The
DAN
VOLUME I | JULY 04, 2018
ANCE
It’s all About that DANCE
Pietro Longhi, La lezione di danza
("The Dancing Lesson"), ca 1741,
Venezia, Gallerie dell'Accademia.
Have you ever
twirled in a circle?
Stretched on your tiptoes
and swept your arms above
your head? Tapped your
feet to snappy music? All
people dance, because the
human body is made to
move. The world offers an
exciting variety of dances!
First off, what is
dance? According to Judith
R. Mackrell, “Dance is 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 (para.
1)”. Dance is something
where our bodies can
twist, jump, stretch, and
turn. Dance blends these
movements together,
usually with music. Dance
uses space: What patterns
do the dancers make
across the floor? What
designs do dancers’ arms
and legs brush through the
air? Dance uses time: Is
the dance fast or slow?
What rhythm pulses in the
music? Dance uses weight:
Are the steps light and
quick, or heavy and limp?
Dance uses energy: Does
the dance have fast, choppy
movements, or flowing,
soft ones?
Secondly, why do
we people dance? People
around the world dance for
different reasons and in
different ways. Some
dances can express feelings
like sadness, anger, or joy.
Other dances can tell a
story. Dance may sparkle
as an art form, as ballet
does, and be performed for
an audience. Ballet dancers
train for years to learn to
leap and turn across a
stage. People may dance as
part of an important
ceremony, even as part of
their religion. Some
cultures honor their
ancestors through dance.
Dances may celebrate
important events, such as a
birth, graduation, or
marriage. A dance might
be used to help work go
faster, as in the Japanese
rice-planting dance. In
some cultures a shaman, or
healer, might dance to cure
an illness. Some societies
use dance to reach a state
of trance so the dancers can
perform acts of strength or
courage, such as dancing
on hot coals.
Lastly, dancing is
for fun, we may gather
together and dance simply
for fun. Many countries
have group dances—folk
dances—that are passed
down through generations.
Social dances encourage
two people to dance
together. These dances
come and go: A new dance
may be very popular one
year, and out of fashion the
next. In the 1800s, couples
THE D
glided through a waltz or
polka. Young people
kicked up their heels doing
the Charleston in the
1920s. Teenagers spun and
swung to the 1940s
jitterbug. Couples did not
even have to touch hands
for the 1960s dance craze,
the twist. Disco dancing,
popular in the 1970s, and
today's hip-hop are also
social dances.
Interested facts of Dancing:
 First archeological
proof of dance comes
from the 9 thousand
year old cave paintings
in India.
 Professional dances are
today regarded as
athletes.
 First balled dancer that
used pointe shoes was
Marie Taglioni in 1832
ballet "La Sylphide".
 One tutu shoe cost up to
$2000 dollars to be
made, and one ballerina
wears between 2 and
three pairs per week.
 Famous modern dance
Cha-Cha originated
from Cuba
Ryzza Yvonne S. Medalle

Have you ever
twirled in a circle?
Stretched on your tiptoes
and swept your arms above
your head? Tapped your
feet to snappy music? All
people dance, because the
human body is made to
move. The world offers an
exciting variety of dances!
First off, what is
dance? According to Judith
R. Mackrell, “Dance is 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 (para.
1)”. Dance is something
where our bodies can twist,
jump, stretch, and turn.
Dance blends these
movements together,
usually with music. Dance
uses space: What patterns
do the dancers make across
the floor? What designs do
dancers’ arms and legs brush
through the air? Dance uses
time: Is the dance fast or
slow? What rhythm pulses in
the music? Dance uses
weight: Are the steps light
and quick, or heavy and
limp? Dance uses energy:
Does the dance have fast,
choppy movements, or
flowing, soft ones?
Secondly, why do
we people dance? People
around the world dance for
different reasons and in
different ways. Some dances
can express feelings like
sadness, anger, or joy. Other
dances can tell a story.
Dance may sparkle as an art
form, as ballet does, and be
performed for an audience.
Ballet dancers train for years
to learn to leap and turn
across a stage. People may
dance as part of an important
ceremony, even as part of
their religion. Some cultures
honor their ancestors
through dance
Volume I | July 04, 2018
polka. Young people kicked up
their heels doing the Charleston
in the 1920s. Teenagers spun and
swung to the 1940s jitterbug.
Couples did not even have to
touch hands for the 1960s dance
craze, the twist. Disco dancing,
popular in the 1970s, and today's
hip-hop are also social dances.
Dances may celebrate
important events, such as a
birth, graduation, or
marriage. A dance might be
used to help work go faster,
as in the Japanese rice-
planting dance. In some
cultures a shaman, or
healer, might dance to cure
an illness. Some societies
use dance to reach a state
of trance so the dancers can
perform acts of strength or
courage, such as dancing
on hot coals.
Lastly, dancing is • First archeological proof of
for fun, we may gather dance comes from the 9 thousand
together and dance simply year old cave paintings in India.
for fun. Many countries • Professional dances are today
have group dances—folk regarded as athletes.
dances—that are passed • First balled dancer that used
down through generations. pointe shoes was Marie Taglioni
Social dances encourage in 1832 ballet "La Sylphide".
two people to dance • One tutu shoe cost up to $2000
together. These dances dollars to be made, and one
come and go: A new dance ballerina wears between 2 and
may be very popular one three pairs per week.
year, and out of fashion the • Famous modern dance Cha-Cha
next. In the 1800s, couples originated from Cuba
glided through a waltz or