Introduction into the History of Dance

Brief History of Dance

Dance history is a difficult subject to study due to the lack of artifacts left behind to study. Dancing is felt within the mind and body and there is no need for extras. Hunting, for example, is easy to study due to the ample amount of artifacts found, such as arrows, bows, and knives. Therefore, it is not possible to identify when dance actually became part of human culture.

Like cave painting, the first purpose of dance is most likely ritual, appeasing a nature spirit or accompanying a rite of passage.1

Dance is different in each culture and each place around the world. Some dance for God and some dance for intimacy.1

Dancing before the God is an important element in temple ritual, in ancient civilizations. In Egypt, the priest, accompanied by harps and pipes, perform splendid movements which represent significant events in the story of a God.1

In Greek shrines, sacred occasions, such as the games at Olympia from the 8th century BC, are inaugurated with dancing by the temple virgins, performed in a circle in honor of a God.1

In India, formalized hand movements of the priestesses in Hindu temples are described in documents dating back to the 1st century AD. Each precise gesture has a subtle significance and is still practiced by highly skilled practitioners today.1

From rituals to praise, dance is now practiced for exercise, entertainment and competition.

The popular types of dance, now, are contemporary, jazz, tap, ballet and hip hop. Children start dancing in organized classes by the age of three and continue through adulthood.

Contemporary dance is not a specific dance form. It is a collection of techniques developed from modern and postmodern dancing. Jazz dance is also a collection of developed techniques but is very specific. Tap dance is a non-partnered dance form that is choreographed, with one or more participating dancers. A rhythmical tapping sound is made by the dancer from the small metal plates on the dancer's shoes. Ballet is a classical dance form that is characterized by grace and precision of movement. It can be a performed as a partnered dance, or as a solo or group dance. It is generally choreographed and is primarily a performance dance. Hip hop is generated from different forms of dance such as popping, locking and expressing yourself with movement to an upbeat song.2

Dance has come a long way throughout the years and has been developing even further in this century. I feel that dance will keep evolving into something even greater.

References:

1HISTORY OF DANCE. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2016, from http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=ihf

2Summary of Dance Styles. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2016, from http://www.dancecentral.co.uk/DanceNtral/Articles/summary.htm