Dancing: The Essentials & Why It’s Important to Take It More Seriously

Attention Getter: What exactly would we do for enjoyment and entertainment if dancing didn’t exist? Dancing plays a big role in our lives even though there are people who don’t like it or can’t do it well. The thing with dancing is that no one has to be a professional at it. Learning the basics and trying it out can help with the skill level and could even help jumpstart a deep appreciation for it. Significance: Dancing is defined by a series of movements that are done to the beat and rhythm of the music. It can be seen in music videos, movies, and performances. People also dance at parties, sports games, concerts, cookouts, and many other places. It plays a big part in bringing people together or it can be used as a way to get fit.Credibility: Dancing is something I’ve done ever since I was little from watching performances and music videos. I’ve taken classes, have done research on it, as well as auditioned for and danced on dance teams, companies, and crews.

Being a good dancer can be achieved as long as the person who is trying to do it has a good understanding of the essentials that make one a good dancer.Preview of points: We will look at the essentials of dance and what elements go into it so we can understand how to become better at it. Seeing how hard dancers work to show their craft with rhythm, body coordination, and creativity/uniqueness can help us appreciate the value of dancing more. Transition: We will now begin with the essentials of dance, the first being rhythm.II. Main BodyA. Having rhythm is the biggest weapon you need when trying to dance. 1. Rhythm is the pattern of moving to the flow or beat of a certain sound.

Rhythm is the partner of dance, so in order to perform the dance correctly, the dancer has to move to the correct beat of the music (BAM, 2017).3. It’s also important to know that the rhythm can change within one dance. Whether it’s the choreography that changes or if the song changes its tempo, it’s crucial to be able to adjust to either. [Transition]: Similarly, we can look at body coordination and the part that it plays in dancing.B. Body Coordination is something that is important along with the rhythm.

1. When we say “coordination,” we mean the ability to move two or more parts of the body in a smooth, controlled, and efficient manner (Meyer, Sjobeck, & Moulder, 2009).
2. This is another important part of dancing because the better your coordination, the more agility and balance you will have while moving.
3. Being sharp and smooth falls into this category as well.

Being too sharp or smooth can make the choreography look very sloppy. The cleaner you are the better you’ll be able to convey your dance and the audience can help understand your movements better. Keeping these points in mind, we can now add having a unique style.C. Having your own unique styles enables you to add your own flavor and groove.1. That means taking influences from the movement of other dancers and choreographers and making it your own (JustForKix, 2015).2. It’s important for every dancer because not only will it look better to the audience, but it can also build your confidence.3. Doing things like freestyling or recording yourself can help you see how you move, and it helps with the understanding of your body and strengths in certain areas.4. The most important thing is having fun and being yourself.

Conclusion

So, all in all, we can always do things to improve the ways that we move. Reference to the Introduction: It’s a good thing that we aren’t living in a world where the art of dance wasn’t developed. No one has to be bad at dancing nor do they have to hate it. Review of Main Points: All you need to be decent at dancing is mastering rhythm, having good body coordination, and a unique style. Strong Final Statement: You don’t have to become Michael Jackson, James Brown, or Janet Jackson. You don’t even have to become a professional dancer and get signed to a company. Dancing can be a nice hobby, or you can take pride in just being able to move rhythmically whenever you want. After you learn these steps to dancing, you’re well on your way to being a hit at the party, skating ring, or the family cookout.

References

1. BAM. (2017). DanceAfrica. Retrieved from https://www.bam.org/education/2017/study-guide/danceafrica/repertoireJustForKix. (2015, November 15). How To Find Your Unique Dance Style. Retrieved from https://www.justforkix.com/dance-talk/how-to-dance/how-to-find-your-unique-dance-style
2. Meyer, J. M., Sjobeck, G., & Moulder, R. G. (2009). Coordination in Dance. Retrieved from http://faculty.virginia.edu/humandynamicslab/projects/coordination-in-dance/