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Courtney Yost

Ms. Tillery

AP Literature

17 November 2011

                         The History of Dance and its Importance in Life

          The art of dance has always been a prominent characteristic in society and religion

throughout the ages. Many cultures express themselves through the act of moving to convey their

thoughts and religious beliefs. Nowadays, many use dance as a way to meet and relate to people,

articulate emotions, and to push the limits of performance to a new level. Above all, dance

provides a great cardiovascular and aerobic workout for both children and adults. For many,

dance is an essential part of life, without it, people would not be able to function well in society,

and would have no healthy outlet for strong sentiments. Dance has made its mark on history by

even defining fashion and behavior in certain decades. Pre-historic Greece marked an epoch in

the development of dance, continued the course of history, and maintained its importance up to

present, modern day social dancing.

          Contrary to today, the Bronze-Age civilization of Greece, on the island of Crete,

performed dances for harvesting and animals. It is even written in Homer’s Iliad that there

is a scene with “a vintage dance where youths, both men and women, dance as they harvest the

grapes, while in their midst a boy plays the lyre and sings the Linus-song” (Bleiberg vol. 2 ). The

Iliad showed how the people of Crete used dance as a form of a harvest festival and how they

thought this dance would help with the harvest of grapes. It conveyed that it was a time of

celebration and happiness for the youth of Crete. Another dance founded on the island of Crete
was called the Geranos “where performers imitated the flight of cranes, or costumed themselves

as cranes,” or it was also contemplated that they were not dressed as cranes but dressed “to

represent a snake…in rituals to honor a great serpent such as a python” (Bleiberg vol. 2). The

Geranos dance was a way of expressing their admiration and respect for a snake or a crane. They

believed in the sacredness and were awestruck of the animals because of their almightiness.

Hyporchema, another dance of Crete, was “a lively choral hymn sung to the god Apollo which

included interpretative dancing… festivals and sacrifices to the god” (Bleiberg vol. 2). Dancing

during a sacrificial ritual was a very common aspect of Pre-historic Greek life, and was thought

to be very respectful and a gift to the god. They danced and sang for the god Apollo, the god of

the sun, in a festive way, while also giving sacrifices to him. Ultimately in Pre-historic Greek

times, dance was used for sacrifices to gods and the appreciation of nature.

         Lituragal dance became a monumental feature in the Church, especially when

celebrating Christmas and Easter. Europe became an emphatic “primary mode of religious

expression” (Friedland) and a “tradition [that] continued throughout the Middle Ages…[with]

girls dancing during the Easter celebrations in London and references to thirteenth-century

clerics in Gournay (near Rouen, France) dancing as a part of the feasts of the Innocents and of St.

Madeline” (Bleiberg vol. 3). Religious celebrations, such as Christmas and Easter, were a time

when the Church infused dance to celebrate the festivities of the holidays. Prayers were recited

while dancing during these sacred occasions and were encouraged greatly at every

commemoration. Though contrary to the festive dances, members of the Church, such as monks

and bishops were declaring “that dancing was frowned upon because it was considered to have

pagan as well as erotic overtones” (Bleiberg vol. 3). During this time, it was thought that people

who were caught dancing were dancing for the devil and not anything spiritual. There were
rumors that terrible things would happen to those around people who danced, so dancing in

public became fearful for those who believed in such tales. Nevertheless, dance was a very vital

aspect in religion, but also a dark omen for those who deemed it so.

          Later, in the Middle Ages, dancing became more of a social gathering rather than a

spiritual rite. In the country side and even in the court “it could be a way of expressing

happiness, a casual relief from the toils of daily labors, an occasion for amorous flirtation, or a

vehicle for displaying elegance and wealth” (Bleiberg vol. 3). Dancing in the Middle Ages freed

many people from the troubles of life, and instead gave them something to look forward to and

gave an outlet for those not well-known in society to mingle. The dancing could consist of big

groups, or for partners, but nothing very physical. There were also two distinctly different

dances, the first was a Convential Dance, “in which a single set of steps is repeated over and over

until the music stops,” the other was choreographed dances where “each dance has a unique

sequence of steps” (Bleiberg vol. 3). Both types of dances were extremely diverse from one

another in that they both had different purposes and foundations. Both have survived to this very

day in society, but are very different these days. In the Middle Ages, there were also many new

occasions to dance outside of the religious and spiritual reasons, where “people danced at

weddings, on holidays, and at political or cultural gatherings, as well as for simple evening

entertainment” (Bleiberg vol. 3). Occasions for dancing have not greatly differed over the

centuries, but dancing styles have indeed changed. The main difference in the events is that

society normally does not dance for religious or spiritual occasions. In short, many of the basic

forms of dancing today were discovered centuries ago and admired greatly.

          After the Middle Ages, dance was a very influential feature in French society where the

Court presented ballet regularly, and even king Louis XVI performed with them. With the
French being so enthusiastic about ballet, they incorporated it in Operas “to ensure that dance

was an accompaniment and enhancement to the sung drama” whereas the “role of dancing was

expanded beyond a mere diversion and brought into the central flow of the opera's story line”

(Bleiberg vol. 5). In the establishment of ballet, the dances during the opera performances were

originally performed by men, but some women got to be in the shows if they hid their faces with

masks. Dance was incorporated in the operas to enchant the audience and give the real show a

break. After accompanying the Opera, the French brought a new style forward for ballet with

storytelling because “a tension soon developed between the demands of technical brilliance and

dramatic representation [in the Opera]” (Bleiberg vol. 5). People all around soon realized that

there was a lot more to ballet than just entertainment. Ballet became a dramatically challenging

feature in the entertainment business of not only France, but Europe as a whole. Since the start of

ballet in France, ballet has become a very trying art form and has kept up its expectations and

respect throughout the years.

         Ballet created a platform and solid background for various ballroom dances such as the

Salsa, the Foxtrot, Swing dance, the Charleston, the Samba, the Rhumba, and the Tango. Times

were changing to where the “main impetus of social dancing was the music's rhythm and the

impulse that it gave to dancing” (Escoffier). Most people wanted to go out and have a good time

by dancing with a partner to one of the newest songs or styles of dancing, which were all

collaborative. Taking someone dancing for a date was considered the thing to do when partner

dancing became the new fad. Out of all the partner dances, the Foxtrot was the most illustrious

“because it combined slow and quick steps, allowing for an increased diversity of dance-floor

movement” (Edelman). During such a time when modesty was becoming vastly overrated, the

foxtrot was a way people could get together and dance up-close with one another. The
movements were easy enough to follow for the average person wanting to learn a new dance and

do it well enough to impress their dance partner. Aside from the little population that disagreed

with partner dancing in the twentieth Century, many people enjoyed the risqué yet fun styles of

dancing and still partake in the many forms of partner dances to this day.

         Nowadays, dance is a very social form of life that is innovative, fun, and always

affecting with whichever way societies’ current is moving. Hip-hop and break dancing are forms

of dance that derived from street dancing and consisted of “acrobatic moves—such as splits,

headstands, flips, and handsprings—spinning on their shoulders, backs, and heads in an often

dazzling display of athletics and choreography” (Baughman vol. 9). Being influenced by gangs

and their inventive solution to gang violence, hip hop was and still is frowned upon by those

more conservative in their way of life. Hip hop is very much praised by the younger generation,

giving them a way to dance that is not necessarily structured and a fun way to express oneself.

Modern dance became a new form of expression “unlike classical ballet, modern dance was

spontaneous, expressionistic, jazzy…” it had the feel of “…uncertain balance between walking

and falling, and constructed a rigorous dance technique around it” (Baughman vol. 5). Many who

did not like the strictness of ballet turned to Modern and found it to be a new, excellent way to

communicate new ideas and feelings. With having to convey the message of the dance not only

through body, but through facial expressions, it allowed dancers to spread original thoughts

through this form of dance. With attention to expressing oneself, hip hop and modern dance are a

couple of the many influential dances of this time.

         Previously, dance was just a form of entertainment, but now it is a source of exercise

that helps maintain a healthy and active body. The AARP stated that “regular physical activity in

general can help keep your body, including your brain, healthy as you age” (Let's Dance to
Health). Your body, through dance, can tone up in a matter of few days and helps maintain

muscle while aging. It is encouraged to dance regularly to keep your body fit by constant

physical movement and is beneficial to your brain by having to keep up with memory by

memorizing steps. Dance is a perfect way to stay in shape because it “consists of cardiovascular

conditioning, strength and resistance training, and flexibility.” (Sisk) In dance, there are no

weights or machines, but the human body has to resist gravity and has to learn flexibleness to

perform the many trying moves. The human heart stays fit from the fast motions of the body and

the activeness of every muscle. For this reason, many people these days stay active and fit

through dancing.

          In conclusion, dance has been a fundamental aspect in any society throughout the ages.

From the beginning of time, dance has upheld its essentialness in every cultures way of life, and

remained important through physical activity and expression through art in this age in time. The

Cretans began with dancing for gods and animals to show appreciation and admiration. Derived

from that, the Church had its quarrels about the nature of dance and its intentions in life. As a

result, the Middle Ages changed dance to a charismatic and fun gathering of people with set

steps and movements. With the idea of dance being entertainment, the French created a new style

that set forth many new ideas for performing. Ballet began the basic essentials for partner

dancing in the twentieth century of America when the foxtrot was a breakthrough in dance

history and extremely popular. Closer to the twenty-first century, dance became a freedom of

expression through youth with Hip hop, break dancing, and modern dance. Furthermore, dance

became a form of exercise and a base for a healthy life for as long as one lives. In summary,

dance has made a huge contribution to history, wellness, and physical and mental health.
Works Cited

Baughman, Judith S. "Dance." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. .

"Hip-Hop Culture." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.

. AARP. "Let's Dance to Health." aarp.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.

Bleiberg, Edward I. "Conventional Dance Formations and Steps ." Gale Virtual Reference

Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. .

"Dance in Prehistoric Greece ." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. .

"Dancing in Medieval Life." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. .

"Sacred and Symbolic Dance." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. .

Bleigberg, Edward I. "The Rise of the Ballet in France." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. .

Edelman, Rob. "Dancing." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov.

2011. .

Escoffier, Jeffrey. "Social Dancing." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web.

17 Nov. 2011. .

Friedland, Leeellen. "Dance: Popular and Folk Dance [First Edition]." Gale Virtual

Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. .

Sisk, Jennifer E. "Exercise." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. .

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Research Paper

  • 1. Courtney Yost Ms. Tillery AP Literature 17 November 2011 The History of Dance and its Importance in Life The art of dance has always been a prominent characteristic in society and religion throughout the ages. Many cultures express themselves through the act of moving to convey their thoughts and religious beliefs. Nowadays, many use dance as a way to meet and relate to people, articulate emotions, and to push the limits of performance to a new level. Above all, dance provides a great cardiovascular and aerobic workout for both children and adults. For many, dance is an essential part of life, without it, people would not be able to function well in society, and would have no healthy outlet for strong sentiments. Dance has made its mark on history by even defining fashion and behavior in certain decades. Pre-historic Greece marked an epoch in the development of dance, continued the course of history, and maintained its importance up to present, modern day social dancing. Contrary to today, the Bronze-Age civilization of Greece, on the island of Crete, performed dances for harvesting and animals. It is even written in Homer’s Iliad that there is a scene with “a vintage dance where youths, both men and women, dance as they harvest the grapes, while in their midst a boy plays the lyre and sings the Linus-song” (Bleiberg vol. 2 ). The Iliad showed how the people of Crete used dance as a form of a harvest festival and how they thought this dance would help with the harvest of grapes. It conveyed that it was a time of celebration and happiness for the youth of Crete. Another dance founded on the island of Crete
  • 2. was called the Geranos “where performers imitated the flight of cranes, or costumed themselves as cranes,” or it was also contemplated that they were not dressed as cranes but dressed “to represent a snake…in rituals to honor a great serpent such as a python” (Bleiberg vol. 2). The Geranos dance was a way of expressing their admiration and respect for a snake or a crane. They believed in the sacredness and were awestruck of the animals because of their almightiness. Hyporchema, another dance of Crete, was “a lively choral hymn sung to the god Apollo which included interpretative dancing… festivals and sacrifices to the god” (Bleiberg vol. 2). Dancing during a sacrificial ritual was a very common aspect of Pre-historic Greek life, and was thought to be very respectful and a gift to the god. They danced and sang for the god Apollo, the god of the sun, in a festive way, while also giving sacrifices to him. Ultimately in Pre-historic Greek times, dance was used for sacrifices to gods and the appreciation of nature. Lituragal dance became a monumental feature in the Church, especially when celebrating Christmas and Easter. Europe became an emphatic “primary mode of religious expression” (Friedland) and a “tradition [that] continued throughout the Middle Ages…[with] girls dancing during the Easter celebrations in London and references to thirteenth-century clerics in Gournay (near Rouen, France) dancing as a part of the feasts of the Innocents and of St. Madeline” (Bleiberg vol. 3). Religious celebrations, such as Christmas and Easter, were a time when the Church infused dance to celebrate the festivities of the holidays. Prayers were recited while dancing during these sacred occasions and were encouraged greatly at every commemoration. Though contrary to the festive dances, members of the Church, such as monks and bishops were declaring “that dancing was frowned upon because it was considered to have pagan as well as erotic overtones” (Bleiberg vol. 3). During this time, it was thought that people who were caught dancing were dancing for the devil and not anything spiritual. There were
  • 3. rumors that terrible things would happen to those around people who danced, so dancing in public became fearful for those who believed in such tales. Nevertheless, dance was a very vital aspect in religion, but also a dark omen for those who deemed it so. Later, in the Middle Ages, dancing became more of a social gathering rather than a spiritual rite. In the country side and even in the court “it could be a way of expressing happiness, a casual relief from the toils of daily labors, an occasion for amorous flirtation, or a vehicle for displaying elegance and wealth” (Bleiberg vol. 3). Dancing in the Middle Ages freed many people from the troubles of life, and instead gave them something to look forward to and gave an outlet for those not well-known in society to mingle. The dancing could consist of big groups, or for partners, but nothing very physical. There were also two distinctly different dances, the first was a Convential Dance, “in which a single set of steps is repeated over and over until the music stops,” the other was choreographed dances where “each dance has a unique sequence of steps” (Bleiberg vol. 3). Both types of dances were extremely diverse from one another in that they both had different purposes and foundations. Both have survived to this very day in society, but are very different these days. In the Middle Ages, there were also many new occasions to dance outside of the religious and spiritual reasons, where “people danced at weddings, on holidays, and at political or cultural gatherings, as well as for simple evening entertainment” (Bleiberg vol. 3). Occasions for dancing have not greatly differed over the centuries, but dancing styles have indeed changed. The main difference in the events is that society normally does not dance for religious or spiritual occasions. In short, many of the basic forms of dancing today were discovered centuries ago and admired greatly. After the Middle Ages, dance was a very influential feature in French society where the Court presented ballet regularly, and even king Louis XVI performed with them. With the
  • 4. French being so enthusiastic about ballet, they incorporated it in Operas “to ensure that dance was an accompaniment and enhancement to the sung drama” whereas the “role of dancing was expanded beyond a mere diversion and brought into the central flow of the opera's story line” (Bleiberg vol. 5). In the establishment of ballet, the dances during the opera performances were originally performed by men, but some women got to be in the shows if they hid their faces with masks. Dance was incorporated in the operas to enchant the audience and give the real show a break. After accompanying the Opera, the French brought a new style forward for ballet with storytelling because “a tension soon developed between the demands of technical brilliance and dramatic representation [in the Opera]” (Bleiberg vol. 5). People all around soon realized that there was a lot more to ballet than just entertainment. Ballet became a dramatically challenging feature in the entertainment business of not only France, but Europe as a whole. Since the start of ballet in France, ballet has become a very trying art form and has kept up its expectations and respect throughout the years. Ballet created a platform and solid background for various ballroom dances such as the Salsa, the Foxtrot, Swing dance, the Charleston, the Samba, the Rhumba, and the Tango. Times were changing to where the “main impetus of social dancing was the music's rhythm and the impulse that it gave to dancing” (Escoffier). Most people wanted to go out and have a good time by dancing with a partner to one of the newest songs or styles of dancing, which were all collaborative. Taking someone dancing for a date was considered the thing to do when partner dancing became the new fad. Out of all the partner dances, the Foxtrot was the most illustrious “because it combined slow and quick steps, allowing for an increased diversity of dance-floor movement” (Edelman). During such a time when modesty was becoming vastly overrated, the foxtrot was a way people could get together and dance up-close with one another. The
  • 5. movements were easy enough to follow for the average person wanting to learn a new dance and do it well enough to impress their dance partner. Aside from the little population that disagreed with partner dancing in the twentieth Century, many people enjoyed the risqué yet fun styles of dancing and still partake in the many forms of partner dances to this day. Nowadays, dance is a very social form of life that is innovative, fun, and always affecting with whichever way societies’ current is moving. Hip-hop and break dancing are forms of dance that derived from street dancing and consisted of “acrobatic moves—such as splits, headstands, flips, and handsprings—spinning on their shoulders, backs, and heads in an often dazzling display of athletics and choreography” (Baughman vol. 9). Being influenced by gangs and their inventive solution to gang violence, hip hop was and still is frowned upon by those more conservative in their way of life. Hip hop is very much praised by the younger generation, giving them a way to dance that is not necessarily structured and a fun way to express oneself. Modern dance became a new form of expression “unlike classical ballet, modern dance was spontaneous, expressionistic, jazzy…” it had the feel of “…uncertain balance between walking and falling, and constructed a rigorous dance technique around it” (Baughman vol. 5). Many who did not like the strictness of ballet turned to Modern and found it to be a new, excellent way to communicate new ideas and feelings. With having to convey the message of the dance not only through body, but through facial expressions, it allowed dancers to spread original thoughts through this form of dance. With attention to expressing oneself, hip hop and modern dance are a couple of the many influential dances of this time. Previously, dance was just a form of entertainment, but now it is a source of exercise that helps maintain a healthy and active body. The AARP stated that “regular physical activity in general can help keep your body, including your brain, healthy as you age” (Let's Dance to
  • 6. Health). Your body, through dance, can tone up in a matter of few days and helps maintain muscle while aging. It is encouraged to dance regularly to keep your body fit by constant physical movement and is beneficial to your brain by having to keep up with memory by memorizing steps. Dance is a perfect way to stay in shape because it “consists of cardiovascular conditioning, strength and resistance training, and flexibility.” (Sisk) In dance, there are no weights or machines, but the human body has to resist gravity and has to learn flexibleness to perform the many trying moves. The human heart stays fit from the fast motions of the body and the activeness of every muscle. For this reason, many people these days stay active and fit through dancing. In conclusion, dance has been a fundamental aspect in any society throughout the ages. From the beginning of time, dance has upheld its essentialness in every cultures way of life, and remained important through physical activity and expression through art in this age in time. The Cretans began with dancing for gods and animals to show appreciation and admiration. Derived from that, the Church had its quarrels about the nature of dance and its intentions in life. As a result, the Middle Ages changed dance to a charismatic and fun gathering of people with set steps and movements. With the idea of dance being entertainment, the French created a new style that set forth many new ideas for performing. Ballet began the basic essentials for partner dancing in the twentieth century of America when the foxtrot was a breakthrough in dance history and extremely popular. Closer to the twenty-first century, dance became a freedom of expression through youth with Hip hop, break dancing, and modern dance. Furthermore, dance became a form of exercise and a base for a healthy life for as long as one lives. In summary, dance has made a huge contribution to history, wellness, and physical and mental health.
  • 7. Works Cited Baughman, Judith S. "Dance." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . "Hip-Hop Culture." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . AARP. "Let's Dance to Health." aarp.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. Bleiberg, Edward I. "Conventional Dance Formations and Steps ." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . "Dance in Prehistoric Greece ." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . "Dancing in Medieval Life." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . "Sacred and Symbolic Dance." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . Bleigberg, Edward I. "The Rise of the Ballet in France." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . Edelman, Rob. "Dancing." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . Escoffier, Jeffrey. "Social Dancing." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . Friedland, Leeellen. "Dance: Popular and Folk Dance [First Edition]." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. . Sisk, Jennifer E. "Exercise." Gale Virtual Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. .