Dance
cc-by-nd-nc ]]Dance generally refers to human movement used as a form of expression or presented in a social, spiritual or performance setting.
The term Dance is also used to describe methods of non-verbal communication between humans or animals (waggledance, mating dance), motion in inanimate objects (the leaves danced in the wind) and musical formss or genre. People who dance are called dancers and the act of dance is known as dancing. An event where dancing takes place may be called a dance. Choreography is the art of making dances.
Definitions of what constitutes dance are dependent on social, cultural, aesthetic artistic and moral constraints and range from functional movement (Folk dance) to codified, virtuoso techniques such as ballet. In sports, gymnastics, figure skating and synchronized swimming contain dance disciplines while Martial arts 'Kata' are often compared to dances.
see also: Dance (disambiguation)
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2 Dance and music 3 Categories of dance 4 Dance studies 5 Dance quotes 6 See also 7 Further reading 8 External links |
Throughout history, dance has been a part of ceremony, rituals, celebrations and entertainment. It is traceable through Archeological evidence from prehistory to the first examples of written and pictorial documentation from 200 BC. Many contemporary dance forms can be traced back to historical, traditional, ceremonial and ethnic dances.
see also: History of dance
Although dance is often accompanied by music, it can also be presented alone (Postmodern dance) or provide its own accompaniment (tap dance). Dance presented with music may or may not be performed in time to the music depending on the style of dance. Dance performed without music is said to be ''danced to its own rhythm'.
Dance can be divided into two main categories that each have several subcategories into which most dance styles can be placed. They are:
see also: List of dance style categories and List of dances
In the early 1920s dance studies (dance theory, history and practice) began to be considered as a serious academic discipline. Today dance studies are an integral part of many universities' arts and humanities programs. In the early 21st century the recognition of practical knowledge as equal and valid to academic knowledge lead to the emergence of practice-based research and practice as research.
History of dance
Dance and music
Categories of dance
Dance studies
Dance quotes
, 1585, is affected by conventions of lively Elizabethan court dancing]]
See also
Further reading
External links