1. Activity 1: briefly discuss the meaning of dance. Discuss its nature and history.
Dance is an activity which can take in many forms and fill many different needs. It can be
recreational, entertainment, education, therapy, and religion. Dance is the art of bodily movement
in its purest and most basic form.
Dance can be seen throughout the different parts of the world, people, and era. It is a major
form of religious ritual and social expression within primitive cultures. It was once believed that
through dancing, one can appease the gods and the forces of nature. During the pre-Christian era
the real knowledge of dance came about within the great Mediterranean and Middle Eastern
Civilization. It was even recorded in ancient Egypt’s hieroglyphics. In ancient Greek dance was not
just used for religious, military training and entertainment but also in education – noble and ignoble.
In ancient Rome, dance was disregarded as they grew powerful and wealthy. It evolved into
something brutal and sensationalized as their entertainers were slaves and captives. After the fall of
Rome, Christianity was rising in Europe and the first Christian emperors prohibited theatrical
entertainment. Dance still existed however, it was only considered rightful if it was performed during
worships and church services. During the Dark and early Middle Ages, many singers, dancers, poets,
actors, musicians, and jugglers came to be even though dance was condemned as entertainment by
the church. Peasants had 2 basic types of dancing: the round dance and the couple dance –
considered scandalous when first seen. Nobility soon followed the peasant’s lead however, it was
more refine and courtly in form. During the early Renaissance, dance was wholly accepted in courts.
Dance and art in general then after gained impetus, it became valuable. During the 15 th and 16th
century, a vast dance movement occurred. New court dances performed by nobility came about as
well as the rise of ballet in Italy and France. From then on, several dances sprout and spread across
many countries. Other dance forms also came to light and have been widely recognized around the
globe.
2. Activity 2: give at least 2 benefits of dance based on the following:
Physical
a) Dance training improves coordination.
b) Dance is a good way to develop cardiovascular and muscular endurance.
Emotional
a) Dance relieves stress.
b) Dance can help you connect with others.
Mental
a) Dance help keep the bran sharp.
b) Dancing decrease the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Social
a) Dance encourages positive interaction and interpersonal relationships in a working group.
b) Dance gives a sense of togetherness in a group.
Cultural
a) By showcasing different cultural dances, it promotes a place or country’s rich culture.
b) Through looking/learning the different dances of other countries will one see the value of
one’s culture.
3. What are the 3 elements of dance? Explain briefly.
a) Space – is the area where the performers occupy and move. It can be divided into 4
spatial elements (direction, size, level, and focus)
b) Timing – may be executed in varying tempo (speed). Performers move with the
tempo of the underlying sound (beat and pulse)
c) Dance energies – movements propelled by energy or force, stop or action. There are
6 qualities of dance energies ( sustained, percussive, vibratory, swinging, suspended,
collapsing)
d) Bodily shapes – how the entire body is molded in space or the configuration of boy
parts (rounded, angular, rounded and angular, wide, narrow, high, and low). They
can be symmetrical and asymmetrical.
4. What makes a good dance?
A dance is considered good if:
i. It displays a significant meaning, conveys a message, or portrays life experiences.
ii. It has a beginning, middle, and end/ conclusion.
iii. Has a sense of direction
iv. Have a shape or form
5-7. Discuss in your own words.
a) Form – it acts as the shape, structure, or contour of a dance composition. It is also the
orderly arrangement of thematic material that results into unity and consistent
progression from beginning to end of the choreography.
b) Phrase – is the smallest and simplest unit of form, like how a sentence is to a book. It is
a short but complete choreographic fragment as it has a beginning, middle, and end.
c) Motif – is a theme that the performers want to convey to the audience. It is a basic
phrase of 4 or more movements that help communicate the intention/ idea of the dance
to the viewers.
8. What are the characteristics of a good dance? Give a short definition.
a) Unity – the movements fit together
b) Continuity and development – the phrases of the dance are organize and
progressive.
c) Variety and contrast – the introduction of new material that differs from one
another.
d) Transition – the link between movements, phrases, and sections of a dance.
e) Repetition– emphasizes movements and phrases by repeating them in choreography
in order for the audience to identify its significance.
f) Climax – where the apex of energy in the dance is reached.
9. How is the quality of dance evaluated?
The evaluation of a dance depends on the evaluators and they are categorized as:
a) Choreographers – evaluates the ongoing process of developing a personal style
which is both spontaneous and organize.
b) Dancers – evaluates according to the specific demands that the performance places
on them.
c) Audiences – evaluates according to the particular context of the dance.
10. What are the steps in assessing a dance?
a) Description – a stage in which the evaluator/critic notes down the composition of
the dance in terms of the elements and the characteristics of dance.
b) Interpretation – a stage in which the appreciation of the ideas, content, images, and
style contained within the dance is assessed.
c) Evaluation – a stage in which it takes into consideration how effectively the features
and the context if the dance had been utilized in the actual performance of the
dancers to portray the content and the quality of the dance.
