Dance as an Art Form and Its History

Dance as an Art Form

• Dance is intentional movement and rhythmic expression, used for communication, reflecting cultural identity and heritage.
• Reasons for dancing include pleasing the gods, others, and oneself; promoting self-expression and fostering community.
• Dance serves purposes like entertainment, artistic expression, social bonding, and even physical therapy.

History of Dance

• Pre-Historic Era: Dance was a religious ritual and social expression, symbolizing tribal unity, courtship, and worship.
• Ancient Egypt (3300 BCE): Early evidence of dance comes from rock paintings and caves.
• Ancient Greece: Philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates valued dance as unifying the body and soul.
• Ancient Rome: Dance's value decreased as the empire grew, becoming brutal and sensationalized, even used for cruel displays.
• Catholic Church in Europe: Dance was accepted as long as it was religiously motivated and profound. Church services then included dance.
• Dark and Early Middle Ages: Dance was part of peasant and feudal lord activities; eventually evolved as a social activity.

Benefits of Dance and Creative Movement

• Physical: Improves cardiovascular health, muscular endurance, coordination, balance, flexibility, and body composition.
• Mental/Emotional: Reduces depressive symptoms, and helps the brain; lowers incidence of Dementia and Alzheimer's.
• Social: Encourages group sense of togetherness, and self-actualization. Fosters social interaction and relationships.
• Cultural: Promotes cultural values and appreciation.

Elements of Dance

• Space: The area performers occupy.
  • Spatial Elements: Direction, Level, Size, and Focus.
• Timing and Gestures:
  • Timing: Synchronizing movements with music and other dancers (tempo).
  • Gesture: Communicating meaning and emotion (narrative tool).

Dance Energies

• Dance energies are propelled by force; force can start and stop actions.
• Swinging: Curved lines in space; letting go and responding to gravity.
• Suspended: Movements seem suspended or clinging to the air.
• Vibration: Trembling or shaking movements (fast percussive).
• Sustained: Smooth, continuous, flowing, controllable movements (no clear beginning/end).
• Percussive: Explosive, sharp movements (clear beginning/end; accented with energy).
• Collapsed: Movements release tension and surrender to gravity, descending to the floor.

Bodily Shapes

• Bodily Shapes: How the body is molded in space (rounded, angular, or a combination).
  • Symmetrical: Balanced shapes (identical movements).
  • Asymmetrical: Unbalanced shapes (different movements on each side).

Group Shapes

• Group Shapes: Dancers performing in various formations (wide, narrow, rounded, angular).
  • Symmetrical and Asymmetrical group shapes can be narrow or angular.

Benefits of Dancing

• Physical Health
• Mental Well-being
• Cultural Awareness
• Social Connections

Appreciation and Evaluation of Dance

• Discusses components of dance competitions and evaluation criteria.
• Addresses the role of the audience in dance performances.

Explore the rich history of dance as an art form, from its prehistoric origins to its significance in ancient civilizations. Understand how dance has served various purposes such as communication, cultural reflection, and social bonding throughout the ages. This quiz delves into how dance has evolved and its impact on society.