WHAT IS DANCE?
DANCE IS THE MAKING OF RHYTHMICAL STEPS
AND MOVEMENTS FOR THEIR OWN SAKE.
DANCE HAS BEEN PRESENT IN JUST ABOUT
EVERY KNOWN HUMAN SOCIETY.
A. DANCE IN ART
B. RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE
C. COMMUNAL ACTIVITIES
D. COURTSHIP
E. HEALING
F. EDUCATION
G. WAR
H. PHYSICAL TRAINING
TRADITION VERSUS CREATIVITY
TRADITION IS IN
A. THE REPERTORY
B. TECHNICAL TRAINING OF PERFORMERS
C. CREATIVE THEORY
D. SOCIAL LIFE OF DANCERS
E. WAYS OF EARNING A LIVING
WESTERN THEATRE DANCE SEARCHES FOR FRESH IDEAS
WESTERN VERSUS NON-WESTERN DANCE
NON-WESTERN DANCE FORMS ARE RELATED TO
A. RELIGIOUS RITUALS
B. CEREMONY
C. COMMUNAL ACTIVITY
WESTERN THEATRE DANCE FEATURES
A. PROFESSIONAL DANCERS
B. CHOREOGRAPHERS
C. DIRECTORS
D. COMPANIES
TRIBAL RITES
1. SPECIFIC RITUAL- HAS A ONE TIME
PURPOSE
A. CURE A SICK PERSON
B. CAST OUT EVIL SPIRIT
C. MOURN DEATH
D. BURIAL
2. CYCLICAL RITUAL-REPEATED AT THE SAME
TIME EACH YEAR
A. CYCLE OF SEASON
B. FERTILITY OF SOIL, HUMANS, ANIMALS
C. ABUNDANCE OR ABSENCE OF RAIN
DEVISE RITUALS TO APPEASE THE GODS
A. CEREMONIES TO DEMONSTRATE THE
DESIRED OUTCOME OF FERTILITY AND
GROWTH
B. MAGIC SPELLS TO FORCE THE SPIRITS TO
PERFORM PROPERLY
C. SACRIFICIAL GIFT TO BUY THEIR FAVOR
TYPES OF RITUALS
INITIATION RITUALS
AT THE AGE OF PUBERTY. CIRCUMCISION
RITUAL OF THE HUNT AND ANIMALS
ANIMAL DANCE SERVES AS A HUNTING CHARM - DANCER WINS
POWER OVER THE ANIMAL HE IMITATES
HEALING AND FUNERAL RITUALS
WITCH DOCTORS, PRIESTS, SHAMANS CONDUCT MAGIC
HEALING RITES.
.
WAR AND WEAPON RITUALS
WEAPON DANCE WIDESPREAD. - SPEARS, SWORDS
HOPI SNAKE
DANCERS.
WALPI, AZ
1903
POLYNESIAN DANCER
EGUNGUN ANIMAL
MASQUERADE, IMASI, NIGERIA,
1978
YEMEN BARCA DANCE
RITUAL ELEMENTS IN DANCE
I. SOUNDS
A. DRUMMING
B. CHANTING
C. SINGING
II. BODY DECORATIONS
A. MASKS
B. FEATHERED GRASS COSTUMES
C. STONES AND SHELLS
D.. PAINTED MAKEUP
III. SETTING
A. WOODS
B. CAVE
C. HUT
IV. FIRE
A. USED FOR SACRIFICE
B. A FOCAL POINT TO DANCE AROUND
C. CARRY IN THE FORM OF TORCHES
TAHITIAN DANCERS
EGUNGUN DANCER,
GBONGAN, NIGERIA, 1991
BALINESE
WAYANG
WONG
DANCERS
1930
ASANTE DRUMMERS, 1890
CURT SACHS
THE WORLD HISTORY OF THE DANCE
I. HARMONIOUS DANCES
A. REPETITIVE
B. HYPNOTIC
C. SIMPLE PATTERNS
1. SHUFFLING
2. STAMPING
3. HOPPING
4. LUNGING
5. RELAXED SPINE
II. ECSTATIC DANCES
A. BUILDS TO GREAT HEIGHTS
B. PHYSICALLY WITH HIGH LEAPS AND JUMPS
C. EMOTIONALLY WITH EXCITEMENT
1. WHIRLING
2. SHAKING OR TREMBLING
3. HEAD ROLLS AND SPINS
4. LEG AND ARMS THRUST INTO THE AIR WITH SPEED
5. MUSCLES QUIVER AND BODY PARTS THROW WILDLY
D. CLIMAX IS TRANCE STATE
1. POSSESSED BY SPIRIT
2. UNCONSCIOUS
3. UNTOUCHED BY PAIN OR SEVERE ELEMENTS LIKE FIRE
4. SOMETIMES AIDED BY DRUGS AND LIQUOR
BALI TRANCE DANCERS
VODUN
WORSHIPER,
HAITI
DIVISION OF TRIBAL DANCES
A. MIMETIC
1. MOVEMENTS PORTRAY AN IMAGE
2. ANIMAL DANCES ARE MIMETIC
B. IMAGELESS
1. MOVEMENTS ARE RHYTHMIC AND
GENERALIZED
2. POWER FROM RHYTHMIC REPETITION AND
NOT THE GESTURES
PERFORMERS OF TRIBAL DANCE
A. ALL TAKE PART TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY
B. LIMITED TO PRIEST OR DANCE SPECIALISTS
C. LIMITED BY GENDER
GENDER ROLES IN TRIBAL DANCE
A. MEN DO DANCES OF WAR AND HUNT
B. WOMEN DO DANCES OF PLANTING,
HEALING, AND THE DEAD
WOMEN’S DANCES ARE GENERALLY MORE
TONED DOWN.
MALE AND FEMALE HAVE EQUAL DANCE
STATUS WHEN SEXUAL RITUALS ARE
PERFORMED