Unit II – Elements of Rhythm and Dance  This underlying beat determines

the time signature of a piece of

music of movements.
RHYTHM 2. Measure
 Refers to the identical grouping
 The measure of movement or variation of underlying beats.
characterized by the regular recurrence or  This group of notes is between
alteration of elements or features such as sounds, two bar lines.
beats, and patterns. 3. Rhythmic Pattern
o In sound, it is present in songs, musical  A definite grouping of sounds or
instrument and the like. beats related to the underlying
o In beats, it is present through dance beat.
(dancers move with the rhythm of the  A pattern or unequal sounds or
music). beats must fit within or
o In patterns, it can be observed in the underlying beats.
visual arts like painting, architectural  Sometimes called as melody
designs, sculpture, etc. pattern because the rhythmic
pattern follows the words of
RHYTHMS melody.
 According to C.T. Andin and P.L. Minas (2004)  There is a relationship between
o “a term which denotes an aspect of a the word pattern, rhythmic
pattern, and underlying beat.
quality of movement that is sometimes
4. Phrasing
thought of a dance”
 A musical phrase is a group of
o “when an individual move in response
measures that gives the feeling
to a particular rhythm or music, we call
of unity.
the movements as rhythmic movements
 Can be linked to a sentence or
or rhythms”
an idea
 These are simple body movements in response
 Learning to identify phrases is
to music like tapping of the feet and hands and
essential to learning and
snapping and movement of the head.
creating dances.
 The end of the phrase may
suggest a change in direction of
NOTE VALUES AND NOTE PATTERNS movement.
 Knowledge in this is important because it 5. Accent
facilitates to a great extent of the attainment of  The force or emphasis given to
rhythmic skills. any one beat in a series of pulse
o Whole note beats in a measure.
6. Tempo
o Half note
 The rate of speed of movement,
o Quarter note
music or accompaniment.
o Eighth note  May be as fast as in running,
o Sixteenth note may be moderate as in walking,
 A dot (.) after a note receives one half of the or may be as an ordinary sliding
value of the note before it 7. Intensity
 The quality of movement or
music.
ELEMENTS OF RHYTHM
 All movements are affected by the elements of
the rhythm and these elements are the following: ELEMENTS OF DANCE
1. Underlying Beat or Pulse Beat 1. Theme
 The steady continuous sound - the main story line of the dance
that is hear or felt throughout - tells what the dance is all about
any rhythmical sequence. - could be a love theme, futuristic, spiritual,
 Exists in all movements etc.
2. Movements
 - the dance steps and basic body movements 15. Breathing
requires of a particular dance - Crucial to dance
3. Technique - It brings oxygen to the body and gives
- a system of movements performed by a movement fluency and harmony
dancer - An expressive tool
- developed through constant practice
4. Choreography ELEMENTS OF MOVEMENT SPACE
- the organization of the movements and  An understanding of the space element that
figures in the dance affects movement is very important. These
- makes use of the theme and movement elements are the following:
dance steps 1. Direction
5. Music a. The line of movement taken which
- gives life to dance may be forward, backward,
- should be in accordance to the theme and sideward, diagonal and upward or a
pattern of movements of the dance combination of those mentioned
6. Accessories, Costumes and Properties 2. Level
- Accessories are what the dancers wear such a. Movement through space that may
as the earrings, necklace, etc. be done at a high, low or medium
- Costume refers to what the dancers should level
wear 3. Range
- Properties refer to the things held and used a. The area covered as the body moves
by the dancer b. May be small as when the
7. Scenery movement is done in one’s space, or
- Denotes the background on stage large when movement covers a wide
- Completes the whole setting of the dance area as when getting away from
- Involves back draft of the stage, and the one’s place
properties placed on stage 4. Floor Pattern
8. Design a. The path or design on floor that is
- The floor pattern in relation to space made while moving in space
9. Gravity b. May take a form of a circle, square,
- The force that holds you to earth straight line or zigzag
- A force you have to work with because it
constantly inhibits movements FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENTS
10. Balance
- Concerned with more than balancing one leg  Dance is basically a combination of two types
- The aim is to achieve and constantly on movements, the axial and locomotor
maintains an inner balance of the whole movements.
body  Locomotor movements are those that move the
- Tension of moral support among all parts body in space in any direction using the feet as
that brings the whole together in a new way the moving base
11. Posture  Axial movements are non-locomotor which
- Also called alignment means that various parts of the body move in
- Key to balance and movement space with a fixed base.
12. Gesture o The base may be standing, kneeling,
- Involves using the body as expressive sitting or lying
instrument to communicate feeling and ideas  LOCOMOTOR MOVEMENTS
in patterns of movements 1. Walk and Step
13. Rhythm a. Moving at moderate pace on feet,
- Finding this is largely a matter of paying lifting one foot only after the other
attention foot has touched the floor or ground
- Something everybody has b. There is a transfer of weight in
14. Moving Space every step made
- Need to be aware of the space around you as c. Legs swing from the hips while the
a cat arms swing naturally at the side
- Space is not just an empty air but tangible 2. Run
element that you move through
 a. Moving on foot with springing steps 7. Adduction – of a joint moves a bone
at rapid pacing such that for an towards the midline of the body (or in the
instant, both feet are off-ground case of the fingers or toes, toward the
during each step midline of the hand or foot)
3. Jump a. Example: moving of the arms or
a. Involves springing and taking off legs towards the body
with one foot or both and landing on 8. Contraction – shortening forming of the
both feet inner curve of the joint
4. Hop 9. Release – to strengthen up
a. Springing of one foot and landing 10. Pendular – swinging/swaying arms/legs
on the same foot forward, backward or sideward
5. Skip 11. Vibratory – is the shaking and beating of
a. Follows the same procedure as body parts
doing the hop but bouncing likely a. Example: vibratory movements of
with alternative steps and hops the hands, arms, legs, etc.
6. Leap
a. A spring on one foot and landing on MOVEMENTS QUALITIES
the other foot in any direction  Movement qualities are attained through the
7. Gallop following elements:
a. Moving in continuous forward or 1. Force qualities
sideward direction with one foot a. Soft, light movements (ex. Fairies,
leading birds, and butterflies
8. Sliding b. Strong, heavy movements (ex.
a. Gliding along the floor with either Elephant, bulldozer)
foot c. Strong, jerky movements (ex. Frog,
 NON-LOCOMOTOR MOVEMENTS jumping jack
(AXIAL MOVEMENTS) d. Smooth, sustained movements (ex.
1. Flexion – of a joint is to bend or decrease Airplane, fish swimming)
the angle between the bones of the joint e. Movement which is fast (ex.
a. Movements are directed in the Galloping horse, jet plane)
sagittal plain of the body 2. Time qualities
b. Example: flexion of the head, arms, a. Movement which is fast (ex.
trunk, legs, etc. Galloping horse, jet plane)
2. Extension – of a joint is to generally b. Movement which is slow (ex.
straighten it Turtle, flower growing)
a. The reverse position of flexion 3. Space qualities
3. Hyper-extension – extreme, means a. Movement up and down (ex.
abnormal extension Bouncing ball and yoyo)
a. Bridge stand b. Movement across, back and forth
4. Rotation – is to turn the moving bone about and around (ex. Rowing boat,
its axis merry-go-round)
a. It is movement in which something c. Movement which is low (ex. Ants
pivots or revolves around a single and turtles)
long axis d. Movement which is high (ex. Kites,
b. Example: head slowly rotated from clouds)
left to right
5. Circumduction – is circular movement COMMON ABBREVIATIONS USED IN DANCE
permitted at ball and socket; condylar, and NOTATIONS
saddle joint
a. Example: circumduction of the  R – right
head, shoulders, feet, etc.  L – left
6. Abduction – of a joint moves a bone away  Bwd – backward
from the midline of the body (or hand or  Fwd – forward
foot).  Swd – sideward
a. Example: moving of the arms and  Cpl – couple
legs away from the body  Ct – count
 Cts – counts
 M – measure
 Diag – diagonal
 Cw – crosswise
 Ccw – counterclockwise
 X – number of times step
 LOD – line of direction, counterclockwise on
the dancing area
 RLOD – reverse of line direction, clockwise on
the dancing area
 Upwd – upward
 Dnwd – downward
 Twd – toward
 Fig – figure
 Wt – weight
 Ctr. – center
 Pos – position
 Ptr – partner/s
 Opp – opposite
 Hd – hand/s
 Ft. – foot/feet
 G – girl
 B – boy