Introduction to Dance

1. Chapter 1
Introduction to Dance
Mr. Anthony F. Balatar Jr.
Subject Instructor
PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH 12

2. BRIEF HISTORY AND NATURE OF DANCE
What is dance?
Dance focuses primarily on “an aesthetic or even
entertaining experience”. People still dance mainly
for four reasons: (a) to please the gods, (b) to
please others, (c) to please themselves or self –
expression, and (d) to build community within an
ethnic group of social interaction.
-Myers, 2005

3. BRIEF HISTORY AND NATURE OF DANCE
What is dance?
- A series of body movements that are done
accompanied by a music. It is a major form of
religious ritual and social expression within primitive
cultures. It was used as a way of expressing and
reinforcing tribal unity and strength, as an
approach for courtship and mating, as means of
worship, communication and therapeutic
experience.

4. BRIEF HISTORY AND NATURE OF DANCE
What is the purpose of dancing?
- to entertain
- to perform
- to express
- to communicate
- to become healthy
- to introduce

5. BRIEF HISTORY AND NATURE OF DANCE
Do you know where dances come from?
- Dances thrived at different periods of history
and mostly were a result of intercultural exchange
and contact (Alejandro & Santos – Gana, 2002).
- “Man danced originally to supplicate the gods
on all important occasions of life.” (Kraus and
Gaufman, 1981)

6. BRIEF HISTORY AND NATURE OF DANCE
Do you know where dances come from?
A. Pre – Christian Era
- dance became full blown and was richly
recorded in ancient Egypt. It was reflected in their
wall paintings, reliefs, and in the literary record in
hieroglyphs. Most of the dances during this era
chiefly a medium of religious expression.

7. BRIEF HISTORY AND NATURE OF DANCE
Do you know where dances come from?
B. Ancient Greeks
- Dance was taught as an aid to military
education among the boys in Athens and Sparta. It
was not just for religious and military training but
also a form of entertainment and display.

8. BRIEF HISTORY AND NATURE OF DANCE
Do you know where dances come from?
B. Ancient Greeks
- Dance was also used in education. Greek
philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle and Socrates
strongly supported this art as integration of the
body and soul. Plato highlighted the two kinds of
dance and music: (a) noble – fine and honorable,
and (b) ignoble – imitating what is mean or ugly.

9. BRIEF HISTORY AND NATURE OF DANCE
Do you know where dances come from?
C. Ancient Rome
- Dance became brutal and sensationalized as
their entertainers were slaves and captives from
nationalities and it was used more often for
gruesome purposes. Dance eventually became an
integral part of the corruption in the latter days of
the Roman Empire, resulting in the condemnation
dance by the Early Christians.

10. BENEFITS OF DANCE ANDCREATIVE MOVEMENT
PHYSICAL
- develops cardiovascular and muscular endurance
- improves coordination, balance, flexibility and
body composition
- lowers risk of cardiovascular diseases
- lowers body mass index
- lowers resting heart rate
- improves lipid metabolism
- enables joint mobility (hip motion and spine flexibility)
- helps improve and maintain bone density
- helps recover coordination and neuromuscular skills

11. BENEFITS OF DANCE ANDCREATIVE MOVEMENT
MENTAL/EMOTIONAL
- helps keep the brain sharp
- decreases incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s
disease
- decreases depressive symptoms
- increases self – esteem and improves body image
- aids in releasing emotional and physical tension

12. BENEFITS OF DANCE ANDCREATIVE MOVEMENT
SOCIAL
- gives sense of togetherness within a group
- encourages positive social interaction and
interpersonal relationship in a group
- contributes to the individual’s potential for self –
actualization in society
CULTURAL
-promotes cultural values

13. ACTIVITY #1
“Dancing on my Own”
- Create an original “Tik-tok dance steps” accompanied
by your favorite dance music. A piece may last up to 20 –
30 seconds. You may group yourself into to 2 or 3
members.

14. ACTIVITY #2
“Know my message!”
- Watch a certain dance performance of any individual
or group performers in YouTube. Then, analyze and look
its purpose and message portrayed to the viewers.