Peh Lecture No.1
Peh Lecture No.1
Peh Lecture No.1
WHAT IS DANCE?
⮚ dance is an art of body movement.
⮚ the movement of the body in a rhythmic way, usually to music and within a given space.
NATURE AND BRIEF HISTORY OF DANCE
⮚ To please others
⮚ To build community
Brief History
⮚ It is said that the first use of dance was as a gesture to communicate.
⮚ As an approach to courtship.
ELEMENTS OF DANCE
BODY - body awareness, use of body parts (e.g., hips, shoulders), body shapes (e.g., angular, stretched,
twisted), body bases, symmetry versus asymmetry, geometric versus organic shape, curved versus angular
shape, isolation of body parts, weight transfer.
Asymmetrical bodily shape: Unbalanced shape; movements of two sides of the body do not match or are
completely different from each other.
Symmetrical bodily shape: Balanced shape; movements are practically identical or similar on both sides.
ACTION - Action is any human movement included in the act of dancing.
SPACE
- the area that the dance performers occupy and where they move
- can be divided into four different aspects, also known as spatial elements
SPATIAL ELEMENTS
I. Direction
- The performers can go forward, backward, diagonal, circular, and so on.
II. Size
- Movements can be varied by doing smaller or larger actions.
III. Level
- Movements can be done in a high, medium, and low level.
IV. Focus
- Performers may change their focus by looking at different directions.
TIMING
- The movements in timing can be executed in varying tempo (speed).
- Performers move with tempo of an underlying sound known as beat or pulse.
ENERGY
- Movements is propelled by energy or force. This force can either initiate or stop an
action. Dance uses different energies. Varied use of these
- minimizes the monotony of the movements in the performance
QUALITIES OF DANCE ENERGIES
- Sustained- movements are done smoothly, continuously, and with flow and control.
It does not have a clear beginning and ending.
- Percussive – movements are explosive or sharp in contrast with sustained
movements. They are accented with thrust of energy. They have a clear beginning
and ending.
- Vibratory – movements consist of trembling or shaking. A faster version of
percussive movements that produces a jittery effect.
- Swinging – movements trace a curved line or an arc in space. The movements are
relaxed and giving in to gravity on the downward part of the motion, followed by an
upward application of energy.
- Suspended – movements are perched in space or hanging on air. Holding a raised
leg in any direction is an example of a suspended movement.
- Collapsing – movements are released in tension and gradually or abruptly giving in
to a gravity, letting the body descend to the floor. A slow collapse can be described as
a melting or oozing action in downward direction.