Performing Dance Activities

Benefits and Advantages in Performing Dance Activities

1. It is a form of expression: Dance is one of the activities that helps in expressing ourselves, allowing an individual to express their feelings or emotions.
2. It is a form of recreational activity: Dancing is considered one of the recreational activities, and many persons try to involve themselves in this kind of activity.
3. It is a form of exercise: Movements are a major ingredient in performing dances. Any movement performed by an individual is already a form of physical activity.
4. Affords training with self-control: Individuals who possess skills and talent in performing dances can train others who want to learn about dance.
5. It develops a good poise and postural alignment: Good posture is necessary to execute movements properly, and performing dances helps correct our postural alignment.
6. Learn Social graces: Performing dances helps develop self-confidence and allows individuals to learn social grace, aiding in personality development.
7. Gain a feeling of self-mastery and accomplishments: Your sacrifices, such as creating movements, choreography, and other parts for improvement, culminate in a masterpiece.
8. Cultivation of better taste, good habits, and ideals: Students will not only academically develop but also cultivate their talent in school.

Choreography

Definition

Choreography refers to the arrangements of the dance movements in visually appealing patterns, which may be decorative, narrative, interpretative, formed with the music, emotions, or purely inventive, and may involve stylized movements showcasing the dancers' skills.

Choreographer

A choreographer is a person who is well knowledgeable in creating dances and demonstrates expertise in the field, possessing a variety of skills needed for the better outcome of the dance.

Qualities of a Good Choreographer

1. Background and capabilities: This aspect of the choreographer deals with their experience and how long they have been engaged in this activity.
2. True understanding of the sensibility of the dance: A good choreographer is well-versed in and knows the different classifications of dance.
3. Formation and blocking: They know how to create formations and blocking to achieve a better output of the dance.
4. Do not over-choreograph: The movements should be properly arranged to match the music being used; sometimes, simplicity and uniqueness are best.
5. Length of years: This refers to the years during which the choreographer has been engaged in this particular activity.
6. Ability to understand the basic theme of the dance: A good choreographer knows how to select a theme and concept for the dance.
7. Thorough knowledge of the music: Since dances are created with a variety of movements accompanied by music, it is crucial for the choreographer to be an expert in different types of music.
8. Knowledge of the dance: The leader or choreographer should be well-versed in different kinds and types of dance.
9. Awareness of traditional forms and trends: The choreographer should be aware of traditional forms and have knowledge of a variety of styles and techniques in creating dance movements.

Introduction to Basic Concepts of Movement, Space, and Rhythm

Movement

Movement is defined as a change in position in space, governed by mechanical principles that limit an individual's ability to move effectively and efficiently.

Factors that Affect Movements

1. Psychological Factor: In dancing, it is important to consider the dancer's personality and psychological aspects.
2. Physiological Factor: The dancer's body is the main tool for performing dance; any deficiency will affect their performance.
3. Sociological Factor: This refers to the relationship of the performer to the group regarding social conformity and norms.

Types of Movements

1. Personal Space: This type of space is the maximum available to a person in a stationary position, including the space reachable by bending, twisting, rotation, or any stationary movement.
2. General Space: This refers to the area that includes one or more persons moving, such as in gymnasiums, classrooms, ballroom areas, plazas, or any other wide areas where dance performances can occur.

Elements of Space

1. Direction: This refers to movements either forward, backward, upward, downward, sideways, right, left, diagonal, or any combination of these movements.
2. Level: As the body moves in a horizontal plane, movements can be identified as high, medium, or low.
3. Range: This is the maximum reach of an individual or the size of their movements.
4. Pathways or space design: The lines or designs created in space as one moves, such as arm circling.
5. Focus: This refers to movements in relation to an object's or person's attention and direction, requiring full concentration on the movements executed by the dancers.

Elements of Musical Rhythms

1. Measure: A group of beats marked by the regular occurrence of an accent, enclosed between two adjacent bars on a musical staff.
2. Meter or underlying beat: As the body moves in a horizontal plane, it creates movements identified as high, medium, or low.
3. Phrase: A musical sentence that can be felt by listening; this can be a group of measures, generally four or eight measures.

Basic Movement Skills

Locomotion

Locomotion refers to moving through space from one place to another.

Two Types of Locomotion Movements

1. Locomotor Movements: These movements allow the body to move from one place to another, such as walking, running, jogging, leaping, and skipping.
2. Non-locomotor Movements: These movements refer to actions the body can execute while the feet remain stationary, such as bending and swaying.

Axial Movements

Axial movements refer to movements made in place.

Different Basic Movement Skills

1. Walk
   • A movement through space done by shifting weight from one foot to another while maintaining contact with the floor.
2. Run
   • A movement through space done by transferring weight from one foot to the other in a short period.
3. Hop
   • A spring on one foot, landing on the ball of the same foot.
4. Jump
   • A spring on one foot or both feet, landing on the same foot.
5. Leap
   • A transfer of weight from one foot to another, pushing off in a spring and landing on the back of the foot; executed with greater height or distance.
6. Gallop
   • A step on one foot followed by a quick close step of the other foot, moving to the back or side of the leading foot.
7. Slide
   • A quick shift of weight from one foot to the other.
8. Skip
   • A step and hop on the same foot.
9. Bow or Saludo
   • Partners bow to each other or to the audience.
10. Brush
    • Weight on one foot, swinging the free foot in an arch so that the ball of the heel strikes the floor at the lowest point of the arch.
11. Clockwise
    • A movement resembling the motion of the hands of a clock, moving in a rightward direction.
12. Counter Clockwise
    • A movement in the reverse direction of the clock, moving to the left.
13. Free Foot
    • The foot not supporting the weight of the body.
14. Free Hand
    • The hand at rest or doing nothing.
15. Kumintang
    • Moving the hand or twisting either clockwise or counterclockwise; this is an Ilokano dance term.
16. Salok
    • Scooping or swinging the arms downward and upward in front of the body, with the trunk following the movement of the scooping arm.
17. Place
    • Putting the foot in any desired position without putting weight on it.
18. Set
    • A unit of formation of two or more individuals.
19. Outside Foot
    • The foot away from one partner when standing side by side.
20. Outside Hand
    • The hand that is away from one's partner when standing side by side.

Cheer Dance

Definition

Cheerleading is an activity wherein the participants (referred to as "cheerleaders") cheer for their team as a form of encouragement. It can range from chanting slogans to intense physical activity. It can be performed to motivate sports teams, entertain the audience, or for competition. Competitive routines typically range from one to three minutes and contain components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting.

5 Common Types of Cheer Dance Teams

1. School-Sponsored
   • A school-sponsored cheer and dance team is directly affiliated with a school, requiring all members to attend that school.
2. College/University
   • College or university teams, while also school-sponsored, differ significantly from primary or high school teams. Screenings and tryouts are tougher for college-level teams.
3. Youth
   • Joining a youth-level team allows individuals to learn the basics of the sport, teamwork, sportsmanship, and other skills to become great cheer athletes in the future.
4. All-Star
   • All-Star cheer and dance teams are popular because they accept both male and female members regardless of age and skill levels. Unlike school-sponsored and collegiate teams, the primary focus is on competition.
5. Professional
   • Professional cheerleading teams are associated with professional sports teams, such as the NFL and NBA. Because these teams require a high level of skill, many professional cheerleaders will have gone through a rigorous training process.

Qualities of a Good Cheerleader

1. Focused
2. Hardworking
3. Tough
4. Fit
5. Determined
6. Team-oriented
7. Over-achiever
8. Multi-talented
9. Proud
10. Competitive
11. Grateful
12. Strong
13. Committed
14. Controlled