What Is Rhythmic Activity?

Stefan is a senior college student studying physical education. As he looks forward to his upcoming
graduation, he must choose a final project to demonstrate his learning. With a lifelong background in
music and performance, he chooses to create a rhythmic activity suitable for students at his local high
school.

Stefan explains that rhythmic activities are usually expressed as synchronized dancing with preplanned
movements. Some examples of rhythmic activities are line dancing, classic dances like the waltz, and
other popular social group dances.

Why Are Rhythmic Activities Used?

Stefan meets his roommate for lunch, and the two discuss his final project. When his roommate asks
about the purpose of rhythmic activities, Stefan explains that the combinations of sounds and beats
along with movements of the body can enable people to:

exercise

physically express themselves and their personalities

break down social barriers by including different levels of learners

promote friendship, community, and fun

History of Rhythmic Activity

Rhythmic activities have been taking place for thousands of years. Rhythmic activities trace back to the
Olympics, with sports such as gymnastics that combined movement with the use of rhythm. This created
a form of physical expression with strength and ability.

Now, rhythmic activities commonly extend to physical games with elements of song and dance. Some
current examples include jump rope games, popular dance workouts, like Zumba, or even the use of
noisemakers.

As Stefan continues to research the history of rhythmic activities, he learns that the activities vary
largely by culture. This means that groups of people in different parts of the world have formed
rhythmic activities to express religion, faith, and beliefs through celebratory dancing, festivities, and
other traditions.

Promoting Rhythmic Activities

In an effort to choose the most appropriate rhythmic activity for his project, Stefan first considers his
audience. Designing or selecting a rhythmic activity should include the following components of
rhythmic activity: