Body Control and Balance
Senior 2 · Physical Education
Body Control and Balance
Lesson 2 of 3
18 min
At a wedding, a school celebration or a national event in Rwanda, dance is never far away: the energetic, drum-driven intore, the graceful arm movements of umushayayo, and the modern styles you see in music videos. Dance is also a complete physical workout. It needs balance, coordination, endurance and flexibility, and above all rhythm, the ability to move in time with a beat.
Worked example
A song has a tempo of 120 bpm. How long does one 8-count phrase last, and how long does a 32-count routine last?
Beats per second = 120 ÷ 60 = 2.
One phrase = 8 ÷ 2 = 4 seconds.
A 32-count routine = 32 ÷ 2 = 16 seconds.
At a slower 96 bpm, there are 96 ÷ 60 = 1.6 beats per second, so the same 32 counts take 32 ÷ 1.6 = 20 seconds. The steps are identical, but a slower tempo gives you more time for each one. That is why you learn a new routine to slow music first.
Here is one 8-count phrase built from them:
| Counts | Step | What the feet do |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Step-touch right | Step right foot to the side (1), touch left foot beside it (2) |
| 3–4 | Step-touch left | Step left foot to the side (3), touch right foot beside it (4) |
| 5–8 | Grapevine right | Right foot to the side (5), left foot crosses behind (6), right foot to the side (7), touch left foot beside it and clap (8) |
Clapping drill: march on the spot to the beat. Clap on counts 1 and 5 only, then on every count, then on the "and" between counts (1 and 2 and). Clapping between the beats is called the off-beat, and it is much harder to hold.
Tip
Tempo sums: first turn bpm into beats per second (÷ 60), then divide the number of counts by it. Check your answer: faster music must give a shorter time.
A song is at 90 bpm. How long does a 32-count routine last?
Solution. 90 ÷ 60 = 1.5 beats per second; 32 ÷ 1.5 ≈ 21.3 seconds.
How many counts does the grapevine take, and what does the second foot do on count 2?
Solution. 4 counts. On count 2 the second foot crosses behind the first.
A dancer moves from standing tall to crouching low while turning along a curved path. Which element of dance is being shown?
Solution. Space: a change of level (high to low) and a curved pathway.
Create your own 8-count phrase using at least two of the four basic steps, and write it in a table like the one above.
Solution (one possible answer). Counts 1–4: V-step. Counts 5–6: knee lift with the right knee. Counts 7–8: knee lift with the left knee. Any phrase is correct if its steps add up to exactly 8 counts.
Remember
Sources and credits
Written by Ganzaa. The diagrams, Practice items and unit exercises are original Ganzaa work.
