Republic of the Philippines  Shape: How the body takes up space,

UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES creating lines, angles, and curves.

University Town, Northern Samar  Parts: Which parts of the body are
Uup.edu.ph [email protected]
moving (arms, legs, torso, etc.).
GRADUATE STUDIES
(2ND YEAR)  Posture: The position or stance of the
body (open, closed, relaxed, rigid).
SUBJECT : P.E 804: DANCE COMPOSITION Body Moves/Actions
AND CHOREOGRAPHY
COURSE : MAED PHYSICAL EDUCATION Dance movements or actions fall into two main
PROFESSOR : NIMFA F. BUEDRON categories:
STUDENT : ERICA F. MORENO
DATE : SEPTEMBER 29, 2024  Locomotor: (traveling moves) walk, run,
jump, hop, skip, leap, gallop, crawl, roll, etc.
Introduction
Movement is our first language. We start  Nonlocomotor: (moves that stay in place)
practicing it in utero and our first senses to develop are melt, stretch, bend, twist, swing, turn, shake, stomp, etc.
movement oriented.
We gradually develop intention, control and
coordination of our movement, as well as our
2. ENERGY
relationship to ourselves and to the world.
An exploration of “how” a movement is done
What Is Language of Movement? rather than “what” it is gives us a richer sense
of dance as an expressive art.
-refers to non-verbal communication conveyed  Force: The intensity of the movement
through body movements, gestures, and physical (light, strong, soft, sharp).
expressions. It includes everything from dance and  Flow: Whether the movement is free
sports to everyday gestures like a wave or a nod.
and continuous or controlled and
The Basic Language of Movement bound.
 Weight: How much effort is used (light
B. E. S. T. or heavy).
The Elements of Dance are the basic building
blocks of dance that help us identify and describe There are six dynamic Movement Qualities:
movement, assisting in the ability to analyze, interpret, 1. Sustained (slow, smooth, continuous)
and speak/write about dance as an artistic practice. 2. Percussive (sharp, choppy, jagged)
When viewing dance, we want to put into words what 3. Swinging (swaying, to and fro, pendulum-like)
we are witnessing by analyzing its most important 4. Suspended (a moment of stillness, the high
qualities. The elements of the dance provide us with the point, a balance)
tools to do so. 5. Collapsed (fall, release, relax)
6. Vibratory (shake, wiggle, tremble)
In dance, the body can be in constant motion
and even arrive at points of stillness. However, even in
3. SPACE
stillness, the dancers are inherently aware of
Is the dance expansive, using lots of space, or is
themselves. No matter the case, all forms of dance can
it more intimate, using primarily personal
be broken down into their primary elements: BODY,
space? An exploration of space increases our
ENERGY, SPACE, and TIME. To easily remember the
awareness of the visual design aspects of
dance elements, we use the acronym B.E.S.T., which
movement.
stands for BODY, ENERGY, SPACE, and TIME. Dance
can be seen as the use of the BODY with different kinds Direction: Where the movement is
of ENERGY moving through SPACE and unfolding in headed (up, down, forward,
TIME. backward, sideways).

 Level: Movements can happen at

1. BODY different heights (low, medium, high).
The body is the dancer’s instrument of  Pathways: The pattern of movement
expression. When an audience looks at dance,
through space (straight, curved,
they see the dancer’s body and what is moving.
zigzag).
  Proximity: How close or far the
movement is in relation to others or Cultural and Contextual Influences
objects. The meaning derived from movement can vary
significantly based on cultural context. Different
 Relationships: Dancers can explore the
cultures interpret gestures, postures and expressions
relationship between different body differently.
parts, the relationship of one dancer to
another dancer or a group of dancers, or Movement in Social Interactions
the relationship to a prop or to objects Movement plays a critical role in social
in the dance space. interactions, influencing how individuals perceive and
respond to each other
 Proxemics
4. TIME Use of space during interactions affects
Dance is a Time art; movement develops and communication
reveals itself in Time.  Regulating Interaction
 Rhythm: The timing of movements, Movements such as nodding can
either regular or irregular. encourage others to continue speaking, while
 Speed: Movements can be slow, raised hand may indicate desire to interject
fast, or change tempo over time.
Movement in Performance and Arts
 Duration: How long a movement or In performing arts, movement is a vital tool for
series of movements last. expressing narrative and emotion
 DANCE
The body category includes shapes, actions, and Different dance styles utilize specific
whole-body and part-body movements. Energy is how movements to convey emotions
the body moves. When speaking about Energy, we can  THEATER
refer to effort or movement qualities. Space is where Actors use body language and
movement occurs and includes personal and general movement to embody their characters and
space, levels, directions, pathways, floor patterns, convey emotional depth.
various sizes of movements, range of movement, and
Application in Therapy and Communication
relationships. Time is when the dancers move. The Understanding movement and meaning has
Time category includes pulse, speed, rhythmic patterns, practical applications in various fields
natural rhythm, and syncopation.
 DANCE THERAPY
Understanding Movement as a Language Utilizes movement to promote
Movement functions as a form of communication that emotional healing and expression
express feelings and intentions without words.  NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
TRAINING
Key Components of Movement and their Meaning Enhances interpersonal skills by
teaching individuals to be aware of their own
1. Gestures movements and the movements of others
-Movements of hands or body that convey
specific meanings
“The language of movement is a powerful
2. Posture form of communication that relies on the body
- Position of the body can communicate a to express complex emotions and ideas”.
range of emotions

3. Facial Expressions
- Movement of facial muscles that express
emotions.

4. Body language
- Overall movement of the body reflect
emotional states and intentions REFERENCE:
Emotional Expression through Movement https://louis.pressbooks.pub/exploringarts/
chapter/elements-of-dance/
 Joy- Light, energetic, expansive movements
 Sadness- Slow, heavy, inward movements
 Anger- Sharp, forceful, and often aggressive
movements