DANCE

 Is an expression of the body, following rhythmic

patterns, and is usually accompanied by music.
 People still dance mainly for four reasons:
a. To please gods
b. To please others
c. To please themselves or self –expression
d. To build community within an ethnic group
or social interaction
 BENEFITS OF DANCE
1. Physical
 Good way to develop your cardiovascular
and muscular endurance
 Improves coordination, balance, flexibility,
and body composition
 Helps improve bone density, thus helps
prevent osteoporosis
2. Mental/ Emotional
Helps keep the brain sharp
Decreases depressive symptoms
Increases self-esteem and improves
body image
Aids in releasing emotional and physical
tension
3. Social
Gives sense of togetherness within a group
Encourages positive social interaction and
interpersonal relationship in a group

4. Cultural
Promotes cultural values
 ELEMENTS OF DANCE
Space- direction, size, level, and focus
Time
Energy
2OTH CENTURY MODERN
DANCE
AND
BALLET

“The body says what words

cannot.” -- Martha Graham
 MODERN DANCE
is a style of dancing where dancers
are free to express their feelings through
movements without adhering to any
rules in dance particularly that of ballet.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERN
DANCE
 Interpretative instead of using sets of steps and
dance books
Looks improvised
 Loose movement and gravity plays an important
role
 Tells a story through the dance
Use motions, props, music, and lights to show
emotions
 Costumes were important to the overall dance
 BALLET
 The word ballet was taken from the Italian word
ballare, meaning to dance.
 It was in the 15th century during Renaissance period
when ballet began in Italy.
 A system of dance based on formalized movements
and positions of the arms, feet, and body designed to
enable the dancer to move with the greatest possible
agility, control, speed, lightness, and grace.
BASIC DANCE POSITIONS IN BALLET
Classical Ballet
Modern Dance
 Modern Dance
 Do a lot of floor work and
choreography on the
ground
 C-Shaped spine
 Barefoot or light shoes
 Heavy movements
 Costumes made to show
movement
Ballet
 Upright choreography
like leaps and turns
 Erect spine
 Point shoes or ballet
slippers/ballet shoes
 Light on their feet
 Elegant structured
costumes to show beauty
The Pioneers
of
Modern Dance
 RUTH ST. DENIS & TED SHAWN (1877-1960)
 Created a dance wherein she
portrayed an Egyptian
goddess.
 Founded Ruth St. Denis
School of Dancing and
Related Arts
 Denishawn Company
 MARTHA GRAHAM (1894-1991)
 American dancer and choreographer
 Learned to dance at Denishawn Studio
in NYC
 She danced and choreographed for
over 70 years.
 Founded her own dance company
“Martha Graham Dance Company,
technique, and theatre founded in
1926.
 ISADORA DUNCAN (1877-1927)
 American dancer
 Accrediting with
inventing “modern dance”
 “Her dances appeared
natural and so free-
flowing that it looked like
it was being created on
the spot”
 MARIE LOUISE FULLER
(1862-1928)
 She was an American actress
and dancer who was a pioneer
of both modern
dance and theatrical
lighting techniques
 Multicolored lights on silk
“The dancer’s body is simply the
luminous manifestation of the soul”

--Isadora Duncan