The Evolution of Dance

Dance has been a form of non-verbal expression and art since the origin of human history. Some people have referred to dance as a representation of desires, a ritual of foreplay and a link between movement and music.

Dance has evolved with history as a representation of the human instinct to express ourselves. There are many dancing styles that communicate different feelings at particular situations. For example, Folk dance is a form of representation of the different landmarks of life adding an element of entertainment. In short, dancing is considered a social activity where its participants and audience are able to share different feelings depending on the occasion.

In tribal societies, the purpose of dance was a ritual of pleasing or accompanying a rite of passage where dance and music begin as partners. In ancient civilizations, dancing followed religious rituals. For example, in Egypt, priests and priestesses, needed to perform movements which represented events of the story of a god, or imitate cosmic patterns, such as the rhythm of night and day. Ancient Greece sacred occasions, such as the games at Olympia, were inaugurated with dancing by the temple virgins. In India, the formalized hand movements of the priestesses in Hindu temples were described in documents from as early as the 1st century AD.

The element of entertainment in dancing was shown in some Egyptian paintings in 1400 BC and it was the foundation of public dance. Ballet dance had its origins in the European courts of the 15th century, where dancing and music created an elaborate spectacle. The first dance academy opened in Paris by 1661 and in 1681 Ballet moved from the courts to the stage. In the 19^th century, Romantic Ballet was introduced as a movement influenced by art and music. Today, ballet is multi-faceted, consisting in classical forms, traditional stories and contemporary ballet.

The 20th century was a period of change and creative growth for dancers and choreographers. It was also a time of shock, surprise and broadening of minds on dance for the public. The popularity of Jazz in the early 1920s produced a number of social dances, such as the Charleston. While South America brought the Argentine tango, the Brazilian Maxixe and Samba; and the Cuban Rumba, Conga, and Mambo.

Since the 1920s, the US has been the center of the development of different dancing stlyes. Some examples are: The Lindy Hop in the 1930s; the Boogie Woogie and Jitterbug in the 1940s; the Cha Cha and Rock 'n' Roll in the 1950s; the Twist, Frug and the Go-Go dances in the 1960s; the Disco dance in the 1970s; and the Hip-Hop in the 1980’s, which evolved into Break Dancing. Ballroom dancing and Tap dance have won popularity as entertainment and have been featured frequently in theatre, television and movies.

With the passage of time, dance has evolved into a more refined and formal structure, where different dance styles are identified by their particular rhythms and steps. In conclusion, dance has been and will continue to be a crucial part of our social existence.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for my blog next week.

Vanessa

Here is a link to my other blog: My Passion for Dancing

Sources:

• Daruwalla, R. (June 02, 2009). The Evolution of Dance. Retrieved: April 23, 2015. From: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Evolution-of-Dance&id=2422022
• Pittsburg Ballet Theatre. (ND). A Brief History of Ballet. Retrieved: April 23, 2015. From: http://www.pbt.org/community-engagement/brief-history-ballet
• Columbia University Press (2012). Dance in the Americas. Retrieved: April 23, 2015. From: http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/entertainment/dance-dance-americas.html