Dance (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what dance is, its origin and characteristics. Also, what are its elements and the types of dances that exist.

Dance - Dance — There are various types of dances around the world.

What is dance?

The dance It is an art that is based on bodily expression, generally accompanied by music. It is one of the most ancient forms of human expression that can have artistic, entertainment or religious purposes.

It is also called “the language of the body” and uses a sequence of body movements that rhythmically accompany the music. It is also understood as an expression of emotions, since, in some cases, the intention of communicating feelings is pursued through movements.

There are many dances around the world and in different cultures, each of them has their own rules and steps that must be respected for their execution and require training and the particular quality of each dancer. In addition, each dance is characterized by having its own clothing.

Also: Performing arts

Origin of dance

Pictorial records of dance were found in all periods and on different continents, although over the course of time its form, meaning and meaning changed.

In prehistory people danced to the sounds of nature which were later accompanied by clapping, the clash of feet or sticks, which later evolved into musical instruments. Finally, the voice joined in. These primitive dances were passionate and spontaneous, they sought to express feelings and moods.

The great civilizations of antiquity, such as Rome, Egypt and Greece used dance in rituals: deaths, weddings, receptions, dances to the divinities, among others.

Dance characteristics

There are certain characteristics that identify the various types of dances. Some are:

Choreography. It involves joining different body movements to form a dance that can be performed by one or several dancers and is usually created by a choreographer. Some dances have pre-established steps and others allow improvisation and creation of new steps.
Outfit. It involves the use of special clothing that is used by the dancers when performing the dance. The clothing and accessories used vary depending on the type of dance, many dances are represented with their typical costumes, some are only used for performance in front of an audience.
Training It involves the study and practice of each dance, training is a fundamental piece to achieve better execution of the pieces.
Interpretation. It involves the particularities that each dancer brings to the dance, although the choreography is the same, each individual will interpret it with their own nuances and styles.

Elements of dance

The main elements of all dance are:

The body. The dancer uses his body to express himself through movements performed with a single part of the body or with several at the same time.
The space. It is the place where the dance takes place, the dancer interacts with the environment that surrounds him, he can make small movements or move in various directions.
The time. It is the element that determines and guides the movements in dance. Depending on time, movements are identified according to their intensity, speed or duration.
The action. They are all the movements that the dancer makes and that are part of his dance. It may include movements of the whole body, translations, facial gestures, among others.
The energy. It is the element that determines the way in which the movement occurs, taking into account characteristics such as the use of force, tension or weight.

Types of dances

classical dance — Classical dance comes from another era but is still performed today.

There are many types and genres of dances, they are generally classified as:

Popular or folk dances. They are those that are based on the transmission of the traditional culture of a place. They express the values of a culture and the characteristics of its environment: climate, fauna and flora. Some examples are: flamenco, tango, Arabic dance or ballroom dancing.
Classical dances. They are a heritage from ancient times, mainly from the classical period of medieval antiquity, but they have undergone changes over time until reaching the present day. These dances are identified because those who execute the movements do so taking into account harmonious and coordinated steps. For example: ballet dance.
Modern dances. They are those that reflect a social identity that is manifested in movements or clothing. For example: popping, funky, break dancing, jumpstyle, hip hop or rock and roll.

Continue with: Contemporary dance