P.

E REVIEWER

UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO DANCE

Dance is an activity that has many forms and fills many different needs. It can be performed for
recreation, entertainment, education, therapy, or religion. Dance is a form of art because people can
creatively express their feelings, culture, and even religion through rhythmic movement.

L1: The Evolution of Dance

The history of dance can be traced back to ancient times. Dance was first incorporated and developed by
a variety of musical, spiritual, and mass movements. The timeline on the next page summarizes the
origin and background of dance from the 16th century to modern times.

Different Styles of Dance

 Ballet - also known to be the "backbone of dance". This style
involves precise motions to convey the story's theme.
- This dance often employs strategies and demands considerable diligence
and commitment to execute flawlessly.
- There are three classifications of ballet: classical, neoclassical, and modern.
 Contemporary dance - combines elements of modern ballet and jazz. This dance style allows
the dancers to express their emotions freely and unifies the mind and body.
 Jazz - a lively and enthusiastic dance. It is naturally combined with upbeat music such as hip-hop
or show tunes to add a theatrical flair.
- Jazz dancers have more freedom to express their unique character through their dance
presentations.
 Folk dance- a leisure, ceremonial, or traditional dance that is usually executed by
members of a community.
 Modern dance - deeply rooted in the ballet syllabus.
- It started as a free and expressive form of dancing.
- This style began in the 20th century as a response to classical ballet. In
recent years, it has involved fundamentals not usually related to dance, such as
speech and film.
 Hip-Hop - a style of dance that progressed from hip-hop principles and is typically performed
with hip-hop music.
- Usually very bouncy that permits the dancer to have freedom of movement within the
repetitive music and can integrate it to one’s personality.
 Ballroom - typically is done in pairs - a man and a woman.
- This dance is well known to be a social dance because communication is important
between the partners.
 Cheerdancing - is a relatively new area in athletics and culture, having first originated as an
art of gymnastics competitions in the 90s.
- Concentrate on dance steps and fundamental gymnastics
features, such as tricks and advanced athletics abilities.
L2: Health Benefits of Dance

Dance Safety Precautions

1. Evaluate your current fitness level and determine which types of dances you can perform.
2. Consider the attire suitable for the dance styles you will perform. Wear the prescribed clothes.
3. Do not forget to warm up before dancing and to cool down after.
4. Bear in mind the proper techniques, correct posture, and skills required for the dance styles you are
about to execute.
5. Stay hydrated during and after dancing.

UNIT 2: DANCE APPRECIATION AND COMPOSITION

L1: Elements of Dance

 Body - the moving form or shape that a dancer feels, and the audience sees.
- Symmetrical: balanced stature; same movements on both sides of the performer.
- Asymmetrical: unbalanced stature; motion on one side is different on the other.
 Action - refers to what the dancers do with their body.
- Non-locomotor: a movement without moving from a spot.
- Locomotor: a movement traveling through space
 Space - where the dancers perform.
- Direction: moving forward, backward, diagonally, circularly, and so on.
- Size: steps can be big or small.
- Level: routines might be high, medium, or low level.
- Focus: may look in different directions to change focus.
  Time - timing of dance motions may be performed at different speeds (tempo).
 Energy/Force - strength or power that propels the movements comes from force or energy.
- Sustained: movements are performed in a smooth, constant, and regulated manner.
- Percussive: differing from constant movements, actions are sharp and accented with bursts
of energy.
- Vibratory: this involves trembling movements.
- Swinging: motion in this category follows a curvature or arc pattern.
- Suspended: this type of action is done when you lift one of your limbs in any direction.
- Collapsing: motions release tension to gravity gradually or abruptly, allowing the body to
sink to the floor.

L2: Characteristics of a Good Dance

A good dance must have meaning behind its moves or choreography to be successful.
 Form - the process of arranging or combining ideas and elements to create a coherent pattern
that results in harmony and continuity.
 Phrases - the smallest unit of form in the entire dance
 Motif - a concept or motif to communicate its purpose to the viewers.
L3: Basic Choreography
Choreographic forms are four fixed harmonic styles in dance: sequential, contrapuntal,
episodic, and other compositional forms.
 Forms in a Sequence - these modes consist of a collection of themes that appear in a specific
series. They have been arranged in the proper and precise order.
 Contrapuntal Forms - keep in mind that because most styles have opposite parts, the portions
must have a smooth transition to fit the overall theme of the performance. In order to preserve
harmony and consistency in a performance, skilled changes are often required across each
segment.
- Ground Bass: A particular concept begins the movement, and it is mirrored during the
performance while other contrasting themes are played at the same time.
- Round or Canon: It is made up of two or more phrases or themes in which the succeeding
phrases mimic the primary phrases precisely and perfectly.
- Fugue or Accumulation: It is a style of composition in which separate movements or dance
phrases are added to each repetition of the main theme.
- Suite: It usually has a moderate start, a slow-moving middle portion, and a quick and
vibrant ending.
 Episodic Form – This style is primarily used in ballet performances.
- The story is told in episodes that are interconnected and progress in time. The narrative form
is an episodic form that conveys a story or imparts an idea.
 Other Compositional Forms –
- Natural structures: These are inspired by natural occurrences such as seasons and
everyday experiences.
- Collage: It is composed of a series of unrelated movement phrases that have been put
together to form a dance with a beginning, middle, and end.
- Tableau: This is done by executing different patterns in the same routine at the same time.
- Chance: The movements are done in an erratic and spatially dispersed manner.