Dance is a form of art that rhythmically uses movements of the body, to express an idea or emotion, release energy, or for entertainment.

Dance is different from body movements performed in everyday activities. However, dance can include movements associated with such activities. It may even accompany such activities as work, travel, or worship. This notwithstanding, movements that constitute dance are not reducible to those of precise activities. Rather, dance movements involve some qualities such as self-expression, aesthetic pleasure, and entertainment.

People in different settings would have different motives for dance. Some general, basic motives of dance include the expression and communication of emotion, entertainment, and exercise. Some people often dance as a way of releasing feelings, such as joy, anger, or impatience. The same is true of certain animals.

Types Of Dance

Dance can be categorized on several grounds;

Classification by Genre: This grouping depends on the analyses of dance structure and performance context as well as on a host of general cultural perspectives of dance in society. Genre generally refers to a self-contained formal tradition such as ballet, within which there may be further subgenres, such as classical and modern ballet.

Classification by style: Dance can be categorized according to style on many elements including a preference for certain kinds of movement (fast, slow, simple, or complex) or particular kinds of energy and attack (sharp, edgy, hard, as opposed to soft and fluid). It also embraces different ways of phrasing movement or of arranging dancers into groups, as well as an interest in certain kinds of design. 

Another basis for grouping dance is by function. For instance, religious, theatrical, and recreational. A distinction can also be made between folk and tribal dance, and also between amateur and professional.

Basic components of Dance

No matter the type of dance, basic components such as Movement, Time, Space, and Rhythm are common to a wide range of dances. These elements of dance are interconnected and each element can be manipulated to create different results.

Movement

Movement in dance is described as the movement of expression. It can be forward, backward and sideways patterns. Movements in dance are categorized into swinging, percussive, vibratory, sustained, or even suspended. Further, dance movements can be measured as slow, fast, or medium depending on the tempo.

Space

The space element of dance describes how a dancer occupies and interacts with the area around them. Space allows a dancer to give an adequate expression through movements. When dancers occupy space in a particular shape, they are considered to be occupying positive space. The skillful use of space is one of the elements that give each dance its unique look.

Time

Time is the measurement of the period between movements or repeated gestures in dance.  The steadiness of these measurements gives a sense of predictable comfort in a dance performance. The timing of movements is often associated with specific counts in the accompanying music, which provides a steady and reliable rhythm for the dance. This practice enables dancers to both listen and respond sensitively to the music- a skill known as musicality.

Rhythm

Rhythm is the consistent timing of action in a dance. A dance is expected to follow a consistent, or regular pulse in movements to make it exciting. However, irregular timing in dance can make the rhythm unpredictable. This could make the dance appear monotonous and stagnant to the audience.  Dancers employ the timing of movements to respond to music or other accompaniment and also to provide variety within a dance performance.

The ability to identify and understand these core elements of dance can help a dancer communicate with an audience in a more skilled and creative manner.  

REFERENCE

Information from https://www.britannica.com/art/dance/Problems-in-defining-dance, https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/excerpt/elements-of-dance, https://lessonplan.edudelight.com/components-of-dance/, https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/d7fcd19b-ee9b-4d90-a550-833fbe22865c/the-five-elements-of-dance/ was used in this story