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ORIGIN OF DANCE
What is Dance?
Dance is a successive group of rhythmical steps or bodily motions, or both, usually
executed to music. It is the movement of the body in a rhythmic way, usually to music and
within a given space, for the purpose of expressing an idea or emotion, releasing energy, or
simply faking delight in the movement itself The word “dance" come from an old German
word "danson”, which means “to stretch". All dancing is made up od stretching and relaxing.

Brief History of Dance

The earliest historical records showing the origins of dance are cave paintings in
India dating to about 8000 BCE Egyptian tomb paintings also depict dance in about 3300 BCE
These early dances may have been religious in nature, and by the era of ancient Greece,
people were incorporating dance into celebrations of the wine god Dionysus (and later the
Roman god Bacchus) and into ritual dances at the ancient Greek Olympic Games. In
addition, early people danced for enjoyment, seduction, and entertainment.

5 Universal Elements of Dancing

Dancing in all its forms involves five key elements:
1. BODY
The body is the primary instrument of dance. Dancers may use their entire bodies or
limit movement to certain body parts.

2. ACTION
Action refers to what the dancer does while dancing, whether they stay rooted in
one spot or move across the floor and through the air.

3. DANCE
Dancers move through space in every possible way, varying their level, direction, and
path as they move, no matter the form of dance. They also move, often in very specific
ways, in relation to other people taking part in a given dance.

4. TIME
Time is one of the key elements of dance, as it relates to the rhythm of the
movements. Performers often choreograph their dances to the meter of the music.

5. ENERGY
The final element of dance, energy, speaks to how the dancers move through space
and time. Dancers can use their bodies and their dance technique to make movements that
are smooth or sudden, that feel tight and restricted or light and relaxed.

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The Evolution of Dance Throughout Decade

 1920s
Dances from the 1920s were often talked about as wild and carefree, from the
shimmy to the Charleston, to Gatsby parties. Most of the styles of dance from the 1920s
were performed in clubs. In the clubs, they did dance contests called marathons, which is
when you dance until you can't dance anymore. There were records beaten all around the
country from hours to days to weeks. In the late 1920s came the tango and the waltz, which
still play a role in history today from dance shows like "Dancing with the Stars" to "So You
Think You Can Dance".

 1930s – 1940s
Swing dancing and jazz became more popular in this era. Within all the hardship of
the 30s, dancing still remained popular. Dance is how people would free from it. And even
though the Germans banned dancing, it never stopped anyone, especially from the bouncy
upbeat swing dance. The Jitterbug and the Lindy Hop along with the bebop and the boogie-
woogie were some of the most popular dance trends of this era.

 1950s
The 1950s was the year of growth and rebellion. Major dances from the 1950s like
the twist and other dances made popular from this rock and roll era influenced movies like
Grease, Hairspray, and La La Land. From their poodle skirts, socks, and white tennis shoes,
this was the era of the pink ladies and dirty dancing.

 1960s
The majority of the dances in the 1960s didn't include a dance partner. They had
dances like the Mashed Potato, the Fly, the Monkey and the Funky Chicken. Over 400 new
dances were introduced in the 1960s. Artists like Nat Cole and The Beatles had a huge
impact in this era for dance. Some films based off this era were "Cats” and "West Side
Story”.

 1970s
The 1970s is the colorful, bright, soulful disco era, from dances like the hustle, the
YMCA, and soul train lines, this upbeat era kept everyone on their toes or should I say "their
platform shoes." Disco was also expressed very sexually on the dance floor from songs like
"Macho Man', "Love Machine" and 'Foxy Lady". A lot of people would express themselves
best dancing with their significant other to disco music. Movies like 'Saturday Night Fever"
starring John Travolta were based on this era.

 1980s
Break dancing being one of the biggest crazes of the 1980s, street dancing was born
in this era. Even though break dancing was such a big thing, it was also the year of punk and
heavy metal such as moshing (jumping around to the sounds of loud heavy metal music.)A
famous dance film in the 1980s was "Dirty Dancing" which featured a dance style called
lambada. Lambada, a dance with long-standing Brazilian roots, was a very sensual dance,
even though it was very fast paced.

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 1990s
Hip-hop takes front and center in the 1990s, in both music and dance. Party dances
of the 1990s include the tootsie roll, the macarena, the running man, the hammer dance,
line dances, and many more moves that are still common now.

 2000
In the 2000's, there was never just one dance style that everyone dance. During the
century, all of the styles had been mixed but was based on hip-hop. People are influenced
by the music that they listen to and what they dance to. Within the music, everyone
interprets it differently. One dance style that grown a lot during the 2000's is contemporary.

Types of Dances

1. BALLET
Ballet is known worldwide as one of the most expressive dance forms loved by both
the young and old. It was known to date back to the 15th century, and the term" ballet" is
derived from "ballare," an Italian word for dance. Subsequently, the dance underwent more
artistic enhancements, and in the 17th century, it was adopted by France as concert dance.
Finally, the 18th century brought ballet to Russia and earned great respect in the country. In
the beginning, the ballet was usually performed on stages where spectators would sit on
raised podiums that allowed them a clear view of the performance. Classical music played in
the background, filling the theater with beautiful melodies to accompany the dancers'
movements dressed in various layers of costumes. They wore masks, headdresses, and
small-heeled dancing shoes. While the outfits may have been attractive, it was also more
challenging to dancers who had to move gracefully beneath the heavy costumes they wore.

2. BALLROOM
Ballroom dance, type of social dancing, originally practiced in Europe and the United
States, that is performed by couples and follows prescribed steps. The tradition was
historically distinguished from folk or country dance by its association with the elite social
classes and with invitational dance events.

3. HIP-HOP
Hip-hop is also known as rap and formerly known as disco rap, it refers to a range of
street dances that developed in relation to hip hop music and culture. Hip-hop dancing
dates back to the early 1970s in New York and California, evolving out of Funk and the
development of break beat.
Its main styles include Breaking, Locking and Popping, with derivative styles
emerging out of these including Memphis Jookin, Turfing, Jerkin' and Krumping. These were
often popularised and made mainstream after being featured in music videos of the time.
And unlike many competitive dance styles, hip-hop is often improvisational with dance
crews challenging each other to dance battles.

4. TAP DANCE

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Tap dance is a style of dance in which a dancer wearing shoes fitted with heel and
toe taps sounds out audible beats by rhythmically striking the floor or any other hard
surface. Tap dance is an indigenous American dance form with roots that go back 300 years
to British and West African musical and step dance traditions. These fused and evolved into
a form of dance called "jigging", which was taken up by minstrel show dancers in the 1800s.
Tap dance then became a popular stage entertainment.

5. FOLK DANCE
Folk dance is a type of dance that is a vernacular, usually recreational, expression of
a past or present culture. The term "folk dance" was accepted until the mid-20th century.
With each passing year, customs and beliefs of groups of people get built little by little,
slowly with time forming into traditions. Folk dances represent one of the strongest ways
these traditions of countries and regions can be showcased to the public.

6. BELLY DANCING
Belly dance is a Middle Eastern style that originated in Egypt. It's centered around
fluid and sensual movements of the hips and torso, occasionally punctuated with sharper
movements to match the percussion and shimmies to add variety.

7. MODERN DANCE
Modern dance was considered as being a broad genre of dance, modern dance
primarily arose from western countries such as the USA and Germany during the late 1900s.
While most forms of dance are structured and feature set steps, the purpose of modern
dance is to rely on the dancer's interpretation of the music and feeling to guide movements.
Modern dance was initially born out of dislike for the limitations of traditional dances such
as ballet, which often oppressed dancers with rigid rules and techniques.

Summary
Every dance form has its own unique identity. Each dance is beautiful in its own way
and has a different appeal to it. Every country has a distinctive approach about its dance
style, with ethnicities worldwide merging dance forms, and even creating new ones,
transforming the very idea of dance.
Dance differs from athletics and other daily activities because it focuses primarily on
aesthetic or even entertaining experience. People dance to please the gods, please others,
and please themselves or self expression and to build community. In which means that
dance involve some extra qualities such as self expression , aesthetic pleasure,
entertainment and a gesture to communicate.
All of the above goes to show that the dance world is bound to continue changing.
What was once considered a courtly pass time between couples is now a fully fledged
movement. However, one thing is for sure. Dance is and will continue to be a defining art
form for decades more to come.

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