Physical Education 2
Rhythmic Activities
Chapter 1:
The Concept of Dance
There was a hospital that prescribed dancing to its patient. The patients responded and
there was dancing in the hospital. It was found effective; the patients sweated out and there was a
feeling of fulfillment. Dance has a therapeutic effect to the dancers. It is only hard to explain
why it gives such effect to the performers when the pure acts of stamping, jerking, jumping and
tumbling are tedious and tiresome. Yet, if the same acts are performed as accompaniment to
music, they do not simply heal some pain; they give satisfaction and success.
The therapeutic effect of dancing may reside on the movements like turning, jerking,
stepping in and out and so on. Its delightful quality is brought about by the music accompanying
the movements or movements accompanying the music or the its aspect it maybe brought about
through the simple fact that dancers are dancing. The literal meaning, “sayaw”, one will discover
its root saya - happy. Saya or happy plus the word “damson” means stretching results to dance.
Happiness in doing it and its healthy effect to the performers made dancing surpassed the
ages. Before men learned to write, before they learned to manufacture any rudiment of their
hunting tool, they worshipped their gods and in this worship dance was at the center. Technology
changed very rapidly, but man’s passion to dance did not change. It went well with time. It came
into existence at the time man inhabited the planet although this clam was almost discarded as
studies hypothesized that other forms of higher animals were seen to be dancing.
Men dance as a form of religious ceremony. They also dance to express a feeling usually
happiness. They dance as an instinctive response to music played nearby. A girl could not hold
herself from dancing on hearing any danceable tune. An old man peering down at his coffee cup
could not hold himself from tapping his fingers on the table or his feet on the floor. Dancing is
anywhere, anytime and any place. As long as there is life, there is dancing.
In this modern generation dancing is not simply performed for its qualifying effect to the
performers. Large presentations in prestigious venues are conducted and attended by dignitaries.
Ballet topped in this classification. It survived through time not simply of its effect to the ballet
dancers. It gives impact to the audience. When the dancer moves following the graceful walking
of an animal like dear, when he dramatizes the pain of Juliet before the Romeo, the audience is
drawn in and shared in the feeling expressed by the dancer. Dance gives contact both to the
dancers and onlookers.
To be more particular in this short explanation on the meaning of dance, it is an art with
these features first, it is a physical expression of feeling usually accompanied with music.
Second, it is a movement in unison with the rhythm. Third, it is unison of mind and body with a
subtle. Finally, it is a natural human way of expression.
Types of Dance
1. Folk Dance. It usually deals with traditional representation belonging to the past. Its cultural
characteristics are specific to the people of a given time and place. The people and place may not
be exact but its origin could be assumed. For instance, if the dance says something about ice
planting, then its origin could be deduced to be a rice planting place. Folk dance also has national
items particularly the costume. It is universal.
2. Ethnic Dance. It is a kind of folk dance where the theme reflects on a very specific people or
ethnic. It is specific so that viewers could immediately perceive the particular ethnic or tribe it
implies. For instance in watching the singkil dance, audience could immediately classify it as
originally developed in Mindanao because of the costume used in the dance. Then as the dance
turns, clear the observable traditional practices or some item of sovereign authority are
portrayed.
3. Creative Dance. Art experts consider this type of dance the highest; it is the sum up of every
human undertaking to produce a well defined dance. Basic movements and physical actions
could be considered dance, more particularly, if accompanied by music. But it is not a simple as
dance and music. In a creative dance, there is a well defined opening and well defined ending.
The actions are expressions of the dancers grace and refinement. Movements are counted and
measured so as to meet the expected results. In the creative dance,
for example, that picture out troubles of the Philippines as caused by factions between rebels and
military, Christian and non- Christian, the dance starts with Inang Bayan collecting flowers in an
atmosphere of extreme peace and richness of the country. Then a roaring helicopter is heard that
startles Inang Bayan; then there came the Muslim and Christian priests pulling Inang Bayan to
take her. She is tired, distorted, abused and dreadful. Slowly she gropes herself and begins to
stand up languid and feeble yet she soldiers, rebels and priests come to unite guiding Inang
Bayan to start again. The dance ends Inang Bayan retrieving her beauty and peace.
4. Gymnastic Dance. It demands vigorous movements including some stunts so that it is more
popular among boys. It looks both a dance and a form of exercise. Its effect to the performers is
so great and satisfactory.
5. Social Dance. It is basically intended for socialization and recreation purposes. There are
fundamental steps to be followed. Its beauty is well demonstrated by the gracefulness of the
performers. Examples are waltz, cha-cha, paso-doble and others.
6. Modern Dance. Isadora Duncan started some dance movements that deviated from the old
ballet. Her style was well emphasized on the movements that began from the Center of the body.
7. Recreational Dance. An informal type usually performed in a party when dance is performed
for the sake of dancing. It is a mixed of various patterns and combinations.
8. Singing Dance. It is performed in accordance with the rhythm of the music. Its steps are
simple yet it requires skill and enough training to develop the meaning of the rhythm into a
dance.
Nature of Philippine Folk Dance
Disco in a party, dance contest usually interpretative and other type of popular dance which
is either a form of exercise because of some stunts yet cannot be classified as gymnastic dance
now zest of the contemporary dance performance. Along with this modern feature of dance, there
is what is called nobility songs where the existence is very short.
Generation belonging to this type of dance performance could only see Philippine folk
dances are tapestry of Filipino sentiments, creativeness and feelings. A scholar who wants to go
deeper into the culture of the Filipinos could study the folk dances. The body movements in
dances tell the nation’s ideals, thoughts, feelings and mores. These dances adhere to the famous
Reader’s Digest line which says, “if you want to understand the culture of the people, then listen
to their folk songs and look at their dances and don’t pay attention to their politicians.”
To make this more concrete and particular listed below are facts why folk dances are included
in the Physical Education curriculum.
• Dances belonging to the people embody culture; they are studied so that today’s generation or
the future could see their identity and eventually developed nationalism.
• Children would appreciate the folk dances more if these are available to them.
• For posterity, as a form of assessment concerning the growth of Filipino culture; it tells which
one is discarded or preserved, which one could be considered naturally developed or adopted
from other people.
Special Features of Philippine Folk Dance
• Generally Philippine folk dances are performed in pairs, although they are also performed in a
troupe.
• Most of the times, movements are supported by the hands.
• Like most national dances of other countries, the Philippines folk dances start and end with
bow.
• Some folk dances of the Philippines embody foreign influences of the Filipino people notably
those produced in the urban or lowland areas.
• There are dances that picture out tribal war. These types are mostly produced in the nonChristian areas of the Philippines.