reviewer for 1st quarter, Lecture notes of Performing arts

Download reviewer for 1st quarter and more Lecture notes Performing arts in PDF only on Docsity! REVIEWER IN PEH 3 Brief History and Nature of Dance ❖ Dance is a form of human movement that involves the combination of physical motion and artistic expression. It allows for personal and cultural storytelling, while also engaging the body in various patterns, energies, and rhythms. ❖ Dance, an art of body movement, is integral to human expression and culture. As Barbara Mettler describes, it serves multiple purposes—recreation, entertainment, education, therapy, and religious expression. Unlike athletic activities, dance focuses on aesthetic and emotional experiences. Prehistoric and Early Civilizations: In prehistoric times, dance was often performed to appease natural forces or gain power. It was during the pre-Christian era, particularly in ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern civilizations, that dance became more formalized. In Egypt, dance was richly depicted in their art, including wall paintings and hieroglyphs. Greek Influence: The ancient Greeks highly valued dance, using it in military training, entertainment, and as an educational tool. Philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates saw dance as an integration of body and soul. Roman Decline of Dance: As Rome grew more powerful, the art of dance became less significant, often brutalized and performed by slaves for entertainment. Dance was eventually condemned by early Christians due to its association with Roman excesses. Medieval Period: During the Dark and Early Middle Ages, despite the Church's disapproval, performers like singers, dancers, and musicians continued to entertain the public in village squares. These performances evolved into social dancing, which became popular among the common people and later adopted by the nobility as court dances. Renaissance and Beyond: In the Renaissance, creative expression flourished, and entertainers became valued in the courts of Italy and France. Court dances, particularly ballet, rose to prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries. From ballet, contemporary dance forms evolved, and various dance styles spread across the globe, enriching the diversity of dance as an art form. Benefits of Dance Physical Benefits ✓ Improves cardiovascular and muscular endurance. ✓ Enhances coordination, balance, flexibility, and body composition. ✓ Lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases and body mass index (BMI). ✓ Reduces resting heart rate and improves lipid metabolism. ✓ Increases joint mobility and maintains bone density, helping prevent osteoporosis. ✓ Aids in recovering coordination and neuromuscular skills after injury. Mental/Emotional Benefits ✓ Sharpens the brain and decreases the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. ✓ Reduces depressive symptoms and enhances self-esteem and body image. ✓ Helps release emotional and physical tension. Reasons People Dance ✓ To please gods (spiritual/ritual). ✓ To please others (performance). ✓ For self-expression and enjoyment. ✓ To build social connections and community interaction. Elements of Dance To create expressive and meaningful dance, the choreographer makes decisions about movement based on three core elements: Space, Energy, and Time. These elements shape the look, flow, and timing of dance, allowing for creative and unique movements. 1. Space involves the overall design of movement, including where it occurs and its size and shape • Size: Movements can range from small to large (e.g., tiny steps or large lunges). • Level: Movements can occur at different heights, from high to low (e.g., arms reaching up or down). • Shape: The body creates different forms in space (e.g., curved or straight). • Direction: The body moves in different directions, such as forward, backward, or sideways. • Pathway: The path a body follows while moving through space (e.g., straight, zigzag, or circular). • Relationships: Proximity to others or objects, exploring closeness or distance. 2. Energy (Force) refers to the flow and intensity of motion, shaping the expressiveness of movement. • Force: The energy behind movement can be strong or light (e.g., a punch vs. a floating motion). • Weight: Movements can feel heavy or light based on their relationship to gravity. • Quality: The texture or flow of energy in motion (e.g., smooth, sharp, swinging). • Stillness: The absence of motion, which can be either active (filled with energy) or passive (fully relaxed). 3. Time refers to the speed and rhythm of movement. • Speed: The rate of movement (e.g., slow, fast, acceleration, or deceleration). • Rhythm: The underlying pattern that organizes movement and gives it structure, similar to music. Vocabulary List 1. Force – The use of energy while moving. 2. Space – The area covered by dance movements, including aspects like shape, level, direction, and pathways. o Shape – The design of the body in space. o Level – The distance from the floor (low, middle, high). o Direction – Forward, backward, sideways, up, down. o Pathway – Patterns the body makes as it moves through space or on the floor. 3. Time – The speed or tempo of the movement, whether fast or slow, and the rhythm or duration of the motion. o Rhythm – The underlying pattern that gives order to music and dance. o Tempo – How fast or slow movements occur. 4. Locomotor Movements – Movements that involve traveling from one point to another, such as walking, running, skipping, hopping, jumping, sliding, leaping, and galloping. 5. Non-Locomotor Movements – Movements that occur in place, such as bending, stretching, twisting, and swinging. 6. Size – The range of shapes and movements, from small to big. 7. Relationships – The proximity or interaction of the dancer with other people, objects, or space. 8. Weight – Refers to the dancer's relationship to gravity; how heavy or light the movement feels. 9. Quality – The flow of energy in movement, which can be smooth, sharp, fluid, or abrupt. 10. Speed – The rate at which movements occur; can be slow, fast, or change (accelerate or decelerate). 11. Genre - A category of artistic composition defined by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. 12. Style - A distinctive way of performing or presenting something. 13. Ballroom - A collection of partner dances, enjoyed both socially and competitively worldwide. 14. Ballet - A formal dance style with precise steps and gestures, typically performed to music. 15. Folkdance - Traditional dance passed down within a culture or community. 16. Hip-hop - A dance style originating from Black and Hispanic communities in the U.S., often set to rap and electronic music. 17. Lyrical - A dance style blending elements of ballet, jazz, acrobatics, and modern dance. 18. Contemporary - A dance form influenced by jazz music, emerging from Black American culture in the early 20th century. 19. Modern - A free, expressive dance style developed in the early 20th century as a reaction to classical ballet. Dance Genres and Their Characteristics Ballet ✓ Features tutus, pointe shoes, and men in tights. ✓ Known as the most difficult genre, serving as a foundational style for dance training. ✓ Performed to orchestrated music, often the first dance experience for children. ✓ Requires progression from ballet shoes to pointe shoes around age 12 with teacher approval. ✓ Combines technique, coordination, and musicality. Tap ✓ Described as "musical feet," using the feet as percussive instruments. ✓ Dancers wear tap shoes with metal plates for sound. ✓ Includes various styles, notably Rhythm Tap (musically driven) and Broadway Tap (movement-oriented). ✓ Fosters rhythm, turning dancers’ feet into instruments. Jazz ✓ The most popular dance style, combining elements from various dance forms. ✓ High-energy and often accompanied by upbeat, popular music. ✓ Dancers wear leather split-sole jazz shoes for flexibility. ✓ Known for dramatic themes and dynamic choreography. Modern ✓ Developed as a rebellion against classical ballet. ✓ Focuses on the dancer's relationship with the floor, incorporating contractions and release. ✓ Offers a variety of shoe options for foot protection and freedom. ✓ Shares complexity with ballet in technique, coordination, and musicality. Lyrical ✓ Merges elements of ballet, jazz, and modern dance. ✓ Emphasizes conveying feelings and emotions through movement. ✓ Set to popular songs with deeper emotional themes. ✓ Lyrical shoes provide protection while allowing dancers to connect with the floor. Hip-hop ✓ An edgy, raw urban dance style, also known as Street Dance. ✓ Originates from popping, locking, and crumping, typically danced to rap and hip- hop music. ✓ Dancers often wear funky, high-top sneakers. ✓ Freestyle in nature, allowing for personal expression and innovation. Contemporary ✓ Combines elements of ballet, modern, jazz, and lyrical dance. ✓ Uses ballet techniques as fundamentals but breaks away from strict rules. ✓ Includes categories like Contemporary Ballet and Contemporary Jazz. ✓ Can be danced to various music styles and often features non-traditional costumes. Ballroom ✓ A partner dance characterized by step-patterns and rhythmic movement. ✓ Consists of two styles: Smooth (Standard) and Rhythm (Latin). ✓ Smooth focuses on elegance and fluidity, while Rhythm emphasizes energy and flair. ✓ Includes various dances such as Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, and more. Folkdance ✓ The oldest form of dance rooted in traditional activities of a culture. ✓ Evolves naturally and spontaneously, reflecting everyday life. Cultural Dance ✓ Unique to cultures around the world, these folk dances represent historical practices. ✓ Symbolizes the importance of expression through dance, offering a beautiful experience of cultural heritage.