Dance
An art form of body movement with aesthetic and symbolic value.
Dance is an art form composed of sequences of body movements that hold aesthetic and often symbolic value, whether improvised or deliberately chosen. It can be categorized by its choreography, its repertoire of movements, or its historical period and place of origin. Typically performed with musical accompaniment, dancers may also play an instrument themselves. Dance is a widespread human behavior, not necessarily requiring specific choreography, and can be undertaken alone for exercise or self-expression.
Two primary types of group dance exist: theatrical and participatory. Theatrical, or performance, dance is intended as a spectacle for an audience, often staged by virtuoso dancers. It may tell a story using mime, costume, and scenery, or interpret specially composed music. Examples include Western ballet, modern dance, Classical Indian dance like Bharatanatyam, and Chinese and Japanese song and dance dramas such as the dragon dance. Performance dance also appears in opera and musical theatre. Participatory dance, such as folk, social, line, circle, or partner dances, is undertaken for a common purpose like social interaction, exercise, or flexibility, with little narrative. While participants often share movements, rave culture features free, uncoordinated dancing, whereas other cultures impose strict rules on who may dance and how.
Archaeological evidence for dance dates back 10,000 years, with paintings in Madhya Pradesh, India, and Egyptian tomb depictions. Before written language, dance helped pass stories orally between generations. Its use in ecstatic trance and healing rituals is thought to be an early social factor. References appear in early recorded history: Greek dance is noted by Plato and Aristotle; the Bible and Talmud contain over thirty dance terms. Chinese Neolithic pottery shows groups dancing in a line, and the earliest Chinese word for "dance" appears on oracle bones. In ancient China, dance was linked to sorcery and shamanic rituals. During the first millennium BCE in India, Bharata Muni's Natya Shastra codified drama and dance, which continues in Indian culture, ritual, and Bollywood. Many contemporary forms trace back to historical, traditional, and ceremonial dance.
Dance is generally performed with music, though some forms like tap or gumboot dance provide their own audible accompaniment. Early music and dance were often create
- field
- Performing arts
- known_for
- Sequences of body movements with aesthetic and symbolic value, performed for spectacle, social interaction, ritual, or exercise
Lore & Background
It has been proposed that before the invention of written languages, dance was an important part of oral and performance methods of passing stories down from one generation to the next. The use of dance in ecstatic trance states and healing rituals is thought to have been another early factor in the social development of dance. References to dance appear in very early recorded history; Greek dance is referred to by Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Lucian. The Bible and Talmud contain over 30 different dance terms. In Chinese pottery from the Neolithic period, groups of people are depicted dancing in a line holding hands, and the earliest Chinese word for 'dance' is found written in oracle bones. During the first millennium BCE in India, Bharata Muni's Natya Shastra was composed, dealing mainly with drama in which dance plays an important part. Dance is generally performed with the accompaniment of music, though some dance such as tap dance or gumboot dance may provide its own audible accompaniment. Many early forms of music and dance were created for each other and are frequently performed together. The choreography and music are meant to complement each other to express a story. Rhythm and dance are deeply linked; dances generally have a characteristic tempo and rhythmic pattern, such as the tango usually danced in 2/4 time at approximately 66 beats per minute.
Reader's Guide
Dance holds significance as one of the oldest human art forms, with evidence stretching back thousands of years. It serves multiple functions across cultures: theatrical dance is intended as a spectacle for an audience, often telling a story or interpreting music, while participatory dance is undertaken for social interaction, exercise, or building flexibility. Dance is not solely restricted to performance, as it is also used as a form of exercise and occasionally training for other sports and activities. The relationship between dance and music is deeply intertwined, with some scholars arguing that dance may have been the first art form from which music and poetry emerged. Dance traditions have been codified in texts such as the Natya Shastra in India and Thoinot Arbeau's Orchésographie, and continue to evolve in contemporary forms including Bollywood entertainment. The legacy of dance is its universal presence in human culture, from ancient rituals to modern competitions, reflecting both individual expression and collective identity.
Did You Know?
- The Bible and Talmud refer to many events related to dance and contain over 30 different dance terms.
- Some dance, such as tap dance or gumboot dance, may provide its own audible accompaniment in place of or in addition to music.
- The tango is usually danced in 2/4 time at approximately 66 beats per minute.
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