INTRODUCTION TO

RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES
 Table of Content

A. Meaning/Importance of B. Brief History of Dance

Rhythmic activities

C. Fundamentals of Movement
• Locomotor
• Non-locomotor
 WHAT IS RHYTHM?

• A term which donates an aspect of a quality of

movement that is sometimes thought as a
dance.
• When an individual moves in response to a
particular rhythm or music we call the
movements as rhythmic movements or
rhythms. Structured forms which start creative
rhythmic movements are called rhythms.
 Meaning/Importance of
Rhythmic Activities

• The basic of music and dance is

rhythm. Rhythm in dance is simply
expressive movement made with or
without music. Most movements that
take place in Physical Education
class contain elements of rhythm
and space concepts.
• Rhythm can arouse a higher intensity of
movements, longer participation and
interest, and possibly increased
enjoyment. When performing rhythmic
activities, one should move with good
posture, keeping aimless and excessive
movements of body parts to a minimum.
Rhythmic activities also provide a vehicle
for expressive movements, which
eventually become an art from-dance.
 Exploring Terminologies

•Rhythm - is measured motion or flow, characterized

regular recurrence of elements and features as beats,
sounds and accents.
•Rhythmic movements or rhythms - when an
individual moves in response to a particular rhythm or
music. It is a term which denotes an aspect of a quality
of movement which is sometimes thought of dance.
 What is the importance of Rhythmic
Activities?
*Rhythmic activities improves physical
and mental health. Aside from
increased physical confidence,
rhythmic activities can also improve
mental functions.
• Dancing - this word means “to stretch”.
This is a means of expressing one’s
emotions through movement disciplined
rhythm. It is an act of moving rhythmically
and expressively to an accompaniment.
 Creating dances

Exploring the movement framework

Selecting movement elements

Refining dance sequences

Have you ever wondered when
did dancing come to life?
 BRIEF HISTORY OF DANCE

Before humans had the power of speech, pre-historic man

expresses their thoughts, wishes, and emotions through
action (moving specific body part to convey something), just
like how we express ourselves in dancing.

The first recorded dancing, by our definition, is among the

ancient civilizations of the middle east and India and among
the aboriginal people of the Americas, Australia, and Africa.
Dance is defined as…

Expression of feelings

A form of ART
 The meaning of dance can
also be interpreted as:

 Dance of many types is the physical expression

of rhythm and music
 It is a pure expression of the dancer’s thoughts
and feelings
 It is the union of movement, rhythm and arts of
life
 It is man’s primitive and natural way of self-
expression.
THE FUNDAMENTAL
OF MOVEMENTS
LOCOMOTOR, NON-LOCOMOTOR
 
Locomotor
1. WALK - The walk is a transfer of weight
from one foot to the other. Using the feet to
advance by steps. Usually, the heel touches
first.

2. RUN - The run is a transfer of weight from

one foot to the other however, the body is
propelled into the air and suspended between
run steps. Move fast by using the feet, with
one foot off the ground at any given time.
Locomotor
3. JUMP - The jump required the body to
push off from one or both feet. Most
common is a two foot take off and two-foot
landing. A jump can take off on one foot
and land on two or take off from two feet
and land one foot.

4. HOP - The hop requires a push-off from

one foot and landing on the same foot.
Locomotor
5. LEAP - A leap is performed by pushing off from one
foot and landing on the other foot. The body is
suspended between the push off and the landing. A
combination of a step and a hop on the same foot
followed by a step and hop on the other foot.

6. SKIP - A combination of a step and a hop on the

same foot followed by a step and hop on the other
foot. The rhythm is uneven, long -short. Long (the
step) and short (the hop).
Locomotor
7. GALLOP - A forward movement where
one foot leads the gallop while the other
foot follows. The lead footsteps with a bent
knee and pushes off into the air and
landing on the trailing foot. The rhythm is
uneven, long-short. Long (the step) and
short (the landing).
Locomotor
8. SLIDE - It is similar to a gallop
performed with the right or left foot leading.
The rhythm is uneven, long -short.   Long
(the step) and short (the landing). Landing
on the trailing foot. The rhythm is uneven,
long -short. Long (the step) and short (the
landing).
Non-locomotor
1. Swing - A pendular motion of a body part
that can move forward and backward or side
to side.

2. Twist - A partial rotation of body parts

around an axis.

3. Turn - A full rotation of the body around a

vertical or horizontal axis. Full, half or
quarter turns.
Non-locomotor
4. SHAKE - A short quick vibrating
movement in a body part or the whole body.

5. BEND - A flex of a body part at a joint.

6. STRETCH - Extending a body part or the

whole body.
Non-locomotor
7. WIGGLE - A small or big, fast or slow
curvy movement of a body part or the
whole body.

8. Rock or Sway - A shift of the body

weight forward, backward, side to side or
in a circular pathway.
 Body Locomotor Non-locomotor
Awareness

 Head  Crawl  Shake

 Shoulder  Roll  Gestures
 Arms  Leap  Contract
 Hands  Jump  Bend
 Fingers  Skip  Turn
 Body parts  Galop  Twist
That’s all for today