Physical Education and Health 3

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Nature of the Different Dances

Module 001 Nature of the Different Dances

Dance Styles Timeline

Dancing is the most vibrant and beautiful form of art. Besides this, it's a great way of
social interaction and provides a fun workout, which increases flexibility and
cardiovascular health. It is an act of moving rhythmically and expressively to an
accompaniment. The word dancing came from an old German word “damson” which
means to “stretch”. Essentially, all dancing is made up of stretching and relaxing.
Dance is always a bliss to watch in terms of costumes, elegant moves and music.
Dance forms take centuries to develop and reflect the customs of the society.
Numerous dance styles have evolved over the years and each style has a history
behind it. From medieval to contemporary dance forms, every style has its own
meaning and reason of origination. Dance is regarded as the best stress reliever and
also helps in keeping one's health and fitness in check. For centuries, people around
the globe have expressed themselves through dance, where the practice still
continues, today.

Timeline of Dance Styles

Timeline Dance Style

400 BCE Indian Classical Dance

15th Century Ballet

1600-1750 Baroque Dance

Early 16th Century Capoeira

Late 16th Century & Early 17th Century Masque

1795-1918 Vintage Dance

1795-1925 Classical Persian Dance

1790-1825 Regency Dance

Late 18th Century Bolero, Flamenco

Mid 1800s Tap Dance

1876 Cake Walk

Course Module
 1890s Tango

1892 Calypso

1895-1918 Animal Dance:

 Horse Trot
 Kangaroo Hop
 Turkey Trot
 Duck Waddle
 Chicken Scratch
 Grizzly Bear

1898 Merengue

19th Century English Country Dance

Late 19th Century  Samba

 Argentine Tango
 Modern Dance

1900s  Acrobatic Dance

 Black Bottom
 Jazz Dance
 Bounce

1910s  Texas Tommy

 Foxtrot

1911 Texas Swingout

1920s Swing Dance, Balboa

1926 Charleston

1927 Lindy Hop

Early 1930s Jive

1930s Moonwalk

1940s  Samba de Gafieira

 Mambo
 East Coast Swing:
o Boogie Woogie
o Rock and Roll
o Modern Jive
o Jive
o Collegiate shag

1945 Bebop/Bop Dance

1948 Line Dance

1950s  Skanking Dance

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Nature of the Different Dances

 Hand Jive
 Contemporary Dance

1953 Cha-Cha

Early 1960s Detroit Ballroom

1960s  Swing Dance

 Locking
 Popping (Strobing, Waving, Tutting)
 Turfing

1960-1970 Liturgical Dance

1967 Robot Dancing

1970s  Salsa
 Chicago Stepping
 B-boying
 Crip Walk/Clown Walk
 Electric Boogaloo
 Hip Hop Dance
 Liquid and Digits
 Disco Dance (House Dance, Waacking, and
Hustle)

1972 Contact Improvisation

1980s  Jacking
 Voguing
 Moshing
 Zouk

Late 1980s Melbourne Shuffle, Leroc

1982 Twerking

1987 Cabbage Patch Dance

1990s Memphis Jookin’, Zumba

1997 Jumpstyle

Early 20th Century Jitterbug Dance

Mid 20th Century Contemporary Dance, Rumba

Early 2000s Krumping, Electro Dance

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 Mid 2000s Jerkin’, Electro Dance

2003 Flash Mob

2008 Single Ladies Dance

2012 Gangnam Styles

Each decade injects a completely different influence to these dance styles. In tandem
with these, the types of music one dances to, also undergoes a radical evolution. For
instance, the dance styles of the 1920s and 1930s were more or less marked by
simplicity and groovy moves like the Lindy Hop, Jive, and Moonwalk. In the 1980s
and 1990s the influence is derived from pop culture and street dancing.
One can often see strong, exotic influences in some styles. For instance, most
Brazilian styles incorporate African rhythms and influences similar to America's
improvisation of many Latin dances. Indeed, it would not be untrue to state that the
dance styles of each decade reflect the overall feel of that time, which encompasses a
collective influence of arts, economy, societal norms, and culture peculiar to that
decade. This fact is famously quoted by Kristy Nilsson as, "Dancing is the world's
favorite metaphor."

Phases of the Dance Program

1. Creative Rhythms
Creative rhythms are sometimes called fundamental rhythms or natural dances.
It is an end product of exploration and improvisation of movements as children
learn to move the parts of their body and to use them as instruments of
expression.
2. Folk/Ethnic Dance
It is a cultural art form handed down from generation to generations. It
communicates the customs, beliefs, rituals, and occupations of the people of a
region or country. Folk dancing belongs to the people. It emanates from them.
Ethnic tribes have their specific tribal art forms originated and danced by the
people of the tribe.
Examples of folk dances are the rural and country dances, jotas, mazurkas,
pandanggos, among others with foreign influence.
Examples of ethnic dances are the dances of the mountain peoples of the
Cordilleras, dances of the ethnic groups in the Cagayan Valley Region and the
ethnic dances in the Mindanao Regions.
3. Social and Ballroom Dance
The setting of the social and ballroom dance is a social gathering with the more
formal atmosphere than the simple and informal parties in which the
recreational dances are the usual forms. Social and ballroom dancing are
generally held in the evenings. The participants are usually in formal attire.
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Nature of the Different Dances

4. Recreational Dance
It includes dance mixers, square dance round and couple dances. Many of these
dances have simple patterns and combinations of walking steps, polka step and
the waltz step. The setting is usually informal gatherings and parties, reunions
etc.
5. Creative Dance
It is the highest form of dance. It is the end-product of exploration and
improvisation of movements as the dancer or the choreographer expresses his
feelings or emotions, ideas, and interpretations. This is a dance with a definite
form, a beginning and an ending. The principles of art form are all observed in
the composition of the dance.
Examples of creative dance are ballet, jazz, and modern or contemporary dance.

Different Types of Dances and Dancing Styles Across the Globe

Whether it's performed for religious reasons or simply as a hobby, any form of
dance has the power to bind people together from different parts of the world.
Dance is one of the most beautiful forms of art that has grown in leaps and bounds.
Dance is no longer just a hobby; it is also one of the most lucrative professions as
well. Besides, dance therapy is very much in vogue these days simply because the
experience of dancing helps a person to heal from within. Dance is a form of
expression that helps a person bring forth who they are, and what they're
passionate about.
The different types of dances and dance styles that are prevalent all over the world,
are an indication of the popularity of this art form. From the olden days till date,
dance has always been performed for social reasons or even if just something to
aesthetically display. The various types of dances are also considered as an
entertaining way to remain fit, with zumba, and other forms of dance, being
incorporated into workout routines.
Every dance form has its own unique identity. Each dance is beautiful in its own way
and has a different appeal to it. Every country has a distinctive approach about its
dance style, with ethnicities worldwide merging dance forms, and even creating new
ones, transforming the very idea of dance.

Course Module
 Figure 1. Tango Figure 2. Waltz

Figure 3. Foxtrot Figure 4. Cha-Cha-Cha

Figure 5. Paso Doble Figure 6. Jive

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Nature of the Different Dances

Figure 7. Merengue Figure 8. Rumba

Figure 9. Ballet Figure 10. Breakdance

Figure 11. Hip Hop Figure 12. Tap

Course Module
Glossary
Dance: refers to movement set to music where there emerge organizations,
structure and pattern. Is is a composition that implies arrangement of parts into a
form.
Dancing: is a means of expressing one’s emotions through movement disciplines by
rhythm.

References and Supplementary Materials

Online Supplementary Reading Materials
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/types-of-dances-and-different-dancing-styles.html
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/dance-styles-timeline.html
http://hnupe.weebly.com/pe-2.html