DANCE

Dance is an art form involving a series of

rhythmic human movements that are
purposefully selected. Dance should be
easily differentiated from movement. In
contrast, to simple human movement or
utilitarian movement, dance involves a
mindful effort to combine movements
spatially, dynamically, rhythmically, and
artfully in order for these movements to flow
together.
Elements of
Dance
BODY ELEMENT

This describes how the body of a dancer

moves, what part of that body is moving,
what actions are performed, and how the
body aligns and support itself.
SPACE

This focuses on the area where the

dance is performed. Terms such as
directions, size, focus, distance, level,
and elevation can be used in
describing the use of space in dance.
TIME

Terms such as accent, beat, duration,

meter, rhythm, and acceleration can be
used in describing time.
ENERGY
This element describes how energy is
directed through the body, and how the
body releases it. In some references, this is
referred as dynamics.
RELATIONSHIP

This element has a lot of aspects. Relationship

may mean how a dancer relates to another
dancer, how he or she relates to an object or
how he or she relates to the group of dancers. It
could also mean how a person relates to the
stage and to production elements. In short,
relationship involves the awareness of dancers on
their environment.
FORMS AND TYPES
OF DANCE IN THE
PHILIPPINES
 During the contemporary period, folk
dance companies continue to perform
Filipino adaptations of dance from Europe
and United States. These dances include
fandango, habeñera, jota, mazurka,
rigaudon, polka, schottische, valse, and
other quadrille dances. Ballet companies
also flourished, as well as group who
specialize in jazz and modern dance.
FOLK DANCES
Courtship and wedding dances

A courtship dance is a ceremonial dance

which involves the male pursuing the
female. The courtship dance is typically
performed during special occasions.
 Wedding dances, on the other
hand, are performed by
newlyweds. This performance aims
to celebrate relationships that have
been newly-formed by the couple,
their families and relatives.
GAME DANCE

These folk dances are usually acted for fun, but

have a set of rules and structures. Usually done in
informal social gatherings, these dances are also
played to test the skills of the dancers.
MARTIAL DANCE

This type of folk dance is combative in

nature and is used to enact a battle.
Martial dances may exhibit unarmed
execution, or confrontation using arms
and weapons. The langka of Samal is a
good example of martial dance.
MIMETIC DANCE

These are dances that aim to imitate

actual or real life movements. Mimetic
dances may be categorized into animal
dances and occupational dances. The
latter portrays everyday activities in the
community.
RITUAL DANCING

This involves dancing to spiritual beings and

gods. The shaman, who usually directs the
dance and the supplicants perform the
dance to ask for blessings, good health, or
victory in war. They may also perform ritual
dancing as a form of gratitude to the Gods
for blessing received or prayers answered.
SOCIAL DANCING

Social dancing is primarily performed to celebrate

important milestone in life, and to mark harvests. This
is also performed among Christians as a way of
commemorating the feasts of patron saints or visit of
personages. Examples of social dancing are balse,
excotis, habanera, jota, lanceros, polka, rigodon de
honor and subli.
SONG DANCE

This refers to a dance performed to a song

which typically describes history and traditions
of a community. This dance involves acting
out the meaning of the song using gestures
and movements. Balitaw and lunsay are
examples of song dance.
BALLET
 Ballet is a theatrical dance
presentation in which a plot is
integrated with dancing, music, and
stage designs. It is also defined as the
style and techniques of dancing
strictly based on a theatrical dance
school. Ballet is further classified into
modern ballet, opera ballet, and
folkloric ballet
MODERN BALLET

Utilizes the technique and style of classical

ballet in portraying contemporary content.
Techniques in modern dance may be
adapted in modern ballet, such as bound
and rebound, and contraction and release.
Modern ballet may also use natural
movement.
OPERA BALLET

On the other hand is defined as dance

within the context of an opera. Rock
opera ballet, which began in 1970s, is an
offshoot of the opera ballet.
FOLKLORIC BALLET

Is a type of ballet that involves stylizing

and editing stories, motifs and styles found
in the culture of ordinary people, and
adapting these materials to
contemporary theater.
MODERN DANCE
 This refers to a dance form that
emerged during the 20th
century. This dance form is still
considered theatrical but it veers
away from the technique and
style of ballet.
OTHER FORMS OF
DANCE
Aerobic dance

This is primarily dancing to the tune of popular

music with the purpose of increasing
consumption of oxygen over a long period of
time.
BODABIL DANCING

This form of dancing used to be popular during the

American period. It included popular dances from the
United States, and Philippine folk dances. Bodabil
dancing, when combined with mime, singing ballads,
and acrobatics, offers a perception on life during
those times in a satirical way. However, popularity of
this vaudeville act became confined in provincial
fiestas and in television and radio variety shows.
JAZZ DANCE

This dance form uses African dance techniques

like isolation of individual human body parts,
rhythm, and polycentrism. Later, movements from
other social dances were fused into jazz.
Nowadays, there are people who are into modern
jazz, which is a mix of original jazz dance and steps
from dances during the second half of the 20th
century.
POLYNESIAN AND TAHITIAN DANCES

These dances began from the people living

in Polynesian chain, which is comprised of
seven major island groups in the southern
part of the Pacific Ocean. These dances,
such as hula, were introduced in the
Philippines during the late 1950s.
TAP DANCE

This is a dance which entails tapping with

toes and heels to generate rhythmic
patterns.