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HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF DANCE experience; the use of dance was a
“Before a man can do anything, he must draw gesture in order to communicate.
breath, he must move. Movement is the source ● BELIEFS Appease the forces of nature
and condition of life. To dance is to be out or give them new powers of their own,
yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful. and supplicate the gods on all important
This is power, glory on earth, and yours for the occasions.
taking.” ● DANCE provides a variety of functions
-Agnes de Mille (1963) throughout history due to its
multidimensionality and had been
DANCE comparative differences in period and
● comes from the German word damson, culture, but people still dance mainly for
which means “to stretch” or “to drag”. four reasons:
● is an Art (the art of body movement). 1. TO PLEASE THE GOD
● it is considered the mirror of society. 2. TO PLEASE OTHERS
● it is an activity that can take many forms 3. TO PLEASE THEMSELVES OR
and fill many different needs: SELF-EXPRESSION
1. recreation 4. TO BUILD COMMUNITY WITHIN AN
2. entertainment ETHNIC GROUP OR SOCIAL
3. education INTERACTION
4. therapy
5. religion PREHISTORIC ERA
● differs from athletic or other daily ● It has been a major form of religious
activities ritual and social expression within a
● because it focuses primarily on aesthetic primitive culture.
or even entertaining activities. ● It was used as a way of expression and
reinforcing tribal unity and strength.
Dance teaches the importance of movement & ● It is based on superstition and infused
fitness: with magic. Shamans as lead dancers
1. Dancers learn to coordinate muscles to acted as physicians and religious leaders
move through proper positions. and kept tribes healthy, prosperous, and
2. A great activity to pursue at almost any safe.
age.
3. It helps assess the body’s capacity, ANCIENT EGYPT
fitness, or health. ● 3,300 BCE (First Dancing). It is believed
that the first people to dance were the
DANCE Egyptians.
● RELIGION & CULTURE Has been ● Archaeologists discovered paintings of
major form of religious ritual and social dancing figures in rock shelters and
expression within primitive cultures. caves.
● TRADITION Used as a way of
expressing and reinforcing tribal unity ANCIENT CRETE
and strength; as an approach for ● The Cretan civilization (3000-4000 BC)
courtship and mating. was a cultural link in the ancient world
● EXPRESSION/COMMUNICATION & between Egyptians and Greeks.
THERAPY As means of worship, ● Cretans used to dance to perfect their
communication, and therapeutic military training.

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ANCIENT GREECE ● Several other dance forms continued to
● Dance was not just for religious and sprout and spread across several
military training but also a form of countries.
entertainment and display. DANCING TOWARD THE 21ST CENTURY
● Plato immensely gave importance to THE LATE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES
dance in education as stated in the (1501-1700)
Education on the Laws. ● MASQUE DANCING started in 1600
● He highlighted the two kinds of dance with elaborate pageants and shows in
and music: the NOBLE (fine and the 16th century. Masque Dancing
honorable) and the IGNOBLE (imitating involved intricate costuming and stage
what is mean or ugly). designing that also incorporated singing
and acting as well as dancing. It was
ANCIENT ROME often used as court entertainment.
● Gave less importance to dancing which ● Dance increased as a court amusement
eventually became an integral part of and later transformed into professional
the corruption in the latter days of the entertainment.
Roman Empire resulting in the
condemnation of dance by early THE 18TH CENTURY (1701-1800)
Christians. 1. (Classical Persian Dancing) This style of
● Dance was primarily performed for dance evolved from courtroom dancing
religious, social, and entertainment. in 1795.
However, theatrical entertainment was ● An era influencing Persian dance was
prohibited but still existed and was the Qajar Dynasty which lasted from
performed within the church during 1975 to 1925.
religious ceremonies. ● Dancers would perform artistic and
lively dances for the Shah. The music is
THE MIDDLE AGES AND THE usually played by a small band.
RENAISSANCE 2. (Tippiti Tappity, Time for Tap) TAP
● Ballet comes into play, which was DANCING originated from African
started in the year 1400 in Italy but tribe dancing in 1800.
didn’t really become popular until ● Tap dancing makes percussion sounds
around the year 1500. because dancers most commonly wear
● Ballet gained its popularity when a lady leather shoes with two pieces of metal
of the arts, CATHERINE DE MEDICI, and clip and clap against hard floors.
married King Henry II and threw ● Tap is still very popular to this day.
festivals where they would perform
ballet dances. THE 19TH CENTURY (1801-1900)
● Ballet is believed to be the main core of ● Described as a period of “dance fever”
every single dance style. wherein the young and old alike were
● A vast dance movement occurred not limited to expressing emotions
throughout the courts of Europe in the through dance.
15th and 16th centuries. 1. Merengue Dancing. It is a Caribbean
● During these times, new court dances dance style, started in 1890, that
performed by the nobility came about as involves partners holding each other in
well as the rise of the art ballet in Italy a tango-like position and moving their
and France. hips from side to side.

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2. Jazz and Acro, 1900. It involves doing GALAW PILIPINAS
smooth and flexible movements, and It is a 4-minute calisthenics routine which shall
lots of back bending and tricks. Both contribute to the 6O minutes of moderate to
styles are widely popular to this day. vigorous physical activity (MVPA) prescribed
3. Ballroom Dances also emerged during daily for children 5-17 years of age.
this period Cotillion, Polonaise,
Quadrille, Waltz, and Polka. GALAW PILIPINAS aims to:
4. Contemporary Dance in 1950 is a style (A) promote an active lifestyle for Filipinos
that combines jazz, ballet, and modern that will benefit both their physical and
dance. It can be many different styles, socioemotional well-being;
but most of the time it is melancholy (B) improve strength, flexibility,
and/or intense. cardiovascular endurance, coordination,
5. Hip Hop Dance in 1970. There are many and balance;
styles of hip-hop that include breaking, (C) enhance cultural awareness by
popping, locking, and more. Street integrating Philippine cultures in the
dance was performed both in nightclubs calisthenics exercise; and
and on the streets. It is associated with (D) inculcate nationalism, unity, and
funk, breakdancing, and hip-hop. discipline.
6. Several social dance movements also
evolved such as Castle Walk, Tango, Why (Physical Activity) Galaw Pilipinas?
Foxtrot, Charleston, Lindy Hop, Rumba, ● It is economical (requiring minimal to
Mambo, Cha-cha, Samba, Bossa Nova, no equipment), requires minimal space,
Boogaloo, and Twist. and is easy to learn.
7. Popular fad dances also emerged like
YMCA and Macarena.

21ST CENTURY DANCE (2001-PRESENT)