PHILTECH INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY INC.
SUBJECT: PHYSICAL EDUCATION 03
WEEK 3 and 4 ( SEPTEMBER 7- 19, 2020)
LESSON 2: Elements of Dance
TOPICS: Elements of Dance
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this session, you will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a nuanced understanding of collaboration in the creative process through
leadership, participation and reflection.
2. Develop a multifaceted physicality through training in dance techniques.
3. Apply variety of value systems, aesthetics and approaches to performing.
LET’S START:
ELEMENTS OF DANCE Nancy Johnson Barker 2007
SPACE - the space we move through as we dance.
Shape - the design of the body: open/closed, symmetrical/asymmetrical,angular/curved (individual and
group shapes)
Focus – audience (where viewer’s eye is drawn) -dancer (single focus – looking in direction of
movement; multi-focus – changing head/eye focus during movements).
Size - use of size in given space or range of motion.
Level - the vertical distance from the floor (high, medium or low)
Direction - forward, backwards, up, down, diagonal
Pathways - patterns we make as we move across the floor: straight, curved
TIME - the relationship of one movement to another.
Rhythm - a pattern of beats
Tempo – steady beat, fast or slow (the speed of the movement)
Duration - the length of time the movement lasts
Pulse - accented beat or heartbeat of the rhythm
Phrases - longer sequences of movement
ENERGY or FORCE - the use of more or less energy while moving.
Tension/relaxation - tension feels hard and tight, relaxation feels soft, loose and floppy,
(soft/hard, light/heavy, sharp/smooth).
Bound Flow/Free Flow - when energy is released in a controlled, restrained manner it is bound flow;
when energy is released freely the movement is free flow.
Weight - strength (force) or lightness.
Bodily Shape-It refers to how the entire body is molded in space or the configuration of body parts. The
body can be rounded, angular, or combination of two. Other body shapes can be form wide to narrow and
from high to low. They can be symmetrical and asymmetrical.
a. symmetrical- balanced shape; movements are practically identical or similar on both
sides.
b. asymmetrical- unbalanced shape; movement of two sides of the body do not match or
completely different from each other.
Group Shapes- a group of dancers perform movements in different groups shapes. They are arrange in
ways that are wide, narrow, rounded, angular, symmetrical or asymmetrical and viewed together as a total
picture or arrangement within a picture frame.
Activity: Let’s try these!
Activity 1: Watch Pandanggo sa ilaw (candle dance). Observe and identify the elements of used. Answer
the following question. (25pts)
a. Space- What are the direction used? Does it shift from side to side? Move from high to low?
Travel from one spot to another? Have a straight or curved path?
b. Timing- Was it fast or slow? Does it ever really stop? Was the rhythmic structure ever or
uneven? Does it go with or oppose the music?
c. Dance energies- what were the qualities of energies used? Was it sustained, vibratory,
percussive, suspended, swigging, or collapsing? Were the movements bound or free.
d. Bodily Shape- What kind of bodily shapes used? Was it rounded, angular or combination of
two? Was t symmetrical?
e. Was it wide, narrow, rounded, angular?Was it symmetrical or asymmetrical.
Evaluation: Let’s check your understanding!
Matching Type: write the letter of the correct answer in the space provided.
A B
b__1. Direction a. use of size in given space
a__2. Size b. forward,backward,up,down,diagonal
c__3.Level c .the vertical distance from the floor
e__4.Pulse d. a pattern of beats
f__5.Duration e. accented beat or heartbeat of the rhythm
d__6.rhythm f. the length of time the movement lasts
h___7. Phrases g. feels hard and tights
g___8. Tension h. longer sequences of movement
j____9. Asymmetrical i. unbalanced shape
i____10. Symmetrical j. balanced shape
k.strength or lightness
Reflection:
SO WHAT? Now that you’ve learned about the element of dance. Describe
yourself/personality by using the element of dance. (10pts)
