Tracing The History of Dance
Dancing has been part of human culture as long as mankind has been on earth. Ancient peoples performed dance rituals for a variety of ceremonies and native festivals. Dancing was not restricted to special occasions, though, with performances taking place at any time and place depending on the situation.
Modern dancing is an expansion of this legacy, with dancers aiming to express their feelings and emotions through bodily movements.
Throughout history, dancing has served different purposes for different cultures.
§ Rituals – these types of dances are among the oldest and still exist today, especially among indigenous populations who have shunned the modern world and have chosen to remain in seclusion.
§ Story telling – this type of dance can, again, be traced back to ancient cultures who would relate major events in their history through dance. Modern performances also fulfill the same function, except they are performed in big theaters in front of thousands of people. Ballet is a classic example of story telling through dance.
§ Entertainment – this is probably the most common form of dance in the Western-influenced world. For this type of dancing, one does not need to be a trained dancer. It is simply a case of putting on your best clothes and heading off to the nearest night club with your friends. If you think about it, this kind of dancing can be compared to a mating ritual with modern characteristics.
In the history of dance, you find that dance was not restricted to the so-called “primitive” cultures. Sophisticated civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans performed exotic dances for a variety of reasons.
Dancing has evolved over time into a dynamic, rich and energetic art form. Even over the past century, dancing in the modern world has changed at a quicker pace than at any period in its history.
Only 100 years ago, dancing was considered a gentle, graceful endeavor. Those values still exist today, but there are also frenetic and sexually suggestive dancing that is performed to a range of fast-paced music and is totally alien to the genteel dancers of yesteryear.
The irony is that, when a dance like the Waltz first appeared many years ago, it was frowned upon by a society that considered it shameless. These days, the Waltz would be frowned upon by the modern crowd for a very different reason.
The history of dance is long and rich. But whatever its legacy, dancing in all its forms is sure to continue for many years to come.
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