The Performing Art Form Of Dance

September 10th, 2009 by Peggy Ryersen


Dance is commonly considered to be a form of art. This is a fact acknowledged by civilizations around the world, both in ancient and modern times. Dance is a form of emotional expression that is highly sophisticated and technical.

Some dances may be a simple swaying of the body to go with the rhythm of the music. There are also other passionate forms of dancing, however, that are emotional expressions and need to be felt by the viewer. In this type of non-verbal expression of emotions, if you know how to express your feelings to others without saying a word, then you can do these dances.

From a social dance in which human beings gathered together and expressed their emotions and sorrow, joy, ecstasy or just Thanksgiving, thousands of years ago, dance forms have taken the form of trends, which might be classical or might evolve into something, which shows the social, traditional, cultural, and moral ethos of the period.

There was a time when the waltz was supposed to be “fast” because the man had his arm around the waist of the women. Nowadays, one can watch a courtship game going on before one’s eyes in the shape of an erotic tango, and not raise an eyebrow.

There are two main types of dance schools and they differ from each other. The one group believes in traditional dancing and the other in spontaneous dance forms. The classical form includes dances like the waltz, whereas spontaneous dances are those like hip hop. There is no comparing these groups of dances, however some do have the belief that combining these forms can result in outstanding, unique and inspirational dances and performances.

Orsino was willing to dance to the tune of love and was also quoted as saying “if music be the food of love play on”. Dance and music are linked together so tightly that most cannot imagine one without the other. However, there are forms of dance that can be performed without music, such as tap dancing. Tap dancing seems to make its own rhythmic music as if the dancer is dancing to a silent tune only he or she can hear. Likewise, a musical performance can be conducted without having to add dancing to the show.

It is not possible to say that any one era has a claim on dance or that it cannot change into a new form. There will always be new forms of music created to compliment and accompany new dance forms. Old dances are not restricted to those past eras and our ancestors just might recognize some moves of their times in modern dances.

Even if you think that you have two left feet when it comes to dancing, as long as you have the urge to move your feet and body in a certain way you are actually performing a dance. It is possible that you will be dancing the way your ancestors did thousands of years ago. No matter why it is done, dancing is an art form that will be around forever.

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