Humanities1 - Dance, Poetry and Drama

APPRECIATING DANCE Dance
- is an art and a recreation that involves the rhythmical movement of the body, usually with music, to express an idea or emotion, to narrate a story or simply enjoy and take pleasure in the movement itself
- As an art, a dance may tell a story, set a mood or express an emotion
- As a form of recreation, it has provided fun, relaxation, and companionship
-As an art it started from the moment it was harnessed to a rhythm, probably the stamping of the feet and clapping of the hands.
-In many societies, dancing has been used in worship. played a role in courtship
- In many cases, it serves as a way for a man and a woman to be acquainted before they marry
- Provides one of the most personal and effective means of communication
- It has its own story to tell and releases tension to our body
- A dancer can express feelings as joy, anger, or helplessness without saying a word WHY DANCE?
- dance develops a wide range of skills to help young people navigate their way through the modern world.
Physical skills and spatial awareness.
Social interaction and self awareness.
- Young peoples’ creativity and imagination.
-A greater understanding of fitness, a healthy body and mind.
- Understanding and appreciation of different cultures.
Dance has links to the study of many subjects.
History – Using music and dance to help recreate the feeling of another era and to give an insight into how people might have felt. Creating dances from photographs or pictures of historic events.
Geography – Music and dance can be very revealing about the life and culture of other countries.
Art & Design – Paintings, posters and sculptures make fantastic inspiration from which pupils can create their own dances.
Science – learning about the human body – muscles, diet and exercise.
Music – Pupils can explore their own ideas and feelings about music using movement, dance, and expressive language.
Dance can develop a person’s rhythmic awareness and understanding of musical phrasing. Kinds of Dances
Ethnologic Dance- Native to a specific rate or ethnic group. It includes folk dancing.
-These dances are associated with national and cultural groups.
-Religious rituals (ethnic dances) are designed.
- Examples of these are: tinikling, itik-itik,. Banga, pandanggo, sayaw ed tapew na bangko, Ifugao Dance, etc.
Social or Ballroom
- popularly performed in pairs. They include such forms as waltz, foxtrot, swing, and the old favorites such as cha-cha, boogie, tango and latest dances.
Theatrical or spectacular dance- performed for the entertainment of spectators. The theatrical dancing includes the ballet, modern dance, musical comedy dances and tap dancing.
- The dancers may take personal satisfaction in creating something beautiful. Their own enjoyment, however, is less important that their ability to interpret the dance effectively for the audience.
Ballet- The formalized type of dance which has its origin in the royal courts of the Middle Ages.
- the great spectacular dance form of the Western world and in the Philippines.
Modern dance- a dance form characterized by natural and free.
- does not stick to conventions. - has varied styles of movements, usually based on the current trend.
It has also been called expressional dance. sometimes called contemporary or interpretative dance.
These dance represent a rebellion against the classical formation of the ballet. -They emphasize personal communication of moods and themes. Musical comedy has borrowed much from the modern dance. -It refers to those dances performed by soloists and groups in theaters, movies and night clubs.
- It combines various forms of ballet, modern tap, acrobatic and soft-shoe dancing.
ELEMENTS OF DANCE
Theme- one of the important element of the dance.
- It is the content or the main ingredient of the dance.
It tells us what a dance is trying to tell or convey. It has something to do with the message of the dance.
Design - refers to the planned organization pattern of movement in time and space.
- Pattern in time is provided by rhythm, groups the unaccepted beats of movements into measures.
-Pattern in space is created by 1) floor pattern (the path raced by the dancer’s travelling feet) and planes (the levels on which the dancer moves).
Movement- the action of dancers as they use their bodies to create organized patterns (Apel, 1969).
- Body movement can be divided into steps, gestures of arms and hands, and facial expressions.
- Steps cover leaps, turns and runs.
- Dance may use gestures which express specific motions or ideas in sign language.
Technique- the skill in executing movement. A technically proficient dancer has complete control over the muscles of his body. In some forms of dancing, a high degree of technique if an end in itself.
Music plays an important role in the dance to which it is closely related.
- It is something melodic and harmonious, usually used as an accompaniment. - Music motivates the movements of the dancers. Most of the time , music serves as background music that further captivates the spectators.
Costume and properties- the visual elements that contributes to the dance. -The type of dance performed and the costumes worn at any stage of history relate closely to the customs, beliefs, and environment of the people. -Hand properties, like costumes , enhance the effect of dance. Weapons, for example may be used in any properties, thus, leaving the dancers free to move.
Choreography
Dances during the ancient times were disorganized.
The people danced impulsively; dances were usually associated with intense excitement.
- The people then did not think of forms and arrangement or how to go about doing the dance.
Scenery- the setting or background establishing the place of action of any dance is important to make the dance more realistic and beautiful.

Poetry
- derived from the Greek word poiein, "to make."
- a composition in verse that uses figurative language to express a certain idea Types of Poetry
1. Narrative poetry tells a story in verse
a) Epic depicts heroic adventures
b) Dramatic - portrays character and events involves a narrative poem of a person in a specific situation.
It can involve emotions, but has so much more to it. example: Shakespeare's plays.
c) Metrical romance - treats love intrigue and chivalric adventures and romances.
- tells a story that ends happily, whether love is involved or not.
d) Ballad - deals with domestic tragedy, love, war, violent death which too much emotion and repetition of dialogue.
- A narrative poem, often of folk origin and intended to be sung, consisting of simple stanzas and usually having a refrain.
2. Lyric poetry- expresses the feelings, attitudes and thoughts of a poet or a person within the work.
a) Ode – treats dignified serious themes within a complex metrical framework - written for an occasion or on a particular subject, usually dignified and more serious as a form than other forms of poetry.
b) Elegy – a poem expressing grief over the death of a specific person
c) Song - a verse adapted to musical expression
3) Concrete or shape poems Shape poems deliberately written with a certain figure or shape Also called concrete poems, it visually present something important about the poem's meaning.

4) Free Verse (or vers libre) poetry that is unrhymed and lacks a regular metrical unity
5) Haiku
Follows the 3-line 5-7-5 syllables pattern

5) Haiku The Rose Donna Brock

The red blossom bends and drips its dew to the ground. Like a tear it falls
6) Acrostic poem very easy to write. can be about any subject can be written in different ways, but the simplest form is to put the letters that spell your subject down the side of your page.
6) Acrostic poem
When you have done this then you go back to each letter and think of a word , phrase or sentence that starts with that letter and describes your subject.
Example:
Sam
Shares his stuff
Always on time
My friend

Elements of Poetry
Elements of Poetry
1. Diction - refers to the writer’s choice of words
2. Rhyme refers to the same stressed vowel sounds in two words. may be classified as masculine, feminine, internal and near rhyme a rhyme in which only final and stressed syllables correspond is called masculine rhyme. The stressed sounds in the words in Group A below are the only syllable or the last syllables
3. Rhythm -the regular occurrence or arrangement of accented and/or unaccented syllables of a verse line.
4. Persona - refers to the person talking in the poem.
5. Symbol - something that represents something.

Drama
Drama vs. Theatre
Drama
-the printed text of a play
Theater
-the actual production of the play text on the stage
Drama
-a composition that tells a story through action and dialogue
-designed for theatrical performance
Professional readers
- Directors, actors, and designers that interpret the play
Types of Drama
1. Tragedy – a serious play in which the character meets with disaster, either because of a personal fault/events.
-ends with a catastrophe.
Aristotle:
Tragedy – “tending through pity and fear to the catharsis of passions”
Tragedy – “tending through pity and fear to the catharsis of passions”
The spectator watches the leading actor to rise in arrogance and fall in despair -the spectator feels pity and mercy for the character who has been the innocent tool in the hands of fate. -this punishment though will purify him and at the end the spectator feels that justice has been served.
Drama supreme masterpieces – early modern tragedy Hamlet (1601) by Shakespeare
- Classical Athenian tragedy Oedipus King by Sophocles
Three well-known Greek tragedy playwrights of the fifth century:
-Sophocles
-Euripides
-Aeschylus.
Types of Drama
2. Satiric Drama- The stories mocked the lives of heroes or Dionysius
- This gives chance to the audience to relax after attending the presentation of three tragedies
Satiric Drama
Short plays performed between the acts of tragedies and made fun of the plight of tragedy’s characters
-mythical half human, half goat figure
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Types of Drama
3. Comedy – a play with happy ending, intended to reform
-It appeals to intellect rather than emotion
Comedy
– “Comoi” – Amusement, entertainment.
-supposed to be a a mockery of people and situations
- a criticism against the immorality and corruption-It appeals to intellect rather than emotion
Thalia
Muse of comedy (the laughing face)
Melpomene
the Muse of tragedy (the weeping face)
Thespis
-first actor and playwright
-the poet first acted, who produced a play in the city and the prize was a goat
Greek theatre history began with festivals honoring their gods Dionysus, was honored with a festival called by "City Dionysia".
Greek theatre history
In Athens-during the festival men perform songs to welcome Dionysus Plays were only presented at City Dionysia festival.
Greek Theatre
Theatron- Theatre buildings
- large, open-air structures constructed on the slopes of hills
Three main elements:
1. the orchestra- large circular or rectangular area at the center part of the theatre, where the play, dance, religious rites, acting used to take place.
Orchestra
Literally means "dancing space was normally circular
Orchestra of the theater of Dionysus in Athens was about 60 feet in diameter
2. Skene
- Literally means "tent”
- large rectangular building situated behind the orchestra
-used as a backstage. Actors
- earlier the skene was a tent or hut, later it became a permanent stone structure
3. Acting
- The cast of a Greek play in the Dionysia was comprised of amateurs, not professionals (all male).
- Ancient Greek actors had to gesture grandly so that the entire audience could see and hear the story. However most Greek theatres were cleverly constructed to transmit even the smallest sound to any seat. old tragedy
-the chorus by itself performed the whole drama and later …
Thespis invented a single actor to give the chorus a rest and …
Aeschylus a second and Sophocles (playwright of Oedipus Rex) a third completing tragedy
*Costumes and Masks
- Actors far away from the audience
- The shape of the mask amplified the actor's voice, making his words easier for the audience to hear.
Drama
often combined with music and dance drama in opera - sung throughout musicals- include spoken dialogue and songs
Forms of drama
1. Opera - romantic art form, which arose during the Renaissance
2. Pantomime - usually have an emphasis on moral dilemmas, and good always triumphs over evil, this kind of play is also very entertaining making it a very effective way of reaching many people.
3. Creative Drama
-refers to dramatic activities and games used primarily in educational settings with children.
-roots in the United States began in the early 1900s 4. Classical Athenian drama
-drama originates in classical Greece

Elements of the Drama
Plot. This refers to the sequences of events in the play.
Character. Character refers to the persons acting in the play.
a. Protagonist. This is the main character.
Antagonist. The anti-hero in the story.
Static or flat. Quality of a character that does not change, predictable, limited..
Dynamic or round. Quality of a character that undergo changes or improvement, diverse.
Setting/ Scenery/ Stage. The background which suggests the environment of the play.
Dialogue. The dialogue refers to the conversation between the chars. which reveals the style of a play.
Theme. The message. It may be specifically stated in a story or it may be derived from the total effect.
Art imitates life or life imitates art?
Aristotle- Greek Philosopher
-views art as an imitation of life
-first to introduce the theory that art imitates nature
-The architectural style of Frank Lloyd Wright is an illustration of the way a building can imitate nature.
Comedy- actions being imitated are positive like love and humor
Tragedy- brings out the darker side of human nature.
Disagreement:
-This theory appeals to human nature, but lacks more refined ideas about viewer response and abstract art forms.
- If art were viewed solely as an imitation of life, then abstract works would not be considered art.
Life imitating art
Anti-mimesis
a philosophical position that holds the direct opposite of mimesis
Oscar Wilde- notable proponent his 1889 essay “The Decay of Living” states that "Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life".
“results not merely from Life's imitative instinct, but from the fact that the self-conscious aim of Life is to find expression, and that Art offers it certain beautiful forms through which it may realize that energy.".
- What is found in life and nature is not what is really there, but is that which artists have taught people to find there, through art. fogs of London- people have only "seen" the "wonderful brown fogs that come creeping down our streets, blurring the gas lamps and turning houses into shadows" because "poets and painters have taught
[people] the loveliness of such effects". "They did not exist", asserts Wilde, "till Art had invented them.".
It is a creation, an art form
The situation- writing the script, actors acting, sitting in a theater house, may be made but the experience is completely real
- has the potential to significantly change lives, and help create the world outside the theatre.
Philippine Drama
Pre Spanish era
1. Duplo - Poetic debate among skilled men and women
2. Karagatan- Poetic debate among amateur men and women
Spanish era
1. Cenakulo- Depicts life and sacrifices of Christ
2. Moro-moro- Depicts war between the Christians and the Muslims
3. Zarzuela- melodrama, Spanish lyric dramatic genre
Spanish era 4. Moriones- Street drama that started in Marinduque, characters wearing roman soldier attire 5. Ati-atihan- Street drama that started in Aklan Theater Stage Prominent theater director Peter Brook of Britain said that for theater to take place, an actor walks across an empty space while someone else is watching. In this empty space, called a stage, actors present themselves in a story about some aspect of human experience.
Stage- - The place where actors create performances
Proscenium or picture frame stage- the most prevalent type of theater architecture in the West. A conventional stage where the audience views the play through a permanent framed opening that is usually curtained
2. The auditorium- floor slants downward from the back toward the stage to provide greater visibility for the audience. Often at least one balcony is above the auditorium floor, protruding about a quarter of the way over the main floor.
3. The Arena Stage- entirely surrounded by members of the audience. - Sometimes called a theater in the round.
Arena Stage -Sometimes called In-the-Round- as the name suggests, the audience is seated all around the stage on four sides. Can also be circular.
4. Thrust or open stage- a stage that is surrounded on three sides by the audience
5. Amphitheater- an open-air building with tiers of seats surrounding a central area, as in a sports stadium or an open-air auditorium.. The Colosseum in Rome, the most famous amphitheater, was completed in 80 a.d. and still stands today.
Other terms you should remember
1. Blocking – the positions and movements of the actors on stage. - includes entrances, exits, and crosses
2. Strong Stage Areas- actors consider the locations closest to the audience to be stronger. - Audiences commonly respond more readily and strongly to the people closest to them
3. Wings – the offstage area to the right and to the left of the acting area. - usually curtained so as not to be visible to the audience.
4. House – the auditorium or seating area from which the audience views the performance.