Dance Throughout History: The History Of Dance Throughout History

Throughout history, dance has been utilized as a form of expression for many different motives. Movement is one of the most natural tendencies for human kind, and by examining the use of dance throughout history one can see this in play. In earlier periods, dance was highly regarded as a form of expression for many different things, including religious, ceremonial, and celebratory means. As time progressed, dance became more technically practiced and became a more solidified art, thanks to the influence of the nobility. In more recent times, the training has continued to evolve, developing in to the dance community that is known today. The way that dance is studied and trained has changed drastically over time.

Dancers of the ancient times

A set way of practicing dance did not exist at this time, as it was more of an emotional exploration than a physical one. Although dance was

“highly structured”, the dancing that was performed “might not be considered dance today”, as the reasons for dancing were more centered toward religion, war, ceremonies, etc. (“History of Dance”). The Greeks practiced many different versions of dance, those of which include funeral dances, war training, and theatrical dance. According to Smiths

Dictionary, dance was “divided into two kinds, gymnastic and mimetic” (p1004 Saltatio).

The artists of this time utilized dance as a physical activity and also as a conceptual

Weiss 2 activity. It was used as a means for preparation for war, preparing the fighters and helping them to become more kinesthetically aware. Likewise, as it is today, dance was used for entertainment. The aspect of story telling through dance was an

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Long ago, physical fitness was a natural part of every day life, but as humanity evolved, physical fitness became less prominent in daily life and more necessary in dance training. According to Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General,

“our ancestors…incorporated strenuous activity as a normal part of their daily lives- and not only for the daily, subsistence requirements of their “work” lives” (“Physical Activity and Health”). Physical fitness was a result of living daily life, rather than the result of commitment. As time moved on and people became more sedentary, however, less physical activity was seen in everyday life. The combination of this way of living and the growing expectations for dancers resulted in increased physical pressure. Ed Yong describes how “over the years, successive generations of ballet dancers have subtly tinkered with positions that are ostensibly fixed and limited by the physical constraints of a dancer’s body”. “In recent times, dance has become extensively more physically demanding” (Yong, Ed “Ballet postures have become more extreme over time”).