Brief History and

Nature of Dance
“Before man can do anything, he must draw breath, he must
move. Movement is the source and condition of life. To
dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more
powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is yours for
the taking.”
-Agnes de Mille (1963)
 What is dance?

“Dance is an activity which can take many forms and fill many different needs.
It can be recreation, entertainment, education, therapy, and religion. In its purest
and most basic form, dance is art, the art of body movement.”
(Barbara Mettler, 1980)
Reasons

 To please the gods

 To please others

 To please themselves or self-expression

 To build community or social interaction

The Brief History and Nature of
 History of Dance
There is no definite date where certain dances originated
1. Experts suggest (through the analysis of cave painting)
that dancing has been around since beginning of life
2. Used for mating, communication, rituals & offerings
 Ancient Egypt
• Dance is a part of religious rituals
 Ancient Greeks
Dance as part of religious ceremonies.
Religious dances are called Apollonian.
Energetic dances are called Dionysian
Dances are also used for military training and
entertainment.
 Ancient Rome
• Dances were used in gruesome purposes.
• Dance became an integral part of corruption.
Development of Catholic Church in
Europe
• Theatrical entertainment was prohibited.
• Christian fathers approved the use of dance
provided that it’s a form and intent were holy
and profound.
 The Beginning of Social Dancing
• Common people amused themselves by doing
dances that were social in nature.
• Two types: the round dance and the couple
dance
• Court dances emerged as part of the chivalric
way of life.
 Early Renaissance
• Entertainers became valuable appendage to
the courts of Italy and France
 15th and 16th Centuries
• Vast dance movement occurred.
• Rise of ballet.
• Contemporary dances evolved in Europe.
 General Types
• Ballet •Contra
• Jazz •Country/Western
• Hip Hop
•Belly
• Swing
• Tap •Flamenco
• Modern •Latin Dance
• Swing •Folk Dance
 Why People Dance
• Dance is a way to express emotion
• Dance differs by region and culture
• Main reasons why people dance
– Fun
– Exercise
– Stress Relief (Letting Loose)
– Spiritual
– Tradition
 American Dances
– The Two Step (1813)
– The Waltz (1880)
– The Cake Walk (1899)
– The Fox Trot (1920)
– The Charleston (1926)
– The Lindy Hop and Jitterbug (1933)
 Modern Dancing
• Break Dancing
– Formed in the streets
– Developed as Hip Hop/Rap music developed
• Bump & Grind
• Based off of Songs (Two step, Soulja Boy, Duggie, Cha
Cha Slide, John Wall, Shufflin’, etc.)
• Disco
 African Dance
• Essential role in the culture of tribes
• Right of passage, communication, also
strengthen the bonds within the tribe
• Most villages have “dance master” who leads
and teaches members
• Drums, gourds, stomping, clapping, and
singing helped develop the beat
Spanish Dance

• Salsa
• Flamenco
• Merengue
Famous Dancers
• Michael Jackson
• Britney Spears
• Jofre Ballet
• Sammy Davis Jr.
• Olga San Juan
Animals shaking what der momma
gave dem
The Evolution of Dance
Macarena