Phorai and Cheironomia Quiz and Flashcards

Study Notes

The term "dance" originates from the German word "damson," meaning "to stretch" or "to drag."
Dance serves as an art form for expressing emotions through graceful movements, typically with musical accompaniment.
Regarded as one of the oldest forms of art, dance does not require traditional instruments since the dancer's body itself serves as the instrument.

Dance during this era consisted of basic movements, primarily reflecting daily activities and communication.
Celebrated significant life events such as birth, puberty, courtship, marriage, and death.
Integral to tribal religious ceremonies and festival activities, often led by shamans.
Shamans acted as leaders, performing rituals to ensure the tribe's health, prosperity, and harmony with gods and spirits.

Dance was a primary expression of religious beliefs and practices, closely tied to ancient myths.
Served as both a sacred and entertainment activity across Egyptian culture.
Notable figures in Egyptian dance included kings, priests, and virgin dancers, each performing significant roles in religious dance.
Various categories of dance existed, including purely spontaneous movements, acrobatic, mimetic, pair, group, war, dramatic, lyric, grotesque, funeral, and religious dances.

Cretan society valued dance as part of their rich arts and culture, intertwining it with religious ceremonies and myths.
Dance themes encompassed military training, healing, religious rituals, and entertainment.
Utilized in military training, Cretan dances often had women performing circle dances around altars for purification purposes.

Ancient Greek dances were highly organized, essential to religious celebrations, entertainment, and theatrical performances, with approximately 95,140 body movements cataloged.
Dances incorporated ritualistic, symbolic gestures accompanied by both vocal and instrumental music; dancers often sang during performances.
The Greek army utilized dance to cultivate courage and valor among soldiers.

"Phorai" refers to the body’s carriage during dance, while "cheironemia" involves mimetic gestures.
"Schemata" designates the specific form and movements within a dance, often concluded with a pose.
"Deixis" was a type of dance showcasing human character, animals, or elements of nature, typically performed by male dancers.

Roman dances served religious, social, and entertainment functions, characterized by burlesque, erotic scenes, and comedic elements.
Performers often included slaves from conquered nations, particularly Greece, resulting in diminished respect for their artistic contributions and roles in religious ceremonies.