Dances From The Past PDF

DANCES FROM THE PAST ANCIENT GREECE Dances in ancient Greece were extremely organized and HISTORY OF DANCE structured....

DANCES FROM THE PAST ANCIENT GREECE Dances in ancient Greece were extremely organized and HISTORY OF DANCE structured. A total of 95,140 combined body movements were DANCE - damson (German word) - “to stretch” or “to drag” calculated to have existed in these dances. They maximized these Dancing may be the oldest among all the arts. It developed as movements; incorporated ritualistic, symbolic, or representative natural expression of united feeling and action. The music of early gestures; and were accompanied by music, both vocal and man came from stamping of feet, clapping of hands, snapping of instrumental. The dancers were also required to sing during a fingers, or any sound that can produce rhythm. It is an art of performance. Dance was an essential part of religious precise expression of one’s emotion through graceful movement, celebrations, entertainment, and theatrical performances. Even performed with musical accompaniment. Dance is considered the the Army performed a dance which ‘inflamed courage and gave mirror of the society because it responds to historical and strength to preserve in the paths of honor and valor. Phorai and religious events as well as social and political statements. Dancing cheironomia are Greek terms that describe the carriage of the is an art that needs no instrument because the dancer’s body is body during dance and mimetic gestures. Many steps were very the instrument. similar to the present classical ballet movements, such as leaps PREHISTORIC PERIOD and pirouettes, and Greeks even used the “points” or the tips of Prehistoric dance was very basic as it involved everyday the toes. Schemata refers to the form and shape of gestures, movements. It served as an important means of communication focusing on how a dancer executed the short movement and revolved around life events that were meaningful to patterns. Deixis was pure dance, performed by a male Greek individuals and tribes: birth, puberty, courtship, marriage, and dancer who portrayed the essence of a human character, an death. Most tribes incorporated dance in their religious animal, or a natural element such as fire or wind. ceremonies and festival activities based on superstition and infused with magic. Dances also explain the supernatural events ANCIENT ROME happening in each tribe. The Shamans or Babaylans, spearheads Dances in Roman era were primarily performed for religious, who are to possess magical powers and who acted as physicians, social, and entertainment purposes. They frequently highlighted religious leaders, and lead dancers, kept tribes healthy, burlesque, overtly erotic, comic, and frightening elements. Many prosperous, and safe. They performed one imparted dances and of the dance performers were slaves imported from Greece and rituals to the people to combat and win over environmental other conquered nations. They had low status as professionals forces and remain in good graces with the gods and the spirits. and were less respected as artists and participants of religious events. Wealthy Romans generally did not dance but they ANCIENT EGYPT preferred to hire and watch dancers. During Roman religious Dance was ancient Egyptians’ primary way of expressing their celebrations, the Salii or the college of 24 dancing priests that religious services and teaching about their ancient myths. Dance were members of the noble class did war dances in full armor was also a popular form of entertainment. with a sacred shield in their left hand and a staff in the right. They The major dancers were the following: worshipped God Mars and headed rites for purification and 1. The King funeral ceremonies. They also did fertility dance to honor God 2. The Priests (who performed magical dances for the Pan. Pantomime and mimes were among the famous gods and other spiritual entities and took the role of performances during the Roman period. They allowed dancers or the god Osiris in a great religious dance-drama). performers to portray comedies and satires about country life 3. The Virgin Dancers (who were trained to perform and other characters. The performers used movements and during ceremonies led by the priests). gestures that had a clear meaning to the spectators. The term Categories of Ancient Egyptian Dances: pantomime refers to a performance by an actor or solo dancer Pure Movement or Spontaneous Dances who does not speak but acts in a stylized form. Pantomimes Acrobatic Dances became famous for their ability to relate entire stories with Imitative Dances gestures and postures. They sometimes wore masks with closed Pair Dances mouths and intricate costumes or were covered with cloak and Group Dances jewellery. War Dances Dramatic Dances THE MIDDLE AGES AND THE RENAISSANCE Lyric Dances Dance played a vital part in peoples’ lives during this period as a Grotesque Dances way to show their manners and as a form of celebration, Funeral Dances amusement, and entertainment. During the Middle Ages, dance Religious Dances was associated with either the church (liturgical or sacred) or the society (secular). With these two categories, dance themes ANCIENT CRETE included sacred dance and life-span events that were connected The Cretan civilization, which existed from 3000 to 4000 BC, was to religious activities and other occasions. The priests and the a cultural link in the ancient world between Egyptians and Greeks. clergy performed ritual procession during Eucharistic Cretans were sophisticated and rich in arts and culture. Like celebrations, while the bishops led sacred devotional dances Egyptians, there dances intertwined religious ceremonies and around the altars during feasts days and Sundays. For a particular fertility rites, myths, and symbols. Dance themes include military feast being celebrated, a corresponding hymn and dance were training, healing, religious rituals, and entertainment. The sung and danced by worshippers at the courtyard. Feudalism and Cretans had an excellent army because they used dance to knighthood prospered during the 12th century, defining codes of perfect their training. The Greek poet Sappho, described a circle decorum, loyalty, bravery, romantic love, and chivalry. Knights dance performed by Cretan women: they held hands around an wore their armor during training, but they seldom dance in it outside altar and “purified” what was at the center of their because of its weight. Chivalry transformed dancing, giving it a formation. code of etiquette, manners, and courtly love.