DANCE AS AN ART

Dance is a rhythmic and expressive

movement of the body in successive movement
usually accompanied by music. It has been said
to be the mother of the arts, for it ’s the oldest
of the art which actually reflects man’s age old
need to communicate different emotions such
as joy, grief, excitement and others.
Dance simply started as man’s own life for
almost all occasions, in whatever aspects, as
birth, death, healing of the sick, asking for
forgiveness, war, marriage – were celebrated by
dancing.
 REASONS WHY DO PEOPLE DANCE

•It has been used in worship.

•It plays a role in courtship.
•It serves as a form of acquaintance for a man and
woman.
•It is an expression of the joy one feels.
•As in old times, it brings magical powers to people.
•It brings victory or somehow restores health to life.
•It even breaks the monotony of the daily activities.
•It serves to entertain others.
•It gives beauty and inspiration to others.
•It provides personal and effectiveness of communication.
 SIGNIFICANT FEATURES OF THE DANCE
AS AN FORM

Two kinds of movement

1. Movement within the body

which includes the hand and
arms.

2. Movement from one space to

another.
 Elements ofDance
These are the foundation concepts
and vocabulary that help us develop
movement skills and understand dance
as an artistic practice.
 1.BODY
In dance, the body is the mobile
figure or shape, felt by the dancer, seen
by others. The body is sometimes
relatively still and sometimes changing
as the dancer moves in place or travels
through the dance area.
 2.ACTION

Action is any human movement included

in the act of dancing— it can include dance
steps, facial movements, partner lifts,
gestures, and even everyday movements such
as walking. Dance is made up of streams of
movement and pauses, so action refers not
only to steps and sequences, but also to
pauses and moments of relative stillness.
 3. SPACE
Dancers interact with space in
myriad ways. They may stay in one
place or they may travel from one place
to another. They may alter the direction,
level, size, and pathways of their
movements.
 4. TIME

The keyword for the element of time

is When? Human movement is naturally
rhythmic in the broad sense that we
alternate activity and rest. Breath and
waves are examples of rhythms in
nature that repeat, but not as
consistently as in a metered rhythm.
 5. ENERGY
Energy is about how the movement
happens. Choices about energy include
variations in movement flow and the use of
force, tension, and weight. An arm gesture
might be free flowing or easily stopped, and it
may be powerful or gentle, tight or loose,
heavy or light.
 Features of Dance
1.MUSIC – It is closely related to dance, for it plays
a significant role in it. It is used as accompaniment
that somehow motivates the dancer ’s movement.

2.MOVEMENT – It refers to the action of dancers

with the use of their bodies to create organized
patterns.

3.THEME – It pertains to the content or main

ingredient of the dance. It actually conveys the
message of the dance.
 Features of Dance
4.TECHNIQUES - they refer to the skills in executing
movement. As a dancer, one needs to have a complete
control over the muscles of his body for him to be
technically proficient.
5.DESIGN – It refers to the arrangement of movements
according to pattern in time (either fast or slow) and
space (one’s position in relation to his background).
6.PROPERTIES AND COSTUME – They contribute to
the visual effect of dance. The costumes can somehow
relate closely to the beliefs and environment of people.
 Features of Dance
7. CHOREOGRAPHY – Dances are performed in an
organized manner, following steps and movements. A
sophisticated dance requires a dancer who can display
the movement, convey the message and tells the story.

8. SCENERY -The setting or background establishing

the place of action of any dance is important to make
the dance more realistic and beautiful.
 KINDS OF DANCE
1.ETHNOLOGIC DANCE – This is a dance that is
indigenous to a certain race or country. The term
ethnic is used to distinguish religious dances, and
designed as hymns of praise to a god, or to bring on
good fortune in peace and war. They are symbolic
in meaning that can’t be understood easily by
persons who don’t belong to the ethnic group.
 FILIPINO FOLK DANCES

1. PANDANGO SA ILAW – translates as Dance of

Lights, is a waltz-style, playful folk dance that
showcases a unique fusion of local and western
indigenous dance forms. It is usually performed
during festivities and special occasions. It ’s a
dance of grace and skill.
 FILIPINO FOLK DANCES

2. ITIK-ITIK – is a mimetic folk dance in The

Philippines. It originated in the province of Surigao
in Mindanao. In Itik-itik (from the Tagalog word for
"duck"), the dance steps imitate the movements of
ducks among rice paddies and swamplands, such
as wading, flying, and short, choppy steps. It is a
native dance interpreting the playfulness of
duckling wading in the river.
 FILIPINO FOLK DANCES

3. HABANERA SOLTERA – This dance is from

Ilocos Sur. This dance is performed by the bride to
be and her close friends at the traditional social
gathering on the eve of the wedding. This is the
bride’s farewell to the state of single blessedness.
 FILIPINO FOLK DANCES

4. SINGKIL – It ’s a dance based on the Maranao

epic “Bantugan”. It features a beautiful princess
dancing gracefully over clashing bamboo pole
nimble followed by a nimble prince. It is a Lanao
court dance which women of royal blood have to
learn.
 FILIPINO FOLK DANCES

5. TINIKLING – It is a native dance using long

bamboo sticks from which the dancers hop from
one pole to another. Tinikling literally means
"tikling like". The dance imitates the fast and
elegant moves of the "tikling" bird as the bird
dodges bamboo traps by rice farmers, flies over
trees and walks between grass stems.
The dance shows the bird's grace and quick
movements between the bamboo poles.
 FILIPINO FOLK DANCES

6. Jotabal is a lively festival dance in

Camohaguin, Gumaca, Quezon. It is derived
from the words Jota and valse (means waltz,
a step or a dance in three-four time). The
male wears Barong Tagalog and black
trousers ,and the female wears Maria Clara
dress.
 FILIPINO FOLK DANCES

7. OBANDO - named after a town in Bulacan.

Obando Dance is a dance of rural
Philippines. The attire is the native
"balintawak" and "salakot" for the ladies and
“barong tagalog” and "buntal" hats for the
gentlemen. 
 FILIPINO FOLK DANCES

8. KAPPA MALONG MALONG - Also called

Sambi sa Malong. This Maranao dance shows
the many ways of wearing a malong, a
simple tubular; yet, highly functional piece
of cloth. The traditional women’s version
shows this cloth of countless colorful
designs
 FILIPINO FOLK DANCES

9. BINANOGBANOG - A dance in imitation of

the hawk. It is held in reverence to the bird ,
so it will not do any harm to the community.
 FILIPINO FOLK DANCES

10. DUGSU – it is a ceremonial dance among

the Manobo people in Bukidnon, Agusan and
Misamis Oriental .
 FILIPINO FOLK DANCES

11. KUMINTANG - The graceful hand

movements from the wrist going clockwise
or counter clockwise while dandling. This is
a typical characteristic movement of the
hands in Philippine folk dances.
 KINDS OF DANCE
2. SOCIAL OR BALLROOM DANCE – This is a
popular type of dancing for pleasure as generally
performed by pairs or group of people following a
definite step or pattern. Most of the ballroom
dances have specific rhythms, and they are
coordinated with the movement and steps of the
body, hand, foot and head.
They include waltz, foxtrot, swing cha-cha,
boogie, tango, etc.
 KINDS OF DANCE
Ballroom dancing is presently undergoing a
period of revival which is not only enjoyed and
appreciated by the elders but by the youngsters are
well. It is now known as the famous dance sport
where local, national and international participants
join the competition for lucrative prizes.
 KINDS OF DANCE
3. SPECTACULAR OR THEATRICAL DANCES – These are
dances which are intended for the viewing audience. Usually,
these are performed for the entertainment of spectators.

a. BALLET – It ’s the ultimate expression of art in dance

which originated in the royal courts during the middle ages.
The term ballet refers to series of solo and converted dances
with poses and steps combined with light flowing figures,
music accompaniment and expressive scenic accessories of a
dramatic atmosphere. The movement of the dance is subject
to definite discipline of the body, hands, legs and others.
Usually a ballet includes staging, scenery, costumes dancing
and music; but no singing and dialogue.
 KINDS OF DANCE
b. MODERN DANCE – It is often characterized as
something natural and free. It has been called an
expression dance. This dance emerged as a form of
a revolt against the strictness governing the old
forms of dance. It has varied styles of movements
based on the new trend; therefore, it doesn’t stick
to conventions. The major emphasis of this dance
is on the expression through the dancer’s
execution.