Nature of Dance

DANCE FUNDAMENTAL POSITION IN ARMS AND FEET

- It is an art performed by individuals or group of human being, existing in
time, space force and flow in which the human body is the instrument and
the movement is the medium. (Richard Krauss, 1998)
- It is a succession or arrangement of steps and rhythm movements to
musical or rhythmic accompaniment.
- It is performed for several purposes such as entertainment, part of rituals
or expression of inner feelings. (Defensor, Marshall D,. et al, 2007)

CHARACTERISTICS OF DANCE
- Use of human body
- Extends through time
- Exists in space
- Exist in force
- Accompanied by rhythm
- Serves to communicate
- Has movement, style and form

BASIC DANCE STEPS IN FOLK DANCE

FUNCTIONS OF DANCE
- An art form
2/4 time signature (1, 2 or 1 &2)
- Form of popular entertainment
- Touch Step
- Form of social affirmation
- Bleking step
- Means of religious worship
- Slide Step
- Means of expressing physical exuberance, strength and agility
- Hop Step
- It offers an important social and recreational outlet
- Swing step
- Provides a medium through which courtship can be carried on
- Brush step
- Means of education
- Close step
- Serves as an occupation
- Change step
- Serves as a therapy
- Plain polka
DANCE FORMS
¾ time signature (1, 2, 3)
- Folk dance
- Plain waltz
- Ethnic dance
- Waltz balance
- National dance
- Cross waltz
- Creative dance
- Ballroom/Social dance
DANCE FORMATION
- Recreational dance
- Single-circle formation
- Cheerdance
- Double-circle formation
- Festival Dance
- Line formation
- Singing Dance
- Long way formation
- Scattered formation
 15. Outside foot
THE ART OF FOLK DANCE 16. Saludo/Bow
Meaning of Folk Dance 17. Slide
 As an expressive folk art, dance shows man’s traditional contemporary 18. Step
feeling. Few dances are results of religious ceremonies, or an ethnic variety 19. Tap
portraying the celebration of different cultural patterns.
Classifications of Folk dances
Objectives 1. Occupational dances
 To promote nationalism and patriotism through the study of our dances. 2. Religious or Ceremonial dances
 To enhance appreciation of Philippine music and folk dances. 3. Comic dances
 To improve gracefulness and rhythmic coordination that will develop good 4. Wedding dances
posture. 5. Game dances
 To maintain the genuine folk dance and music to the different regions of our 6. Courtship dances
country. 7. Festival dances
 To reveal the progressive development of Filipino culture through the 8. War dances
evolution of the Philippine dances.
POLKA SA NAYON
Characteristics This dance comes from the province of Batangas in the Tagalog Region of the
 It is mandatory that Philippine folk dances begin and end with a bow or Philippine Islands. In the old days it was very popular and was usually danced at all
saludo. the big social affairs and at the town fiestas.
 Most of the dances are performed maintaining a distance of about 6-8 feet
from each other. Costume
 Holding hands is common and body contact is not visible. G – Baro’t Saya
 Most of the dancers are in pairs. B – Barong and Black (white) trousers
 Hand and arm movements play a very important role.
 Most of the dances can be performed by the both young and old, and by both Time Signature and Count
sexes. (De Dios, Concordia et al., 2006) 2/4 Time signature
1, 2 or 1 & 2
Dance Terminologies
1. Arms in Lateral Position Position
2. Brush Girls – Right
3. Bleking Boys – Left
4. Clockwise Take note: Boys always start their movements or steps in their Left foot. And Girls
5. Counter clockwise starts on their Right foot.
6. Gallop
7. Polka
8. Hop
9. Kumintang
10. Leap
11. Pivot
12. Heel-place
13. Point
14. Inside foot