Elements of dance

Dancer

It is the most important element of dance. Since, he/she is the performer, there won’t be a dance without him/her. He/she executes the steps, follows the instructions of the choreographer, wears the costumes, and carries the props.

ChoreographyIs the dance director. He/she does the overall design

of the dance, assigns the steps to be executed by the dancer/s, selects the costumes and props that go with the dance, and determines the set designed for the dance.

To be a good choreographer, one must be a good dancer.

Design

Is the planned organization or pattern of movements in time and space. It involves the movements and the positioning of the dancers, and the steps executed by them. An outstanding dance performance is always dependent on the design of the dance. Thus, the dancers of the UE Dance Troupe discuss the design of the dance, together with the choreographer, before they start their rehearsal.

Subject

Is the message of the dance. Simply put, it tells what the dance is about.

Movements

Are classified into steps, gestures, and facial expressions. Steps are the dancers’ movements from one point on stage to another; these includes leaps, turns, rolls, and somersaults. Gestures are the movements of their heads, hands, feet, and other body parts; these include swaying, head shaking, foot stomping, and clopping. Facial expressions are the movements of their facial parts, as exemplified by the raising of eyebrows, [outing of lips, and crumpling of forehead.

Technique

Is the style or way of executing the movements.

For example, the grind may be done singly or doubly or the twist may be done quickly or slowly.

Costumes

Are the things worn by the dancers during their performance. These include the head gear, the upper garments, the lower garments, and the footwear. Hats, caps, fez, bonnets, helmets, crowns, turbans and hoods are among the head gear. Blouses, kimono, kimono, baro’t saya, malong, patadyong, traje, gowns, Maria Clara dresses, skirts, bloomers, and the like are garments for female dancers, white shirts, camisa de chino, barong Tagalog, shorts, long pants, trousers, G-strings, and the like are garments for male dancers. Their footwear may be shoes, slippers, sandals, socks, and stockings.

Properties

More commonly called props, properties are the things carried by the dancers as they perform. These include the glasses with lighted candles (pandanggo sa ilaw), sombreros (pandanggo sa sambalilo), fans (fan dance), umbrellas (umbrella dance), sticks (sakuting),pots (banga), spears and shields (singkil), gongs, towels, torches, and so on.

Set Design

Is the setting or the background that indicates the place of action for the dancers. Vintas are placed as backdrop for singkil, a vintage Spanish-inspired house for jota, and nipa huts for tinikling.

Other Theatrical Elements

Elements such as lightning effects, sound effects, visual effects, and the like form part of a dance performance when the dance is performed as part of a musical play or when it is a theatrical dance.

Prepared By:Jardael, Celeste S. BEED-4th Year