DANCING

A term paper written by

Luvis Mae E. Gerafil 11-HUMSS C
 I. INTRODUCTION

Dance is the physical expression through movement and rhythm of relationships,

feelings and ideas. Nobody invented dance. It is deep in the heart of every culture
throughout history; dance is part of the pulse of humanity. It embraces multiple genres,
styles and traditions and is constantly evolving. Its roles range from recreational to sacred
and cover every form of social purpose ( (Robinson & Aronica, 2018).

From the American movie ‘Center Stage’, the character Charlie Sims said,
“Whatever you feel, just dance it.” Dance is more than just a sport, it’s a passion. Dance
is something you work hard for, something you put all of your spare time and effort into.
Dance is a sport that you never want to give up on. No matter how exhausted you are on
that dance floor, you may not give up. You need to dance until the very end, until you are
the best dancer you can possibly be. (Annah, 2014)

II. Definition of Dancing

2.1. Dance is a performing art form consisting of purposefully selected

sequences of human movement. This movement has aesthetic and symbolic
value, and is acknowledged as dance by performers and observers within a
particular culture. Dance can be categorized and described by its
choreography, by its repertoire of movements, or by its historical period or
place of origin (Fraleigh, 1987).

2.2. Dance “work” of art (or “dance work”) is a performable and re-
performable artwork with a particular history of production, an abstract,
structural “type” of which the performances are “tokens”, a work created by a
choreographer that has a historical identity, meaning, and continuity that is
dependent at least to some extent upon what the choreographer intended, a
work whose performances are performed and interpreted by dancers, an object
with perceptible artistic properties, an intentional object that exists in a
 broadly institutional context under a concept of art, and a re-constructible and
re-performable object (McFee, 2011).

III. Effects of Dancing

3.1. One obvious benefit of dancing is to strengthen your legs.

Although, you use your whole body when dancing, your legs are probable the
major part of your body used when dancing. No matter what type of dancing
you do, you will strengthen your legs with frequent dancing.

3.2. If you are overweight, dancing is a good way to lose weight. It

provides a low-impact way to raise your heart rate for a period of time and
increase your metabolism at the same time. This allows your body to burn
more calories and reduces weight. If you dance frequently, it will help your
body burn calories even while you are not dancing.

3.3. Dances that move your whole body are the best for weight loss.
Dances that require you to keep your arms up while moving your feet are
good for weight loss. Dancing will help reduce obesity because it will help
you reduce your weight. If you are currently obese, you should start out with a
slower style of dancing, and as you are able to, increase the speed and
intensity of your dance over time. Miller, J. (2018)

IV. Importance of Dancing

4.1. Through dance, students learn teamwork, focus, and

improvisational skills. Dance awakens new perceptions in children which help
them adopt physical fitness. Having a goal to complete not only for their
physical body to become fits but also their mind. Decision making promotes
self-esteem and independent thinking for children (Camarillo Academy of
Performing Arts, 2011).
 4.2. Giving the students the freedom of making choices within a
structure encourages them to reach beyond what comes easy to them and use
their imagination, thus allowing them to test their own personal boundaries
but still having discipline for their selves (Camarillo Academy of Performing
Arts, 2011).

4.3. Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and
sizes. Dancing can improve muscle tone, strength and endurance. Dancing is a
great way to meet new friends (Better Health Channel, 2013).

4.4. Dance also enhances skills of perception, observation, and

concentration which will undoubtedly help students in all of their school
subjects and also helps dancers to maintain a proper posture (Camarillo
Academy of Performing Arts, 2011).

4.5. Dancing also has benefits for our health as it improved condition
of our heart and lungs, stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis,
improved mental functioning and improve psychological wellbeing (Better
Health Chanel, 2013)

V. CONCLUSION

5.1. Dance is the physical expression through movement and rhythm of

relationships, feelings and ideas. Dance is more than just a sport, it’s a
passion. Dance is something you work hard for, something you put all of your
spare time and effort into. Dance is a performing art form consisting of
purposefully selected sequences of human movement. Dance “work” of art (or
“dance work”) is a performable and re-performable artwork with a particular
history of production. Dance isn’t only about fun but also gives a lot of
benefits. One obvious benefit of dancing is to strengthen your legs. If you are
overweight, dancing is a good way to lose weight. It provides a low-impact
way to raise your heart rate for a period of time and increase your metabolism
 at the same time. This allows your body to burn more calories and reduces
weight. Dancing will help reduce obesity because it will help you reduce your
weight. Through dance, students create a goal to complete not only their
physical body become fits but also their mind. Decision making promotes
self-esteem and independent thinking for children. Giving the students the
freedom of making choices within a structure encourages them to reach
beyond what comes easy to them and use their imagination, thus allowing
them to test their own personal boundaries but still having discipline for their
selves. Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and
sizes. Dancing can improve muscle tone, strength and endurance. Dancing is a
great way to meet new friends. Dance also helps dancers to maintain a proper
posture Dancing also has benefits for our health as it improved condition of
our heart and lungs, stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis,
improved mental functioning and improve psychological wellbeing.

5.2. "You have to give your best, in order to BE the best" is a quote that
the Bomber Dance Team coaches say to the dancers’ moments before every
competition. Dancing is the best medium which people show the world their
true colors, showing who they can be. Through dancing, we understand our
emotions and know ourselves better by understanding our talents in such a
way that we did not know until we danced. When we dance, we connect with
music that affects our body, our thoughts, and the mind. Dancing is deeply
personal and it’s an expression of something within us something that we can
only share with the world through action. Dancing is not just about the
movements we make but the moment we make. Dancing shapes us to be better
not only physically but morally. Dance contributes a lot in refining ourselves.
Dancing is for everyone. It is not a ticket which is only limited to those who
availed it but water that supply anyone. Dance is more than just a beautiful art
form. It is somehow a world where we are graciously welcomed.
 REFERENCES LIST

Annah. (2014, April 23). My Hobby, My Passion, My love, Dance. p. 3.

Better Health Channel (2013, April). Dance Health Benefits. p. 1. Retrieved from
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/dance-health-benefits

Camarillo Academy Of Performing Arts (2011, September 2). Why Dance is Important.
p. 4. Retrieved from http://www.camarilloacademy.com/2011/09/why-dance/

Goodman, N. (1976), Languages of Art: An Approach to a Theory of Symbols,

Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company Inc.

McFee, G., 2011b, The Philosophical Aesthetics of Dance: Identity, Performance and
Understanding, Hampshire: Dance Books Ltd.

Miller, J. (2018). 50 Amazing Benefits of Dancing, According to Science. Jen Reviews,

pp. 1-14.

Sondra Horton Fraleigh (1987). Dance and the Lived Body: A Descriptive Aesthetics.
University of Pittsburgh Pre. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-8229-7170-2.

Robinson, K., & Aronica, L. (2018, April 2). Why dance is just as important as math in
school. p. 3.