Ecoben, Queen Desirre B. 7:00-9:00 Monday Bsa 2G September 16, 2019

Ecoben, Queen Desirre B.
7:00-9:00 Monday
BSA 2G September 16, 2019
History of Dance
From the earliest moments of known human history, dance accompanied
ancient rituals, spiritual gatherings and social events. As a conduit of trance, spiritual
force, pleasure, expression, performance and interaction, dance became infused into
our nature from the earliest moments of our existence - from the moment when first
African tribes covered themselves in war-paint to the to the spreading of music and
dance across all four corners of the world. Without a doubt, dancing remains one of
the most expressive forms of communications that we know.
The oldest proof of existence of dancing comes from the 9000 year old cave
paintings that were found in India, which depicts various scenes of hunting,
childbirth, religious rites, burials and most importantly, communal drinking and
dancing. Since dancing itself cannot leave clearly identifiable archaeological artifacts
that can be found today, scientist looked for secondary clues, written word, stone
carvings, paintings and similar artifacts. Period when dancing became widespread
can be traced to the third millennia BC, when Egyptians started using dance as
integral parts of their religious ceremonies. Judging by the many tomb paintings that
survived the tooth of time, Egyptian priests used musical instruments and dancers to
mimic important events - stories of gods and cosmic patterns of moving stars and
sun.
This tradition continued in ancient Greece, where dance was used very regular
and openly to public (which eventually brought the birth of the famous Greek
theatre in 6th century BC). Ancient paintings from 1st millennia clearly speak of
many dance rituals in Greek culture, most notably the one before start of each
Olympian Games, precursor to the modern Olympic Games. As centuries went on,
many other religions infused dance in the core of their rituals, such as Hindu dance
"Bharata Nhatyam" which is preformed even today. Of course, not all dances in
those ancient times were intended for religious purposes. Ordinary people used
dance for celebration, entertainment, seduction and to induce the mood of frenzied
exhilaration. Annual celebration in honor of Greek god of wine Dionysus (and later
Roman god Bacchus) included dancing and drinking for several days. 1400BC year old
Egyptian painting showed the group of scantily dressed girls who danced for the
wealthy male crowd, supported by the several musicians. This kind of entertainment
continued to be refined, until medieval times and the start of the Renaissance when
ballet became integral part of the wealthy class.
Archeological evidence for early dance includes 9,000-year-old paintings in India

at the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, and Egyptian tomb paintings depicting dancing
figures, dated c. 3300 BC. It has been proposed that before the invention of written
languages, dance was an important part of the oral and performance methods of
passing stories down from one generation to the next. The use of dance in ecstatic
trance states and healing rituals (as observed today in many contemporary
"primitive" cultures, from the Brazilian rainforest to the Kalahari Desert) is thought
to have been another early factor in the social development of dance.
References to dance can be found in very early recorded history; Greek dance
(horos) is referred to by Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Lucian.The Bible and Talmud
refer to many events related to dance, and contain over 30 different dance terms. In
Chinese pottery as early as the Neolithic period, groups of people are depicted
dancing in a line holding hands,[9] and the earliest Chinese word for "dance" is found
written in the oracle bones.Dance is further described in the Lüshi Chunqiu. Primitive
dance in ancient China was associated with sorcery and shamanic rituals. Greek
bronze statuette of a veiled and masked dancer, 3rd–2nd century BC, Alexandria,
Egypt.
During the first millennium BCE in India, many texts were composed which
attempted to codify aspects of daily life. Bharata Muni's Natyashastra (literally "the
text of dramaturgy") is one of the earlier texts. It mainly deals with drama, in which
dance plays an important part in Indian culture. It categorizes dance into four types –
secular, ritual, abstract, and, interpretive – and into four regional varieties. The text
elaborates various hand-gestures (mudras) and classifies movements of the various
limbs, steps and so on. A strong continuous tradition of dance has since continued in
India, through to modern times, where it continues to play a role in culture, ritual,
and, notably, the Bollywood entertainment industry. Many other contemporary
dance forms can likewise be traced back to historical, traditional, ceremonial, and
ethnic dance.
Definition of Dance
Dance is a performing art form consisting of purposefully selected sequences of
human movement. This movement has aesthetic and symbolic value, and is
acknowledged as dance by performers and observers within a particular culture.
Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoire of
movements, or by its historical period or place of origin.
An important distinction is to be drawn between the contexts of theatrical and
participatory dance, although these two categories are not always completely
separate; both may have special functions, whether social, ceremonial, competitive,
erotic, martial, or sacred/liturgical. Other forms of human movement are sometimes
said to have a dance-like quality, including martial arts, gymnastics, cheerleading,
figure skating, synchronized swimming, marching bands, and many other forms of
athletics.
Benefits of Dance Exercise

Dancing can be a way to stay fit for people of all ages, shapes and sizes. It has a wide
range of physical and mental benefits including:
 improved condition of your heart and lungs
 increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness
 increased aerobic fitness
 improved muscle tone and strength
 weight management
 stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis
 better coordination, agility and flexibility
 improved balance and spatial awareness
 increased physical confidence
 improved mental functioning
 improved general and psychological well being
 greater self-confidence and self-esteem
 better social skills
Why do people dance?

We dance for physical fitness. We dance for mental clarity. We dance for
emotional stability, and other such pluses.Perhaps dance is the way we express
ourselves when words are insufficient. The joy we feel over new found love, the
determination we have in the face of great sorrow or adversity, the passionate fire
of our youth and the peacefulness of our softer and more graceful years – maybe
they are never expressed more fully than through a waltz, or a tango, or a jive. We
all want to be understood, and if we could truly speak the words that describe our
feelings, how deep and powerful they would surely be. But alas, those words never
seem to come to us just right. Dance is more than the exploring of different ways to
make a shape or learning a series of steps to music; it is a way of moving that uses
the body as an instrument of expression and communication. Through dance,
students learn teamwork, focus, and improvisational skills. Dance awakens new
perceptions in children which help them learn and think in new ways.

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Ecoben, Queen Desirre B. 7:00-9:00 Monday Bsa 2G September 16, 2019

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Ecoben, Queen Desirre B.

Archeological evidence for early dance includes 9,000-year-old paintings in India

Benefits of Dance Exercise

Why do people dance?

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