LEARNING RESOURCE

SPA - DANCE

BASIC CONCEPTS,
CHARACTERISTICS AND
FUNCTIONS OF DANCE

QUARTER 4
LEARNING RESOURCE for SPA- DANCE 7

DANCE PRODUCTION AND ITS COMPONENTS

QUARTER 4

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Published by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts

Development Team of the Learning Resource

Writers: Romeo R. RIoflorido, Richard A. Urgelles
Editor: Eric Lebeco
Reviewers: Shirley Halili-Cruz, Lordinio A. Vergara
Illustrator:
Layout Artist: Jandy S. Danzalan
Management Team: Marichu Tellano and Henrietta Kangleon (NCCA), Tanya P. Lopez
(PerfLab)

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS

633 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila
E-mail: info@ncca.gov.ph
Trunkline: (02) 85272192 8527-2202 8527-2210 8527-2195 to 97 8527-2217 to 18
 FOREWORD

Welcome to this Learning Resource for Dance Education.

This Learning Resource was developed by experts from the National Commission for
Culture and the Arts as a reference to aid you in developing rich, meaningful, and
empowering learning in the creative fields. Every effort has been exerted to produce a Self-
Learning Learning Resource that incorporates the most fundamental elements and principles
of each discipline, while providing a spiraled, scaffolded, and multi-sensory approach to
allow you to explore your innate creativity while building discipline and rigor in your chosen
discipline.

Each lecture, activity, or reflection here is designed to be meaningful. Each one designed to
build from the previous one, and each one with the objective of building up for the next skill
or competence. We hope that you will find these activities challenging but empowering, and
that your potential as a Filipino artist and Creative is further enhanced and inspired.

These Learning Resources take into consideration the various limitations and challenges
brought about by the current situation, and provides you with the flexibility to manage
content and pace to your individual needs while maintaining standards for creativity,
embodying 21st Century skills, and aspiring towards artistic excellence. Beyond compilations
of dry information, these Learning Resources seek to develop Higher Order Thinking Skills
of Analysis, Evaluation, and Creation.

If you are planning to use this Resource as a facilitator or teacher, you are expected to guide
and orient your learners in the proper and efficient use of this Learning Resource. Most, if
not all activities, will entail exploration, investigation, and experimentation, as such it is
imperative that you, as the facilitator, establish the guidelines which will allow your students
to be creative but within responsible, safe, and academically-sound limits. Your guidance
and mentorship is expected and encouraged throughout the learning process.

We look forward to your journey as an artist, MABUHAY!

 INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
This module was designed and written for you to deeply understand the dance in
general. The lessons are conceptualized for you to achieve the standards and gain what is
essential in order for you to use it as your powerful weapon in mastering the dance skills that
you already have.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. define dance;
2. discuss the functions of dance;
3. identify the nature and characteristics of each dance form/genre;
4. explain the relationships of the different dance forms/genre; and
5. execute dance movements of some genres using the basic concepts, characteristics
and functions of the dance.
 CONTENT AND ACTIVITIES

LESSON 1: Relationships of the Different Dance Forms/Genres

Now that you understand that dance is a form of performing art in which the main uses
are the body parts and its deliberately chosen movement. You also considered rhythm and
cultural pattern with an aesthetic value and symbolic potential. For some people, they use the
body and its movements as a tool to express its feelings and desires. As important moments
in the history of dance in the West marked the birth of ballet and its equivalent such as
comtempory dances, folk dances of each places, modern dances, and other types of dance
have been formed such as ballroom, jazz dance, and hip-hop.

How fluent are you in the language of dance? In this lesson, you will find the details
about the five elements that all forms of dance and creative movement have in common: body,
action, space, time and energy. Being able to identify and understand these fundamental
characteristics can provide you an idea when talking about a dance performance. It can help
you also get your own messages across through movement. To understand the elements of
dance, we must first describe what we see and hear when we watch a live dance performance.
Can you share about your observation? How about the idea below?

Dance Elements

BODY & Action ENERGY

What you move?

How you move?

SPACE TIME

Where you move? When you move?

That concept map is a simple way to discuss the different elements of dance. While
different dance styles call for expert skills and stylization options, the underlying dance
elements can be seen in all dance forms or genres.

Activity 1. Select 3 of the action words to use in a dance phrase that you want to
execute in front of your family. You will also pick a 4 th choice, which can be any dance
step or movement of your own choice. For example, you might choose “twist, float, and
jump” and decide to use a double turn as your 4 th choice. Then, write how will you apply
that action word to the dance element. You can use any form or genres of dance for
this activity.
 Action Body Energy Space Time
words
(What you move) (How you (Where you (When you
move) move) move)

1.

2.

3.

4.

Checklist

☐ Use both axial and locomotor movements in your dance phrase.

☐ Be inventive, but use only these 4 movements in the dance phrase.

☐ The phrase should be at least 15 seconds long with a clear beginning and ending so
you will have to:

☐ Repeat at least some movements or create variations.

☐ The phrase can be performed in silence or with music, so be prepared to explain

your choice.
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“Why do people dance?”, “How can dance help me?" and "What is the most important
technique I should know?". These questions will guide you as you move forward. First, let us
focus on the question that would really help you as a dance student “What are the dance
elements I need to know to be the BaEST dance student?" Are you ready?
BODY in dance, the various body parts are the mobile figure or shape, felt by the
dancer, seen by others. The body is sometimes still slightly and sometimes changes as the
dancers move around the area or travel to the dance area. Dancers can emphasize specific
parts of their body in a dance phrase or use their entire body at the same time. If we look at
the dancer’s entire body we can consider the overall shape design; is it symmetrical? Bent?
What part of the body starts the movement or action? In relation to body any action are
included in the act of dancing— it can include locomotor and non-locomotor steps, facial
movements, and other gestures. Dance is made up of streams of movement and pauses, so
action refers not only to steps and sequences, but also to pauses and moments of relative
stillness.

ENERGY in dance. Energy is about how movement or dancing takes place. Energy
choices include variations in movement flow and the use of force, tension, and weight. A body
movement or part of such an arm can flow freely or stop easily, and it can be strong or gentle,
tight or loose, heavy or light. A dancer can walk in an arabesque position with a sharp,
percussive attack or with a light, flowing ease. Energy can change in an instant, and many
types of energy can be played simultaneously.

SPACE in dance. Dancers may relate with space in many ways. They can stay in one
place or they can travel from one place to another. They can change the direction, level, size,
and paths of their movement.

The dancers ’relationships with each other can be based on geometric designs or rapidly
changing as they work together, and then separately. Even if a dancer dances alone in a solo,
the dancer is repeatedly involved in the space of the performing area so that the space can
almost be considered a dance partner.

TIME in dance. The best key for the time element is When? The movement of dancers
is naturally rhythmic in the broad sense that we are alternate activity and rest. Breath and
waves are examples of rhythms in nature that are repetitive, but not as constant as in a
metered rhythm. Rhythm can be metric or free rhythm. Most music uses repetitive patterns
(2/4 or 3/4 for example), but the concepts of time and meter are different. Dance movements
can also show different timing relationships such as simultaneous or sequential timing, short
in duration, fast at slow pace, or unpredictable or unpredictable intervals of accents.

Activity 2. Look at the picture below. Is it a good building? How would you know that
building is tend to define their art in terms of basic elements like line, shape, space,
and level.

Body

Shape

Space

Level
Activity 3. Based on your dance performance in your last lesson, choose 2 dance
forms and compare the two using Venn Diagram below.
Activity 4. Explain and demonstrate the relationship of the dance forms to one
another in front of your family using the elements of dance. You may use the Venn
diagram as your guide. Let you family decide the level of your presentation.

Score Explanation Name and signature of

evaluator

Activity 5: How can you relate the dance elements to your feelings in this current
situation in the society. Draw and write a symbol and explain your idea in the box.

Dance Element Symbol Explanation

Body
 Action

Energy

Space

Time

Activity 6: Create a dance phrase. Make movement for every element for 16 counts each. If
you are ready, perform it in front of your family. Then make your general assessment.
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Activity 7: True or False. Write A on the blank if the statement is correct and B if it is wrong.

_____1. Mimetic movements include striking and lifting are non-locomotor

movement.
_____2. The energy in dance is how a dancer shows the movement variations
and the use of force, tension, and weight.
_____3. Dancers perform can only perform in general space.
_____4. Dance movement can only show one timing relationship in mostly
dance performances.
_____5. Galloping is a locomotor movement.
Activity 8: Follow the steps below.
1. Walk normally around the house.
2. Next have them walk high up on their toes
3. and then walk lower to the ground.

Remember!
• Move any way you want to. In sequence there is no one “right” way to move during the
execution, you need to use your ideas.
• Have your own variations and use music for this activity:
• Do the movement at a different level.
• Do the movement in a different direction.
• Choose another way to move and repeat the level and direction changes.
• You may include hand movement.

Animals Movements
Activity 9. Think of two animals that can mimic those movements. Perform those
movements.
Activity 10. Based on the result of you performance, Compare your self-evaluation to
the evaluation of your family.
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Activity 11: On your performance, how do you apply the elements of dance?
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 CONTENT AND ACTIVITIES

LESSON 2: Dance Movement

Now that you have already understood the essentials of dance, it is about time to
manage your dance skills. In the previous lessons, you have taught to execute some basic
movements and tried to comprehend and even master every single movement. In this lesson,
we will give you another challenges that will test your capacity as a dance student. Are you
excited? Let’s move.

As you noticed, various dance styles have different in nature and ways on how to
efficiently move every step. You could easily differentiate ballet to contemporary, ballroom to
hip-hop, and so on. Regardless of the varied execution, they still have connection and
relationship. That concept will be used in order for your to discover more of your ability to
use your dancing prowess, knowledge, and determination dealing with the steps, functions,
characteristics, and relationships as you move your body. Do you have already on your
mind? What it is?
Activity 1. Select three dance forms and draw three basic steps (head, arms, and feet)
that you want to demonstrate.
Genre Head Arms Feet
Activity 2. In front of your family, perform that dance steps you have drawn. Please
note that every step has 32 counts. After you presentation, your family will rate you
from 1-5 as 5 the highest score.

Genre Head Arms Feet Total signature

Activity 3. Write your self-assessment of your performance. You may rate your self
from 1-5 as 5 the highest score. Explain your rating.

Self-Assessment Parent’s Signature

In the dance presentation be it formal or informal occasion you will notice that the
movements of dancers depend on the purpose or what the story wants to convey to the
audience. Mostly if a dance wants to show an extreme joy, anger, or being annoyed, you will
notice that a spontaneous skipping, stamping, and jumping movements often performed.

In addition, if the story wants to portray an extreme movement of dance the arms of
the dancers are being thrown or stretched out, the head lifted back, and the body arched or
twisted. Moreover, it frequently includes an uncommon effort or stylization, such as high kicks,
leaps, or measured walks.

In folk dance, the steps from the other western countries are mostly involve with small
hops and skips, running steps, and gallop which is performed by sliding one leg to the side or
front and the other leg is brought to meet it in the air with a small spring before the feet lands
on it. They have also simple turns and lifts. In some dances the performers remain separate;
in others, they hold hands, link arms, or clasp one another around the waist. Steps are usually
repeated in long series, but they often follow quite complex and strictly ordered floor patterns.
 Just like in the Philippine folk dance, the hand movement play an important role in
dancing and very particular with its basic positions. Dancers stand apart in general and mostly
perform in a long formation. In addition, dance movements vary on its location. Dances from
lowland are mostly with foreign element and war dances are found in non-Christian tribes.

In modern dance, there are many dance steps that need to master. One of which is
the curl down and up, which perform by starting in jazz first position with your arms at your
side, curl your spine over slowly. When you are halfway down to the floor, bend your knees
and continue to curl. The leg swings on the other hand is done by standing in parallel first and
place the arms in second position. Slide the right leg forward with a pointed toe, it should then
brush through the first position and follow through backwards, slightly bending the knee.
Modern dance steps may also include flat back, tendu, Chasse, and no boundaries.

Activity 4. Write the dance movement that can be associated with the given emoji.

Emoji Body part Movement 1 Movement 2 Movement 3

Activity 5. Make a self-assessment of your performance. Draw a happy face or sad
face I the box and explain your drawing.

Emoji Assessment Explanation

Activity 6. In front of your family, perform the dance steps you have written in activity
1. Please note that every step has 32 counts. After you performance, ask your family
to rate you from 1-5 as 5 the highest score.

Emoji Movement 1 Movement 2 Movement 3 Total Score

Activity 7. Based on your performance, what are the things you want to improve?
What is it important?

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Activity 8. With the given functions and characteristics of dance below, pair them and
conceptualize a movement for them. Select three only.

Function of Dance Characteristics of Dance

- Form of popular entertainment - use of the Human body

- Social affirmation - extends through time
- means religious worship - exists in force
- serves as an occupation - accompanied by rhythm
- serves as therapy - serves to communicate

Function Characteristics Movement

Example
It serves as a means of Exist in Space The dancer will move around
education as he encourages his
students to answer by
raising their hands
1.

2.

3.

Activity 9. Make a storyline of a dance presentation number of your section regarding

a real-life situation of the people in your society. You have to consider the functions
and characteristics of the dance. You also need to be particular with the movements
you want to show. You may repeat the use of functions and characteristics of dance if
necessary. If the space is not enough, you may use another paper.
 _____________________________________________________
(Title)

Functions Characteristics Movement

Activity 10. With the story line that you have created, perform the movements and make
it as if it is your video entry for your international dance challenge competition. Music
for your performance is important. If you are ready to perform it in front of your family
as your judge, you may do so. They will judge you according to the given criteria below.
If you have gadget and connectivity you may send you teacher a copy of you dance
video for other comments.
Mastery of Steps : 20%
Execution and coordination : 45%
Confidence : 15%
Expression : 10%
Over-all performance : 10%
Total 100%
Name of Student : _______________________________________
Year and Section : _______________________________________
Date of Performance : _______________________________________
Name of Rater : _______________________________________

Criteria Percentage Score

Mastery of Steps 20%

Execution & coordination 45%

Confidence 15%

Expression 10%
 Over-all performance 10%

Total Signature:

Activity 11. Write your self-assessment.

Strength Weaknesses

Activity 12. Tiktok Dance Challenge. If you have an access to the internet look for a
video of the following genre and follow the best part of that video. Maximum minute of
the video is only 1. Record your performance and send it to your teacher. If you don’t
have accessibility, you have to do activity number 2.

Genre Platform & link Title & Movement Date Submitted

description

Ballet/
contemporary

Hip-hop

Folk dance

Reflection on the activity:

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Activity 13. Watch a dance number or dance presentation in TV and fill-in the data
needed below. You are allowed to include the same genre but should be different in
the date and time as well as the TV program.

Date & Channel/ TV Dance genre Dance movement analysis

time Program

Over-all dance performance observation

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NOTES TO THE USER
References

1. SANAYGURO Workshop Manual, 2014 National Training for SPA Teachers, UP Los
Banos, Laguna, October, 25-28, 2014
2. NCCA Web – Based Source
3. MELCS for Special Program in the Arts
4. SANAYGURO Training Manual

NOTES TO THE USER

References

5. SANAYGURO Workshop Manual, 2014 National Training for SPA Teachers, UP Los
Banos, Laguna, October, 25-28, 2014
6. NCCA Web – Based Source
7. MELCS for Special Program in the Arts
8. SANAYGURO Training Manual
APPENDICES