TERTIARY LEARNING MODULE

1st Semester A.Y. 2024-2025

I. MODULE TITLE: INTRODUCTION OF PATHFIT 3 MENU OF DANCE
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TOWARDS HEALTH AND FITNESS - 3

 Define dancing as an art and as a recreational activity;

 Discuss elements and benefits of dance
II. LEARNING OBJECTIVE:  Perform simple dance routine
 Appreciate the importance of the elements of dance in creating a dance
routine.

III. INSTRUCTOR: ALEX IVAN G. FALLORIN, LPT

IV. WEEK COVERAGE: Week 1-2
V. COURSES:

INTRODUCTION
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Dances as an art form, tradition, self-expression and recreation despite their differences have
elements in common. Upon learning these elements of dance, you will be able to develop a better
understanding on how the dances are created and create a simple dance artwork of your own.

Dance provides numerous functions in a society. People experience dance in different ways and
for many different reasons. Most people are aware of dance as a performing art on stage, on screen, and
in media, but dancing can also be a social activity, a form of physical fitness, or a prime means of
expressing cultural heritage and identity. Historically, dance was often performed in rituals, worship,
social celebrations, and as a means of entertainment and self-expression. Today, dance is still a part of
traditional events but also an element of new innovative performing experiences.
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Dance is the most ephemeral of all the arts although improvements in video technology have
affected the way we presently record and observe dance. Uniquely, dance is also accessible to many
people because one only needs a body to create art through movement. Although dancing is the most
common way people interact with the art of dance, other dance experiences include choreographing,
viewing, and analysing dance.

The goal of dance education is to inform and enable students to appreciate and participate in
various aspects of dancing: creating/choreographing, performing, and responding to dance. Students
learn the craft of choreography, giving them an opportunity to become creative artists, as they practice
using a variety of choreographic tools and devices. Learning how to understand and interpret dance
performances can open the door to a lifetime of involvement with dancing. When students are given
opportunities to watch dance performances, live or on video, this helps them define what makes dance
movement interesting, meaningful, or artistic to them.

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Elements of Dance

BODY

The body is the medium used by the dancer in expressing his/her craft. This element answers the
question "What is the body part that can be used to create shapes, figure and dance actions?"
The following body parts can be used in creating lines and shapes for different dance movements:

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These body parts can be in different shapes such as straight arms, curved lower back, twisted torso, etc.
The body can be rounded, angular, or a combination of both. The different body shapes can be made by
means of body parts, individuals to groups or body parts to objects.
Moreover, the shapes can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.

a. Symmetrical- balanced shape; movements are practically identical or similar on both sides. TCSF

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 b. Asymmetrical- unbalanced shape; movements of two sides of the body do not match or
completely different from each other.

ACTION

It is any bodily movement involved in dancing. It can be in a form of gestures, facial expression,s and V. M
movement skills.

BASIC MOVEMENTS SKILLS IN DANCE

A. Non-locomotor Movements- are movements that are done in stationary place.

o Bend or flex
o Lift or raise
o Stretch or extend
o Twist
o Circle
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o Swing
o Turn or rotate
o Flexion
o Extension
o Collapse
o Recover
o Pivot
o Curl-up

B. Locomotor Movements- are movements that bring performers from one place to another.
Preparatory movements for locomotor
o Point - toes touching the floor, knees extend
o Step - a transfer of weight from one foot to another

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 o Place - touching the floor with the whole of the foot (with slight weight on it)
o Spring - to push off the leg/s in the air

Types of locomotor - Movements

o Walk
o Run
o Gallop
o Slide-step
o Crabwalk
o Roll
o Hop- a spring on one foot and landing on the same foot
o Skip- a step and hop
o Leap- a spring on one foot and landing on the other foot
o Jump- a spring on both feet and landing on one or both feet

The different movement skills such as locomotor and non-locomotor movements can be used and
combined in creating a dance choreography. But where are these dance actions going to take place?
The most elements will be discussing where these movements can be performed.

SPACE V. M
This is the area the performers occupy and where they move. It can be divided into four different
aspects also known as spatial elements.
1. Direction- dance movements can travel in any directions. The performers can go forward, side,
backward, diagonal, circular, and so on.
2. Level- movements can be done in a high, medium, or low level.
3. Size-movements can be varied by doing large or small actions.
4. Focus- performers may change their focus by looking at different directions

TIME
Dance movements can be executed at varying beats. The timing can be fast or slow, with pauses or
silent beats, or even syncopated.
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ENERGY
Different levels of energy can be incorporated into the dance choreography to make the dance art
dynamic. Dance movements can be sharp or smooth, strong or light, free flowing or with sudden stops,
powerful or gentle, etc.

BENEFITS OF DANCE AS A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

1. INCREASED PHYSICAL STRENGTH

- Perhaps the most obvious benefit of dancing is increased physical strength. Dancing can be an
enjoyable way to get your body moving and keep your heart racing. Dancing is one of the few
activities that offers a full body workout. Dancing allows you to work your legs, core, and arms

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 all at the same time. Dancing provides a high-intensity, low-impact workout without the
monotony of counting reps or doing sets.

2. INCREASED FLEXIBILITY

- Another great physical benefit of dance is improved flexibility. Dance enables you to move
your body in ways that may not be typical in your day to day life. This allows you to build your
range of motion and give your muscles a good stretch. Even if your dance program doesn't start
with a warm-up stretch, you'll most likely find that after a few classes you're a little more
limber than you were before.

3. IMPROVED HEART AND LUNG HEALTH

- Dance also improves your heart health and lung capacity. Your heart rate and breathing rate
both increase while dancing. There are many long term health benefits to getting an extra
cardiovascular workout. Keeping your body active can help to keep yourself young and fight
the aging process.

4. IMPROVED BALANCE AND SPACIAL AWARENESS

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- Improved balance and spatial awareness can also be a by-product of dancing. Dancing requires
a bodily awareness that helps to improve these skills. Being more aware of our bodies can make
us more aware of the ways our bodies move within a space. The focus on good posture and core
strengthening in dance can improve your balance.

5. STRONGER BONES AND REDUCED RISK OF OSTEOPOROSIS

- Dancing is one of the best ways you can prevent and even treat osteoporosis. Weight bearing
exercises, or forms of exercise that force your body to fight against gravity, have been shown to
be effective ways of strengthening your bones. The increase in strength and balance can also
help to prevent falls and broken bones.
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6. IMPROVED MEMORY

- The benefits of dance aren't just physical. Dancers also get a mental workout. Remembering
dance steps and patterns gives dancers a memory boost. Focusing on different parts of the body
simultaneously also gives dancers a mental challenge. This mental workout helps the mind to
stay sharp.

7. INCREASED CONFIDENCE

- One of the biggest benefits of dance is increased confidence. Learning and mastering a new
skill, in general, is great for your confidence. It can give you a sense of accomplishment and
pride. Dance also has the bonus of learning to move your body in beautiful new ways.

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 8. REDUCED STRESS

- Dancing can be a great stress reliever. It reduces the levels of cortisol, also known as the stress
hormone, in your body while giving you an endorphin boost. Many people leave dance class
feeling almost elated. Attending an evening dance class can be a great creative outlet and leave
you feeling refreshed and ready for work the next day.

9. SOCIAL CONNECTION

- Another wonderful benefit of dance is an increased social connection. Both solo and partner
dance can be a great way to meet new people. It can establish connections if you just moved or
relocated. Even if you've lived in the same place.

10. HIGHER RATES OF SUCCESS FOR GETTING IN SHAPE

- Many people who join a dance class with the intent of getting in shape find that they have
higher success rates than those who just hit the gym. Part of this may be the network of other
dancers you connect with when you dance, and another part could just be pure fun.

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Popular Types of Dance

Dance has been a part of human culture since the very earliest communities and civilisations, with
recorded evidence of dancing being found dating back to 30,000 years ago. Since then, different dances
have changed, merged and evolved into what we know today as the most well-known dance genres.

Here is a list of the most popular types of dance:

1. Ballet

- Tutus, pointe shoes and men in tights are what come to mind when someone mentions ballet.
Yet Ballet is so much more than that. Said to be the most difficult genre to master, ballet is a TCSF
rigorous style of dance that is the foundation of most forms of dance training. It is usually set,
but not limited to, orchestrated music and is often the first dance style a child will experience as
they begin their dance classes. Ballet shoes are usually worn until the dancer's feet have
developed enough strength to progress into pointe shoes, often happens around the age of 12
and only after the students have been given permission by their teacher. Ballet is an excellent
teaching tool for all dancers as it is a complex mixture of technique, coordination and
musicality.

2. Tap

- Tap is best described as "musical feet". Tap is a form of dance where dancers use their feet as
percussive instruments. Tap shoes are that are specially designed with percussive metal plates
on the toe and heel, called taps. There are many different styles of tap dancing however the two

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 most noted are Rhythm Tap and Broadway Tap. Rhythm Tap is more musically driven, where
Broadway Tap is more dance and movement-oriented. Tap is great for fostering rhythm in
dancers, as it turns their feet into a musical instrument.

3. Jazz

- Jazz is the most popular style of dance among dancers. Jazz combines all dance styles in a high
energetic dance that is without conventional boundaries. It has been influenced by ballet,
modern, tap, hip-hop, African dance and many more styles. Jazz is most often accompanied by
upbeat, currently popular songs. Jazz shoes typically have a leather split sole which offers the
dancers foot more freedom to bend and move. Due to the upbeat music, dramatic themes and
cool choreography, it isn't hard to see why this is the most popular dance style.

4. Modern

- Modern was said to be first created as a rebellion against classical ballet. A raw style of dance,
modern dance is an expression on the dancers' relationship to the floor, including methods of
contractions, release and movement, as well as the dancers of breath. Modern dancers have a
variety of shoes to choose from that allow freedom in the foot while providing protection from
the floor. Though its roots are in opposition to the seemingly oppressive rigor for classical V. M
ballet, modern and ballet are complexity of technique, coordination and musicality closely
linked in the

5. Lyrical

- Though the basis of lyrical dance is ballet merged with jazz and modern. It is dynamic while
simultaneously subtle and focuses on conveying feelings and emotions through movement. Set
to popular songs that emphasize deeper feeling and emotion, such as grief, longing, love and
despair. Lyrical shoes provide protection for the dancer while allowing them to feel the dance
floor as much as possible. Though proper dance techniques are important, the true heart of
lyrical is found in its expressive nature.
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6. Hip Hop

- Hip Hop is an edgy, raw and intense urban dance style also known as Street Dance. The origin
of popping, locking and crumping, Hip Hop is mostly danced to rap, urban and not surprisingly,
hip hop music. Funky, high-top dance sneakers are normally worn by dancers. What sets Hip
Hop apart from most dance genres is that its original street dance was freestyle in nature and
did not follow a predefined choreography. A style of dance that is open to personal expression,
Hip hop artists were free to interpret the dance in any way they could, and this lead to many
innovative and exciting dance styles.

7. Contemporary

- Contemporary dance embodies ballet, modern, jazz and lyrical. It uses a technique such as

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 ballet as its fundamentals and creates many more movements that do not adhere to the strict
rules of ballet and modern. There are different categories of contemporary dance such as
Contemporary Ballet and Contemporary Jazz. Contemporary dance can be danced to all types
of music and in non-traditional costumes. Contemporary dancers often wear lyrical dance
shoes, and sometimes no shoes at all.

8. Ballroom

- Ballroom dancing is a partnership dance where couples, using step-patterns, move

rhythmically, expressing the characteristics of music. Ballroom dancing consists of two styles:
the Smooth, or Standard, and the Rhythm, or Latin. The Smooth, Standard style focuses on the
elegance, grace and fluidity of movement. Dancers rotate in a counter clockwise direction,
moving around the entire floor. The couple is constantly moving on the dance floor,
transitioning from one place to the next in a fixed pattern.

- The Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz and Quickstep are danced in this manner. The
Rhythm, Latin style focuses on a display of vibrant energy and a personal flair. The couple's
dancing pattern is syncopated to the rhythm of the music. The couple usually dances in one spot
of the dance floor. Included in this style are the East Coast Swing, Jive, Rumba, Bolero, Cha
Cha, Mambo, Samba and Paso Doble. V. M

9. Folkdance

Folk dances share some or all of the following attributes:

 Dances are usually held at folk dance gatherings or social functions by people with little or no
professional training, often to traditional music.
 Dances not generally designed for public performance or the stage, though they may later be
arranged and set for stage performances.
 Execution dominated by an inherited tradition from various international cultures rather than
innovation (though folk traditions change over time).
 New dancers often learn informally by observing others or receiving help from others. TCSF

- More controversially, some people define folk dancing as dancing for which there is no
governing body or dancing for which there are no competitive or professional institutions. The
term "folk dance" is sometimes applied to dances of historical importance in European culture
and history; typically originating before the 20th century. For other cultures the terms "ethnic
dance" or "traditional dance" are sometimes used, although the latter terms may encompass
ceremonial dances.

- There are a number of modern dances, such as hip hop dance, that evolve spontaneously, but
the term "folk dance" is generally not applied to them, and the terms "street dance" or
"vernacular dance" are used instead. The term "folk dance" is reserved for dances which are to
a significant degree bound by tradition and originated in the times when the distinction existed
between the dances of "common folk" and the dances of the modern ballroom dances originated

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from folk ones.

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