Demonstration of Dramatic and Creative Rythms and Dance – JSS2 Physical & Health Education Lesson Note (First Term)

Dance is the movement of the body and feet to conform with the style of beats, songs and music. There are three types of dance activities: traditional (folk) dance, social dance and modern dance. Traditional dance uses local instruments, social dance helps young people socialise, and modern dance expresses the dancer’s emotions with few rules.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• define dance;
• name the three types of dance activities;
• list instruments used in traditional dance;
• give examples of traditional, social and modern dances, including modern dances peculiar to Nigerians.

What are the types of dance activities?

What is traditional dance?

Pre-colonial or folk/traditional dance is dancing to the rhythm of traditional beats or music produced by crude or local instruments like Agogo, Sekere, Igba, Oja, Udu, Goje, Ekwe and Gangan.

Examples of traditional dances in Nigeria

1. Bata dance: This dance belongs to the Yoruba ethnic group. The dancers wear historical costumes (dansiki) and dance to the beat of the bata drum.
2. Mkpokiti Atilogwu dance: These dance steps are peculiar to the Igbo ethnic group. It is an energetic dance in which the dancers wear brightly coloured costumes.
3. Koroso dance: This dance belongs to the Hausa ethnic group in Nigeria.
4. Agemo dance
5. Egungun dance
6. Eyo dance
7. Agididigbo
8. Sharo dance
9. Langa dance

What is social dance?

As the name implies, social dance helps socialisation, especially among the youth. It evolved from traditional or folk dances, which have been modernised by the influence of modern technologies like the internet, mass media, mobile phones and faster means of transportation.

Examples of social dance

1. Street dance
2. Club dance
3. Fox dance
4. Ballroom dance
5. Folk dance
6. Fuji dance

What is modern dance?

Modern dance is a 21st century dance style which is usually performed in concert or theatre. It expresses the dancers’ emotions, and there are not many rules guiding their movements.

Examples of modern dances

1. Disco dance
2. Break dance
3. Rave dance
4. Tango dance
5. Waltz dance
6. Cha-cha dance
7. Mambo dance

Modern dances peculiar to Nigerians

1. Alingo
2. Azonto
3. Sekem
4. Alanta
5. Skelewu
6. Galala
7. Swoo
8. Shoki

Evaluation

1. Define dance.
2. Name the three types of dance activities.
3. List five instruments used in traditional dance.
4. Which ethnic group does the Bata dance belong to, and what do the dancers wear?
5. How did social dance evolve?

Assignment

1. List four examples each of traditional dances and social dances.
2. Write down five modern dances that are peculiar to Nigerians.