Embedded Files
"There is an amazing variety of types, styles, and genres of dancing – from street to disco, to folk dancing and ballroom. Some are recent inventions, stemming from social and political changes, whilst others have origins as old as civilisation itself. Archaeological evidence for early dancing has been found in 9000 year old Indian cave paintings, as well as Egyptian tombs with dancing figures decorating the walls, dated to around 3300 BC. Society’s love of dance has never waned, and it is just as popular now as ever. With the rise of dancing television shows, official competitions, and public events around the world, we thought we’d take a look at some of the most widespread types of dance and how they started."
Oxford University Press Blog. https://blog.oup.com/2017/04/origins-ballroom-dance-styles/
Dance has always served as a way of connecting communities.
Dance has always served as a way of connecting communities.
What patterns of formation or repetitions of gesture do you notice are common across these dances from a variety of cultures?
What patterns of formation or repetitions of gesture do you notice are common across these dances from a variety of cultures?
How do these dances use unison and canon?
How do these dances use unison and canon?
Indigenous Australian culture is the oldest on the planet, and dance is part of their storytelling, as well as a way to connect to country and community.
In African societies, dance serves a complex diversity of social purposes. Within an indigenous dance tradition, each performance usually has a principal as well as a number of subsidiary purposes, which may express or reflect the communal values and social relationships of the people. Often there is no clear distinction between ritual celebration and social recreation in dance performances.
https://www.britannica.com/art/African-danceAl-Ardha is a traditional dance from Saudi Arabia, which used to be performed by Arab warriors prior to meeting their enemies in battle, to display weaponry, raise morale and uplift the heroic spirit of the participants. This dance is no longer associated with war and is performed on special occasions, such as religious holidays (Islamic Eid celebration), events of national or local importance (cultural festivals), or wedding functions.
http://saudiarabesque.com/al-ardha-the-national-sword-dance-of-saudi-arabia/Over the years, dance also became a social activity, and partnered dances began to develop.
Over the years, dance also became a social activity, and partnered dances began to develop.
Over the years, social dancing reflected more of a combination of whole group and partnered dancing. The set dances of the Elizabethan and Regency eras in England are examples of how the upper classes of society danced together on formal occasions. The lower classes would have also danced, and these ''country dances'' would some similar patterns and moves (but perhaps a bit more energy and faster rhythm!)
Over the years, social dancing reflected more of a combination of whole group and partnered dancing. The set dances of the Elizabethan and Regency eras in England are examples of how the upper classes of society danced together on formal occasions. The lower classes would have also danced, and these ''country dances'' would some similar patterns and moves (but perhaps a bit more energy and faster rhythm!)
How Cultural Dance Became Ballroom Dance
https://www.arthurmurraydancenow.com/blog/partner-dancing-in-other-cultures How Cultural Dance Became Ballroom Dance
You may think you have nothing in common with Cuban slaves from the 1800s, but if you’ve enjoyed dancing to any rumba styles, you’re not as different as you might think!
Dancing has been around for centuries, and the ballroom dances we teach today were once derived from various cultures around the world. There are differences between International and American styles of dance, and even those dances were developed from outside influences. Some of the biggest ballroom dances today were not always danced in a ballroom.
Latin dances, for example, which include salsa, mambo, merengue, rumba, bachata, and the Argentine tango, came from a few hispanic and South American cultures. The Argentine tango originated in Argentina, and the merengue and cha cha have Cuban roots.
The waltz can be traced back to 16th-century Europe, where it began to appear in books and operas. As it spread from the countryside to the city, it kept the momentum and made its way from Germany to Vienna, Austria, then Britain and the U.S. (Get the full history.) The tango, on the other hand, was catapulted to popularity by a single man.
While the rumba was born out slavery in 19th-century Cuba, swing dancing had its moment in the USA during WWII. As one of our favorite dance quotes says, “Hard times require furious dancing.”
Even though some of today’s most partner dance styles originated from places all over the world, we are still able to connect with others. When communicating through a shared passion, language barriers mean nothing—especially when you’re speaking the universal language of dance.
Page updated
Report abuse