• Pendular – movement resembling the

pendulum.
H.O.P.E 3 • Percussive – movements are sudden, sharp,
choppy and jagged.
ELEMENTS OF DANCE DANCE – a form of
• Vibratory – rapid movements that are
creative expression through physical movement
continuously moving to and from (shaking).
that includes rhythmic movements that
• Sustained – low, smooth, continuous and even.
accompany music.
• Manipulative – movements that involve the use
of a body part to move or manipulate an item or
Elements of Dance – the foundational concepts
another body part.
and vocabulary that help students develop
movement skills and understand dance as an
3. SPACE – is the area the performers occupy
artistic practice.
and where they move. It can be divided into four
different aspects, also known as spatial elements.
1. BODY
• Direction – dance movement can travel in any
Bodily Shapes – refers to how the entire body is
direction. The performers can go forward, side,
molded in space on the configuration of body
backward, diagonal, circular and so on. They may
parts. The body can be rounded, angular, or a
also face any direction while executing a single
combination of two. Other body shapes can be
movement or several phrases.
from wide to narrow and from high to low. They
- General Space -
can be symmetrical and asymmetrical.
4. TIME – the movement of dancers through time,
• Symmetrical – balanced shape; movements are
and specifically within relation to the music,
practically identical or similar on both sides.
tempo, meter, or rhythm.
• Asymmetrical – unbalanced shape, movements
of two sides of the body do not match or
5. ENERGY – the energy, dynamism, and
completely different from each other.
intensity of each movement.
• Sustained – movements are done smoothly,
Group Shapes – a group of dancers perform
continuously, and with flow and control does not
movements in different group shapes. They are
have a clear beginning and ending.
arranged in ways that are wide. narrow, rounded,
• Percussive – movements are explosive or sharp
angular, symmetrical, or asymmetrical and are
in contrast with sustained movement. They are
viewed together as a total picture or arrangement
accented with a thrust of energy. They have clear
within.
beginnings and endings.
• Vibratory – movements consist of trembling or
2. ACTION – any human movement included in
shaking. A faster version or percussive
the act of dancing— it can include dance steps,
movements that produce a jittery effect. (Minton,
facial movements, partner lifts, gestures, and even
2007)
everyday movements such as walking.
• Swinging – movements trace a curved line or an
arc in space. The movements are released and
Locomotor – when you actually move from one
give in to gravity on the downward part of the
place to another.
motion, followed by an upward application of
E.g., Walking, jumping, climbing, running,
energy.
marching, hopping, sliding, skipping, galloping,
• Suspended – movements are perched in space
leaping, and crawling.
or hanging on air, holding a raised leg in any
direction is an example of a suspended
Non-Locomotor - moving on the spot without
movement.
going anywhere.
• Collapsing – movements are released in tennis
E.g., pulling, bending, twisting, pushing,
and gradually or abruptly giving in to gravity.
stretching, flexing, lifting, raising, turning, etc.
Letting the body descend to the floor. A slow
• Extension – a movement that increases the
collapse can be described as a melting or oozing
angle between two body parts.
action in a downward direction (Minton, 2007)
• Flexion – a movement that decreases the angle
between two body parts.
• Rotation – this is where the limb moves in a
circular movement around a fixed joint towards or
away from the midline of the body.
 ➢ It portrays mysticism, elegance, royalty
Philippine Folk Dance and beauty. It uses intricate fingers, hand
Folk Dance and arm movements to express feelings
-It is the oldest form of dance and the earliest form and emotions of the dance.
of communication. ➢ Shimmering costumes and props are
-It is a traditional dance of a particular country prominent in this dance
which is handed down from one generation to
another generation Tribal Dance
➢ It is also known as ethnic dance performed
Folk Dance by different tribes in the Philippines like T'
➢ It also depicts the daily lives of our boli, Bagobo, Manobo, Bilaan and other
ancestors in the past like: indigenous people.
○ occupation ➢ It reflects rituals, animals and nature,
○ customs beliefs in "spirits" and " anito".
○ good ➢ It also has intricate craftsmanship in metal,
○ harvest clothing jewelry and others.
○ beliefs
○ rituals Rural Dance
○ festivals ➢ This dance reflects the simple life and
○ ceremonials perseverance of the people in the barrios.
➢ it shows liveliness, joyfulness, laughter,
Francisca Reyes Aquino and festivities.
- Mother of Philippine Folk Dance ➢ It is performed to honor patron saints for
- folk dancer pioneer good harvest, good health and prosperous
- researcher of different folk dances of the life of the people in the barrio.
Philippines
- recipient of the Republic Award of Merit
and Ramon Magsaysay Award
- National Artist of the Philippines for Dance

Classifications of Philippine Folk Dances

➢ It reflects rituals of people whose way of

Spanish-influenced Dance
➢ These dances literally reflect Christianity
which was stimulated by the Spaniards in
the Philippines.
➢ It depicts the lives of aristocratic Filipinos
with adaptation of European dances.
➢ These dances portray courtships, religious
beliefs, fiestas and others.

Muslim Dance
➢ These dances are influenced by Arabic
and Indo-Malaysian culture.