Dance generally refers
to human movement either used as a form of expression
or presented in a social, spiritual or performance
setting. Dance is also used to describe methods
of non-verbal communication between humans or
animals (bee dance, mating dance), motion in inanimate
objects (the leaves danced in the wind), and certain
musical forms or genres. 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. Dances depends on social,
cultural, aesthetic artistic still moral constraints
and range from functional movement (such as 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.
Dance and music
Although dance and music can
be traced back to prehistoric times it is unclear
which artform came first. However, as rhythm and
sound are the result of movement, and music can
inspire movement, the relationship between the
two forms has always been symbiotic. This relationship
serves as the basis for Eurhythmics devised by
Emile Jaques-Dalcroze which was influential to
the development of Modern dance and Modern ballet
through artists such as Marie Rambert.
Many early forms of music and
dance were created and performed together. This
paired development has continued through the ages
with dance/music forms such as: Jig, Waltz, Tango,
disco,techno and Hip-Hop. Some musical genre also
have a parallel dance form such as Baroque music
and Baroque dance where as others developed separately:
Classical music, Classical ballet.
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.
Choreography
Choreography is the art of marking
dances and the generic name given to dances which
set movements occurs. People who set choreographies
are called choreographers and may develop their
own dance techniques as a part of their choreographic
work. Choreography and dance techniques can be
written down as dance notation which is analogous
to music notation.
The term choreogoraphy has a
varied historical context, it is derived from
the word chorea. chorea a Greek Circle dance accompanied
by singing, derivatives of chorea are used to
describe circle dances in other counties: Khorovod
(Russia), Hora (Romania, Moldova, Israel), Horo
(Bulgaria). Paracelsus used the term chorea to
describe the rapid, jerking physical movements
of medieval pilgrims traveling the healing shrine
of St. Vitus giving rise to the terms St. Vitus'
dance (now known as Sydenhams Chorea).
The rejection of ballet
vocabulary and terms by modern dance resulted
in the term choreographer replacing Ballet Master
and therefore choreography came to mean the art
of making dances.
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