1.
Definition:
Dance – refers to movement set to music where there emerges organization, structure and
pattern. It is a composition that implies arrangement of parts into a form.
Rhythm – Is the regular recurrence of accented and unaccented beats.
Movement – an act of changing physical location or position or of having this changed.
2. Elements of Rhythm
1. Beat—the underlying pulse of a rhythm.
2. Tempo—rate of speed of a movement.
3. Intensity—variation of stress of movement.
4. Pitch—lowness or highness of a tone.
5. Accent—emphasis on certain beats.
6. Meter—the regular recurrence of beats which divides a musical design into measure.
7. Phrase—measures grouped together.
8. Bar—in music a vertical line across a staff dividing it into equal measures of time.
9. Count—a pulse beat, a time limit.
10. Note—a printed symbol of a musical tone.
11. Measure—a group of pulse beats.
12. Note pattern—refers to a note or set of notes with or without rest used for a certain dance step.
13. Step pattern—refers to the movement or movements done for each of the dance steps.
3. Elements of Movement Space
1. Direction—is the line of movement taken which maybe forward, backward, sideward,
diagonal, upward, or a combination of those mentioned.
2. Level—is movement through space that maybe done at a high, low, or medium level.
3. Range—refers to the area covered as the body moves. It maybe small as when the
movement is done in one’s place; or large when movement covers a wide area as when getting
away from one’s place.
4. Floor Pattern—the path or design that is made while moving in space is what is termed as
floor pattern. It may take a form of a circle, square, straight line or zigzag.
4. Classification of Dances
1. Creative Rhythms
Are sometimes called fundamental rhythms or natural dances. A creative rhythm is an end
product of exploration and improvisation of movements as children learn to move the parts of
their body and to use them as instruments of expression.
2. Folk/ Ethnic dance
Is a cultural art form handed down from generation to generations. It communicates the customs,
beliefs, rituals, and occupations of the people of a region or country. Folk dancing belongs to the
people. It emanates from them. Ethnic tribes have their specific tribal art forms originated and
danced by the people of the tribe.
Examples of folk dances are the rural and country dances, jotas, mazurkas, pandanggos,
among others with foreign influence.
Examples of ethnic dances are the dances of the mountain peoples of the Cordilleras, dances
of the ethnic groups in the Cagayan Valley Region and the ethnic dances in the Mindanao
Regions.
3. Social and Ballroom Dance
The setting of the social and ballroom dance is a social gathering with the more formal
atmosphere than the simple and informal parties in which the recreational dances are the usual
forms. Social and ballroom dancing are generally held in the evenings. The participants are
usually in formal attire.
4. Recreational Dance
Includes dance mixers, square dance round and couple dances. Many of these dances have
simple patterns and combinations of walking steps, polka step and the waltz step. The setting is
usually informal gatherings and parties, reunions etc.
5. Creative Dance
Is the highest form of dance. It is the end-product of exploration and improvisation of movements
as the dancer or the choreographer expresses his feelings or emotions, ideas, and
interpretations. This is a dance with a definite form, a beginning and an ending. The principles of
art form are all observed in the composition of the dance.
Examples of creative dance are ballet, jazz,and modern or contemporary dance.
5. Formation commonly used in rhythmic
1. Single circle, facing clockwise
2. Single circle partners facing
3. Single circle, facing counterclockwise
4. Single circle, facing center
5. Double circle, partners facing
6. Double circle, facing clockwise
7. Double circle, couples facing
8. Square or quadrille formation
9. Semi-circle or half moon
10. Double lines, facing front
11. Double lines, partners facing
12. Long open formation
6. Review of locomotor and non-locomotor movement
1. Locomotor movements
Are those that move the body in space in any direction with the feet as the moving base.
Examples: walking, running, jumping, hopping, skipping, leaping, galloping and sliding
2. Non-locomotor
Are those in which various parts of the body move in space with a fixed base. The base may be
standing, kneeling, sitting or lying.
