to create organized and intentional patterns.

  • Theme: The theme pertains to the specific content or the main subject of the dance. It is the element that conveys the underlying message to the audience.

  • Techniques: This refers to the skill required to execute movements. A technically proficient dancer must possess complete control over the muscles of the body.

  • Design: This refers to the deliberate arrangement of movements according to specific patterns in both time and space.

  • Properties and Costume: These elements contribute to the visual effect of the performance. Costumes often relate closely to the environment and the beliefs of the people performing the dance.

The Core Elements of Dance

  • Time:

    • Speed: Includes variations such as slow, medium, fast, freeze, and suspend.

    • Rhythm: Includes elements like pulse, beat, pattern, and syncopation.

  • Space:

    • Place: Divided into personal space and general space.

    • Size: Movements can be categorized as small, medium, or big.

    • Level: Movements occur at low, middle, or high levels.

    • Direction: Includes forward, background (backward), left, right, up, and down.

    • Pathway: The floor patterns or air patterns used, such as straight, curved, zigzagged, or turning.

  • Energy: The quality or force of the movement, described as light, strong, weak, sharp, or smooth.

  • Body:

    • Shape: The physical forms created, including lines, curves, angles, and various other shapes.

    • Parts: Specific focus on the head, neck, shoulder, arms, back, stomach, fingers, legs, bottom, and toes.

  • Movement Concepts:

    • Locomotor: Movement that travels through space.

    • Nonlocomotor: Movement occurring in a fixed place (axial movement).

Primary Kinds of Dance

  • Ethnologic Dance:

    • This refers to dance that is indigenous to a specific country.

    • The term "ethnic" is specifically used to distinguish religious dances intended as hymns of praise to a deity or rituals to bring good fortune during times of peace or war.

  • Social Dance:

    • These are popular types of dancing performed for pleasure.

    • They are generally performed by pairs or groups of people who follow a definite step or pattern.

    • Social dances usually have specific rhythms that must be coordinated with the movements of the body, head, hands, and feet.