PHYSICAL EDUCATION 2

LESSON 1 – INTRODUCTION AND BRIEF HISTORY OF DANCE

Learning Outcomes:

 Recognize the social relevance and appreciation of dance

 Familiarize with ease and smoothness the steps combination of
different movements; and
 Show appreciation of one’s body by giving emphasis of certain
features in its dance styles.

INTRODUCTION

Everything in the universe has some kind of rhythmic motion.

Whether it's the sun, star, meteors, comets, dust particles, etc., all are
moving in some rhythmic pattern. The very obvious examples would be the
earth revolving around the sun, and rotating around its own axis. The result
of these rhythmic movements are the seasons, and the day-night pattern.
Since we live on earth, we move with its rhythmic movements. The
heartbeat, the pulse beat, the batting of the eyelids, talking, food passing
through the intestine (peristalsis), involuntary muscular actions, breathing,
and many more have rhythm. Since this basic rhythm is all around and
inside us as well, it may be concluded that we are naturally rhythmic.

The part of rhythm that can be better perceived with the ear is called
sound, and if the sound is pleasing, it is music. The order part of rhythm
that is better perceived with the eye or felt, and if it's pleasing it is dance.
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. Dance is a
powerful impulse, but the art of dance is that impulse channeled by skillful
performers into something that becomes intensely expressive and that may
delight dance.

BRIEF HISTORY OF DANCE

Dance does not leave behind clearly identifiable physical artifacts

such as stone tools, hunting implements or cave painting. It is not possible
to say when dance became part of human culture. Dance has certainly
been an important part of a ceremony, rituals, celebrations and
entertainment even before the birth of the earliest human civilizations.
Archeology delivers traces of dance from prehistoric times such as
Egyptian tomb paintings depicting dancing figures from circa 3300 B.C and
the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka paintings in India.
One of the earliest structured uses of dance may have been in the
performance and telling of myths. Before the introduction of written
languages, dance was one of the methods of passing these stories down
from generation to generation. It is not known when people began to
dance, so it is possible that dance developed along with the evolution of
our species. Written and visual evidence of dance has survived from
ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern civilizations. Dance often occurs
at rites of passage, or ceremonies performed when an individual passes
from one role to another. Dance may also be a part of courtship, worship,
or work.
DANCE AND MUSIC

It is unlikely that any human society during the primitive times has
denied itself the excitement and pleasure of dancing. Like cave painting,
the first purpose of dance is probably ritual appeasing a nature spirit or
accompanying a rite of passage. But losing oneself in rhythmic movement
with other people is an easy form of intoxication. Pleasure can never be far
away. Rhythm, indispensable in dancing, is also a basic element of music.
It is natural to beat out rhythm of the dance with sticks. It is natural to
accompany the movement of the dance with rhythmic chanting, Dance and
music begin as partners in the service of ritual.

DANCE AS RITUAL

In most ancient civilizations, dancing before their gods is an important

element in temple ritual. In Egypt, the priests and priestesses,
accompanied by harps and pipes, performed stately movement which
mime significant events in the story of a god, or imitate cosmic patterns
such as the rhythm of night and day. At Egyptian funerals, women dance to
express the grief of the mounters.

ECSTATIC DANCE
 is a form of dance in which the dancers, sometimes without the need
to follow specific steps, abandon themselves to the rhythm and move freely
as the music takes them, leading to trance and a feeling of ecstasy. The
effects of ecstatic dance begin with ecstasy itself, which may be
experienced in differing degrees. Dancers are described as feeling
connected to others, and to their own emotions. The dance serves as a
form of meditation, helping people to cope with stress and to attain
serenity.

DANCE AS ENTERTAIMENT

Dance entertainment is a vast topic and an important component of

dance. As a viewer of dance entertainment, you see the collaboration
between dance artists, directors, and media or live production staff. These
collaborators create ways to use dance choreography to entertain
audiences or sell products or services in various settings. To prepare for
dancing in commercial or entertainment settings, you have to be versatile
as a dancer. You must study social dance, folk dance, cultural dance,
street dance, ballet, modern dance, jazz, and tap dance.

BASIC COURSE DANCE AND RHYTHM

RHYTHM is the measure of movement or variation characterized by the

regular recurrence or alternation of elements of features such as sounds,
beats, patterns. In sounds, rhythm is present in songs, musical instruments
and the like. In beats, rhythm is present through dance, as dancers move in
accordance with the rhythm of the music. In patterns, rhythm can be
observed in the visual arts like painting, architectural designs, sculpture,
etc.

RHYTHMS as a term which denotes an aspect of a quality of movement

that is sometimes thought of as dance. They also noted that when an
individual moves in response to a particular rhythm or music, we call the
movements as rhythmic movements or rhythms. Rhythms are simple body
movements in response to music like tapping of the feet, hands, snapping,
and movement of the head.

DANCE refers to the rhythmic succession of body movements usually to

the accompaniment of music and is used as a form of communication.
Dance pertains to a definite set of movements performed on a definite
music. We cannot interchange dances among each other, like we know if a
dance being performed on a stage is a hip-hop, or a ballet, or folk dance, or
a ballroom dance.

DANCING
denotes the total body movements where there is a proper projection
of the face to involve the emotion required by the dance. The expression of
the dancer's face should complete the whole dance.

MOVEMENT
is the act or an instance of moving wherein there is a change in
place or position. It refers to the dance steps and basic body movements
required of a particular dance.
ELEMENTS OF DANCE

1. Theme - is the main story line of the dance. It tells what the dance is all
about. This can be a love theme, can be futuristic, can be ritual, etc.

2. Movements - refer to the dance steps and basic body movements

required of a particular dance.

3. Techniques - is a system of movements performed by a dancer. This is

developed through constant practice of certain difficult dance steps.

4. Choreography - pertains to the organization of the movements and

figures in the dance. This makes use of the theme and movements of
dance steps.

5. Music - gives life to the dance, this should be in accordance with the
theme and pattern of movements of the dance.

6. Accessories, Costume and Properties - Accessories are what the

dancers wear in addition to the costume such as the earrings, necklace,
bells, feathers, etc. Costume refers to what the dancers should wear, and
properties refer to the things held and used by the dancer.
7. Scenery - denotes the background on stage. It completes the whole
setting of the dance. This involves the back draft of the stage, and the
properties placed on stage.

8. Design - refers to the floor pattern in relation to space.

9.Gravity - is the force that holds you to the earth. It is a force you have to
work with because it constantly inhibits movements.

10. Balance - is concerned with more than balancing on one leg. Its aim is
to achieve and constantly maintain an inner balance of the whole body. It is
a tension of mutual support among all parts that brings the whole together
in a new way.

11. Posture - To achieve this element, you need to change your perception
of your body, since there is often a wide discrepancy between what feels
right and what looks right.

12. Gesture - involves using the body as an expressive instrument to

communicate feelings and ideas in pattern of movement.

13. Moving space - you need to be as aware of the space around you as a
car. You have to move with care and awareness, gauging the space.
Space is not just an empty air but a tangible element that you move
through.
14. Breathing - is crucial to dance, not only does it bring oxygen to the body
but it also gives your movement fluency and harmony