PE 12 RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:
1. define what is rhythm and dance;
2. give the connection of rhythm and dance; and
3. use rhythm and dance in real life situation properly.

CHAPTER 1 – WHAT IS RHYTHM?

A. RHYTHM
 Rhythm is a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound. It is
the systematic arrangement of musical sounds, principally according to
duration and periodic stress. (Google Dictionary)
 Generally means all movement marked by the regulated succession of
strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions.
(Wikipedia)
 An ordered recurrent alternation of strong and weak elements in the flow
of sounds and silence in speech. The aspect of music compromising all the
elements ( such as accent, meter and tempo that relate to forward
movement. (Merriam-Webster)
 Rhythm, in music, the placement of sounds in time. In its most general
sense, rhythm ( Greek rhythmos , derived from the word rhein “to flow”)
is an ordered alternation of contrasting elements. The notion of rhythm
also occurs in others arts ( e.g; poetry, painting, sculpture, and
architecture) as well as in nature (e,g; biological). ( Britannica, The
Editors of Encyclopedia)

B. RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES

 Rhythmic activities include any kind of activity that is based upon a steady
and prominent beat. During rhythmic activities individuals participate in
rhythmic body movement, drumming, auditory stimulation, playing
musical instruments, singing, and chanting, to name a few, with a trained
leader guiding the group toward a therapeutic purpose. (Institute for Music
and Neurological Function, IMNF)
 Rhythmic activities and therapeutic drumming circles are among the most
effective tools we have for creating a communal experience among
residents with dementia. Rhythm and music strongly predicated on a
rhythmic beat allow residents to respond to one another with feelings of
competence, living “in the moment”, and often, with joy. (Institute for
Music and Neurological Function, IMNF)
 Rhythmic activities are beneficial to all levels of functioning, from early to
late-stage of dementia. Even when a resident is unable to play instruments
or communicate, participation is still possible through body movements,
breath, and eye contact. (Institute for Music and Neurological Function,
IMNF)
 It refers to bodily responses to any type of rhythmic accompaniment that
will provide leeway to the people to satisfy their need for self-expression.
(Slideshare, Ivan Bendiola)
C. DANCE

 Is Rhythmic and expressive body movements, usually coordinated into a

pattern and adopted to musical accompaniment. The important features of
dance are Rhythm, Design, Technique, Dynamics, and Gestures.
(Slideshare, Ivan Bendiola)
 Dance is a performing art from consisting of purposefully selected
sequences of human movement. This movement has aesthetic and
symbolic value, and is acknowledged as dance by performers and
observers within a particular culture. (Wikipedia)
 Dance, the movement of the body in a rhythmic way, usually to music and
within a given space, for the purpose of expressing an idea or emotion,
releasing energy, or simply taking delight in the movement itself.
( Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia)
 Dance is a rhythmic movement whose purpose is “to represent men’s
characters as well as what they do and suffer”. ( Aristotle’s statement in
the poetics)
 “Dancing is an elegant, regular movement, harmoniously composed of
beautiful attitudes, and contrasted graceful posture of the body, and parts
thereof”. (John Weaver, English Ballet Master, 1721)
 An act or instance of moving one’s body rhythmically usually to music. A
series of rhythmic and patterned bodily movements usually performed to
music. (Merriam-Webster)
Kinds of Dance
A. Dance For Participation
 Religious Dance
 Recreational dance
B. Dance for Presentation
 Folk Dance
 Social Dance
 Ballroom Dancing

D. DANCING
 Dancing is an art form , and a skill easily acquired by anybody in
average physical shape. It is an advantage to have a good sense of
musical rhythm, because most dances have a definite rhythm.
( David Fairthorne, Qoura)
 It was invented as an entertainment in ancient days, they
expressed their joy through some ancient form of dance and
probably it has modified through generations and era. (Qoura)
 Dancing also improves spatial awareness, as well as raising the
heart rate and causing a release of feel-good endorphins into the
bloodstream. One more benefit is that it helps reduce level of
cortisol – a stress hormone. Dancing makes you feel good because
it makes you feel alive. (Telegraph)
 Dancing can improve your muscle tone, strength, endurance and
fitness. Dancing is a great way to meet new friends. (Betterhealth)
 The close relation between dance and music is based on the fact that both are organized
around rhythmic pattern; thus, the rhythm of accompanying music may be used to determined
the rhythm of the dance, to give it emphasis, or to help the dancers maintain the same beat.
( Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia)
A good sense of rhythm is important in dance. The beat in dance music is usually
produced by the bass drum. It is very important that steps are taken on the correct beat. To help
developing timing, try tapping your foot to beat of a drum or stepping to the beat. (Auburn
University)
Dance or Dancing is just like living, without rhythm it won’t be meaningful because
rhythm is just like pain, joy, sorrow that makes our dancing more meaningful.

CHAPTER OBJECTIEVES:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
1. differentiate rhythmic fundamentals;
2. identify and know the elements of rhythm; and
3. apply to real life situation the elements of rhythm.

CHAPTER 1 – RHYTHMIC FUNDAMENTALS

In the field of dance, there are certain fundamental knowledge and rhythmic skills
considered important for proficiency and efficiency in bodily movements. Fundamental
Rhythms include walking, running, skipping, and other fundamental movements. (

A. ELEMENTS OF RHYTHM

 Beat— The unit division of musical time is called a beat, the underlying pulse of a
rhythm.
  Tempo—The pace of the fundamental beat is called tempo, it is the rate of speed
of a movement.
 Intensity—variation of stress of movement.
 Pitch—lowness or highness of a tone.
 Accent—emphasis on certain beats.
 Meter—the regular recurrence of beats which divides a musical design into
measure.
 Phrase—measures grouped together.
 Bar—in music a vertical line across a staff dividing it into equal measures of time.
 Count—a pulse beat, a time limit.
 Note—a printed symbol of a musical tone.
 Measure—a group of pulse beats.
 Note pattern—refers to a note or set of notes with or without rest used for a
certain dance step.
 Step pattern—refers to the movement or movements done for each of the dance
steps.

B. ELEMENTS OF MOVEMENT SPACE

Action is any human movement included in the act of dancing—it can include dance
steps, facial movements, lifts, carries, and catches, and even everyday movements such as
walking. Dancers may choose movement that has been done before, or they may add their own
original movements to the existing dance movement vocabulary.
Dancers may also revise or embellish movement they have learned from others. Dancers
may also orient their movement toward objects or in relation to natural settings. Sometimes
dances are created for specific locations such as an elevator or a barge for site-based
performances. Spatial relationships between dancers or between dancers and objects are the basis
for design concepts such as beside, in front of, over, through, around, near or far. These are just
some of the ways to describe space:

 Size: large, small, narrow, wide

 Level: high, medium, low
 Place: on the spot (personal space), through the space (general space),
upstage/downstage
 Orientation: facing
 Pathway: curved/straight, zig-zag, random
 Relationships: in front, behind, over, under, alone/connected, near/far individual &
group proximity to object
 Direction—is the line of movement taken which maybe forward, backward,
sideward, diagonal, upward, or a combination of those mentioned.
 Level—is movement through space that maybe done at a high, low, or medium
level.
 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.
 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.

C. MOVEMENT QUALITIES
Movement expression is attained through the elements of time, force and space
1. TIME QUALITIES
 Movements which is fast
Examples: galloping horse
Jet plane
 Movement which is slow
Examples: turtle
Flower growing

2. FORCE QUALITIES
 Soft light movement
Examples: Fairies
Birds and butterflies
 Strong, heavy movement
Examples: Elephant
Bulldozer
 Strong, jerky movement
Examples: Frog
A jumping jack
 Smooth, sustained movement
Examples: Airplane
Fish swimming

3. SPACE QUALITIES
 Movement up and down
Examples: Bouncing ball
Yo-yo
 Movement across, back and forth or around
Examples: Rowing boat
A merry-go-round
 Movement which is low
Examples: Ants
Turtles
 Movement which is high
Examples: Kites
Clouds
REFERENCES:
Rhythms
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/rhythm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythm
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhythm
https://www.britannica.com/art/rhythm-music
Rhythmic Activities
https://www.slideshare.net/IvanBendiola/rhythmic-activities
https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/conditions/dementia/edge/interventions/bethabra
ham/docs/beth_abraham_handbook_rhythmic_activities.pdf
Dance
https://www.slideshare.net/IvanBendiola/rhythmic-activities
https://www.britannica.com/art/dance
Dancing
https://www.britannica.com/art/dance
https://www.quora.com/What-is-dancing
Rhythmic Fundamentals
https://classhall.com/lesson/rhythmic-activities-fundamental-rhythms-dramatic-
rhythms-creative-rhythms/#:~:text=Fundamental%20rhythms%20include%20walking%2C
%20running,develop%20a%20sense%20of%20rhythms
Elements of Rhythm
https://www.britannica.com/art/rhythm-music
Elements of movement space
https://prezi.com/mflcdq5c4tri/elements-of-movement-space/?fallback=1
Movement Qualities
https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/excerpt/dynamics-qualities-of-
movement#:~:text=The%20use%20of%20different%20gradations,suspended%2C%20collapsed
%2C%20and%20vibratory.