DANC
E
WHAT IS
DANCE?
-Dance is an art form, often classified as a sport,
consisting of sequences of body movements with
aesthetic and often symbolic value, either improvised or
purposefully selected.
-Dance involves the rhythmic movement of the human
body, usually to music. It is one of the oldest forms of
human expression.
What is Dance?
-Dance serves a variety of purposes in cultures around the
world. Some dances mark special social events such as
births, marriages, and deaths. Other dances are religious or
magical. They may be performed to worship gods or to try
to end famine, bring rain, or cure the sick. And dances are
also performed as art, to express emotions, to tell stories,
and simply for fun.
ANCIENT DANCE AND
TRADITIONS
-Paintings made in caves more than 10,000 years ago suggest
that even the earliest peoples danced. The first written records
of dance date back some 4,000 years to the ancient Egyptians.
Dance was a crucial element in festivals for their gods. The
ancient Egyptians also brought skilled dancers from central
Africa to Egypt to provide entertainment.
ANCIENT DANCE AND
TRADITIONS
-Many cultures in Asia have a long history of formal,
theatrical dance. In India the earliest book discussing
dance is more than 1,500 years old. Bharata-natya is a
classical dance form based on this book. The dances of
the Japanese royal court are called bugaku. They were
adapted from traditional dances of China, Korea, India,
and Southeast Asia. Dance is also, an important feature
of traditional forms of Japanese drama.
ANCIENT DANCE AND
TRADITIONS
-For the ancient Greeks dance was an
important part of religious ceremonies as
well as everyday life. Dances at festivals
to honor a god developed into Greek
drama in the 400s bce. Later in ancient
Rome religious festivals also featured
dances.
The Elements of Dance
Body: Who Dances? The Dancer!
-The human body is what others see when
they look at dance.
-Dancers use their bodies to take internal
ideas, emotions, and intentions and express
them in an outward manner, sharing them
with others.
The Elements of Dance
Action: The Dancer Does What? Moves!
-Action is any human movement involved
in the act of dancing. Action includes small
movements like facial expressions or gestures,
as well as larger movements like lifts, carries,
or catches done with a partner or in a group.
Movement can be divided into two general categories:
•Non-locomotor or axial movement
Any movement that occurs in one spot including a bend,
stretch, swing, rise, fall, shake, turn, rock, tip, suspend,
and twist.
•Locomotor movement
Any movement that travels through space including a
run, jump, walk, slide, hop, skip, somersault, leap,
crawl, gallop, and roll.
LOCOMOTOR MOVEMENT
Space: Where Does the Dancer Move? Through
Space!
-Dance moves through space in an
endless variety of ways. To better explain, here
are some ways a choreographer or dancer thinks
about space:
Level: Is the movement on the floor or reaching
upward? -Are they performed high, medium
or low?
LOCOMOTOR
MOVEMENT
Direction: Does the movement go
forward, backward, sideways, right, left, or
on a diagonal?
Place: Is the movement done on the spot
(personal space) or does it move through
space (General space, downstage,
upstage)?
LOCOMOTOR MOVEMENT
Orientation: Which way are the dancers
facing?
Pathway: Is the path through space made
by the dancers curved, straight, or
zigzagged? Or is it random?
Size: Does the movement take up a small,
narrow space, or a big, wide space?
LOCOMOTOR MOVEMENT
Relationships: How are the dancers
positioned in space in relationship to one
another ? Are they close together or far
apart? Are they in front of, beside, behind,
over, under, alone or connected to one
another?
Time: How Does the Body Move in Relation to Time?
-Choreographers have to make decisions about timing.
-We can think of time in the following ways:
Clock Time: We use clock time to think about the
length of a dance or parts of a dance measured in
seconds, minutes, or hours.
Timing Relationships: When dancers move in relation
to each other (before, after, together, sooner than, faster
than).
Metered Time: A repeated rhythmic pattern often used
in music (like 2/4 time or 4/4 time). If dances are done
to music; the movement can respond to the beat of the
music or can move against it. The speed of the rhythmic
pattern is called its tempo.
Free Rhythm: A rhythmic pattern is
less predictable than metered time.
Dancers may perform movement
without using music, relying on
cues from one another.
Energy: How? The Dancer Moves Through Space and Time with Energy!
-Energy helps us to identify how the dancers move.
- Energy also represents the quality of the movement its power and
richness.
-For choreographers and dancers, there are many possibilities. The effort
the dancers use can communicate meaning, depending on the energy
involved. Energy is crucial in bringing the inner expression of emotion out
to the stage performance.
Evolution of Dance
TYPES OF DANCES
Ballroom
- A broad category of partner
dances. Includes various styles like
waltz, foxtrot, tango, and salsa,
emphasizing elegance, social
interaction, and a variety of dance
rhythms.
TYPES OF DANCES
Rumba
- A sensual and romantic Latin
dance. Features a slow, flowing
rhythm and close partner work,
emphasizing sensuality and
connection.
TYPES OF
DANCES
Belly Dance
- A captivating dance form
originating in the Middle East.
Celebrates femininity and sensuality
through fluid movements of the
torso, hips, and arms.
TYPES OF DANCES
Folk Dance
- Traditional dances passed down
through generations. Reflect cultural
heritage, often celebrating special
occasions or telling stories of daily life
TYPES OF
DANCES
Tango
- A passionate and dramatic dance
from Argentina. Known for its sharp,
rhythmic movements and close
embrace, conveying intense emotions
like desire and longing.
TYPES OF
DANCES
Hip-Hop
- A vibrant street dance style born
from urban culture. Characterized by
energetic, improvisational
movements, often expressing
individuality and rebellion.
TYPES OF
DANCES
Ballet
- A highly structured dance form
emphasizing grace, precision, and
- athleticism. Utilizes specific
vocabulary of movements and
positions, often telling stories through
expressive gestures.
TYPES OF DANCE
Waltz
- An elegant and romantic dance
with a flowing three-quarter time
signature. Symbolizes love,
romance, and a sense of
togetherness.
TYPES OF
DANCES
Cha-Cha-Cha
- A lively and upbeat Latin dance.
Characterized by a distinct
rhythm and quick footwork, often
incorporating playful and
flirtatious movements.
Thank
