A Study of Cognitive Structure of Dance Appreciation (5) : A Recognition System of Ryukyuan Dance

A. Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to study the seven structural elements in Ryukyuan dance; that is, contents, structure, movements, stage properties, music, costume, and expression. B. Methods (1) Standards For criteria, the thirty DAS (Dance Appreciation Scale) constructed by opposing adjectives in Kinjo ('75) are used here: namely, the eighteen kinds of "evaluative factors" such as charming, good, interesting, substantial, and excellent; and the nine kinds of energetic factors such as active, dynamic, nimble, and powerful; and the three kinds of capacity-factors such as magnificent, grand, and grave. (2) Works Ten works which represent five kinds of Ryukyuan dance are shown: the Old Men's dance, "Kajadifū"; the Youth dance, "Wakashu-kotei-bushi"; the Men's dance, "Takadēra-manzai", "Mēnu-hama", "Zei", "Nubui-kuduchi"; the Traditional (or Classical) Women's dance, "Shudun", "Kasekake", and "Inoha-bushi"; and the General Women's dance, "Hana-fū". (3) Subjects Twenty female students at the University of the Ryukyus were tested: fifteen majoring in Health Education and Physical Education and five who belonged to Sport-clubs. (4) Process First, I distributed the copies of the contents of each dance to the students and gave supplementary explanations of them. Then, I showed them films (8mm Color Sound) of each dance separately. After giving them a break, I did it again. Finally, I let them evaluate the constituents of dance by seven grades according to DAS. (5) Disposition of Data I computed the average value of each evaluate factor separately according to the work and with the elements. Then I plotted the seven constituents of dance in a three dimensional space constructed by "evaluative factors" x "energetic factors" x "capacity factors". Also, I plotted the ten works in same space. (6) Investigation The research was done in March, 1975. C. Result and Consideration (1) Recognition System of the Works with movement-elements I illustrate the recognition system of the structural elements of Ryukyuan dance by the diagram No.11. As the diagram shows: in two dimensions of energy and capacity, the ten works are distinctly separated into four categories; namely, Men's dance, Old Men's dance, Youth dance, and Women's dance. This diagram gives a true account of the characteristics of each category of Ryukyuan dance. (2) Space Structures of the Constituents in Each Work In diagram No.7, I showed the space structure of each dance-constituent formed in the work "kasekake". In the evaluative dimension, movement, properties, music, and content were highly evaluative dimension, movement, properties, music, and content were highly evaluated to the same degree. Oppositely, expression, costume, and structure were lowly estimated to the same degree. In the dimension of energy and capacity, music was evaluated much more highly than any other constitient