1.

Definitions of Rhythm, Dance, Movement/Dancing

Rhythm –a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.

– the systematic arrangement of musical sounds, principally according to

duration and periodic stress.

Dance – a series of movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music.

– to move the body and feet in rhythm to music.

– rhythmic movement of the body, usually performed in time of music.

Movement – the act or process of changing a situation or event, or of changing the way

something happens or is done

– a change of position or place.

– in music, a section of a large work, such as symphony, which is often complete

in itself.

2. Elements of Dance

The Elements of Dance are the foundational concepts and vocabulary that help students

develop movement skills and understand dance as an artistic practice. 

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. Dancers may emphasize specific parts of their body in a dance

phrase or use their whole body all at once.

facial movements, partner lifts, gestures, and even everyday movements such as walking.

Space – refers to the space through which the dancer's body moves (general or

personal space, level, size, direction, pathway, focus).

Time – refers to the movement of dancers through time, and specifically within relationship to

the music, tempo, meter, or rhythm. Force refers to the energy, dynamism, and intensity of

each movement.

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. Energy may

change in an instant, and several types of energy may be concurrently in play.

3.

1.  Great way to exercise and stay fit

Dance is a great way to stay in shape. If you don’t like the gym, dancing can bring fun back into

the exercise.

2. Burn calories

Dancing is all about moving your body and moving your body is a great way to burn calories.

How many will you burn depends on how vigorously you dance. In an one-hour session you can

burn from 250 to 400 calories.

3. Improved health
Dance can effectively promote good health by improving cardiovascular fitness, strengthening

the muscles, increasing circulation, decreasing blood pressure, lowering the risk of coronary

heart disease, reducing stress, and many other positive benefits.

4. Greater Coordination

Great for improving control over your body, timing and coordination skills. You will learn how to

move with grace and poise.

5. Good for bones and joints

Dance is a weight-bearing activity, meaning it’s great for your bones. Weight-bearing exercises

has been proven to increase bone density and help reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

6. Build confidence

Dance builds confidence by giving you a sense of success and achievement when you master it.

7. Great way to meet new people

Dancing provides a natural icebreaker and is a great way to meet new people and make new

friends.

8. Lifts your mood

Any exercise can raise your spirits by raising the endorphins or so called feel good chemicals.

This can lighten your mood and reduce the risk of depression.

9. Good for your Mind

the memory by remembering all the steps. Great mental exercise.

10. Improved overall well-being

Dance has an outstanding positive effect on both physical and psychological well-being.

Why Dance is Important

1. Dance is more than the exploring of different ways to make a shape or learning a

series of steps to music; it is a way of moving that uses the body as an instrument of

expression and communication.

Through dance, students learn teamwork, focus, and improvisational skills. Dance awakens new

perceptions in children which help them learn and think in new ways.

2. Children need to express and communicate their ideas and to be given the

opportunity to make creative decisions, even at a young age.

This decision making promotes self-esteem and independent thinking for children. Learning the

movement of others helps expand the child’s movement vocabulary while creating one’s own

movement will put the child in a teaching role and give her the chance for her voice to be

heard. Giving the students the freedom of making choices within a structure encourages them

to reach beyond what comes easy to them and use their imagination, thus allowing them to

test their own personal boundaries.

3. Dance also enables students to better understand themselves and the world in which

they live.
Through the arts, teachers can often teach children to recognize the contribution of all cultures

to the fabric of our society and increase the understanding of diversity and values of all people.

Dance lends itself well to this task through learning traditional dances and creating new ones

based on children’s ideas. Dance also enhances skills of perception, observation, and

concentration which will undoubtedly help students in all of their school subjects.