Short History of Dance - prehistory and ancient times

Summary

This video script explores the ancient origins of dance, tracing its roots from prehistoric rituals and cave art to the specialized art forms in Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and India. It highlights the evolution of dance from a communal activity to a professional pursuit, with unique styles in each civilization. The script also discusses the decline of dance in the Roman Empire and its integration into Christian rituals, before being suppressed in the medieval ages, offering a fascinating journey through dance history.

Takeaways

• 🕺 Dance has been a part of human expression since ancient times, with evidence found in cave art.
• 🐾 Prehistoric dances were used for rituals, imitating animals and nature, as war dances, exercises, and social activities.
• 🔍 Early tribal dances likely shared features with modern tribal dances, characterized by simple repetitive steps and rhythmic drum accompaniment.
• 🏙 As societies developed, specialization led to the creation of the profession of a dancer, with distinct styles emerging in Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and India.
• 🌟 In Mesopotamia, dances for goddess Ishtar featured spinning movements, elements of which are still seen in Middle Eastern culture today.
• 🧝‍♂️ Egyptian dances were highly skilled and gymnastic, often performed at funerals and processions, with detailed wall paintings and written descriptions aiding modern recreations.
• 👑 In ancient China, dance played a significant role in court and education, with Confucius emphasizing its importance, leading to a somber and symbolic style.
• 🕉 Ancient Indian dance was a sacred art form, with the Bharata Nāṭya Śāstra detailing choreography and gestures for storytelling about gods and heroes.
• 🏛 In ancient Greece, dance was highly regarded for its educational value, often recreating mythological stories and connected to theatre and festivals.
• ⚔️ The Roman Empire initially continued Greek dance traditions but later degraded the art form, with aristocrats finding it inappropriate except for war dances.
• 🛐 Early Christianity incorporated dance and music into rituals, but this practice was later suppressed when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.

Q & A

What is the earliest evidence of dance as a part of human expression?

The earliest evidence of dance is found in cave art created by our ancestors, which indicates that dance was used in rituals, as a war dance, for exercise, morale boost, and as a form of entertainment and socialization.

How did prehistoric dance resemble modern tribal dance?

Prehistoric dance likely had similar features to modern tribal dance, with simple repetitive steps, structures of straight lines and circles, and rhythm created by drum accompaniment.

What was the significance of the dance for the goddess Ishtar in Mesopotamia?

In Mesopotamia, the dance for goddess Ishtar was significant as it was performed by female priestesses and featured a spinning movement that has survived through the ages in Middle Eastern culture.

How did dance in ancient Egypt differ from other civilizations?

Ancient Egyptian dance was characterized by its strong gymnastic nature, demanding highly skilled performers, and was often associated with funeral dances and processions.

What role did dance play in ancient Chinese court and society?

In ancient China, dance played an extremely important role in the court, with popular dances featuring long-sleeved costumes and slow dramatic movements. Confucius emphasized dance's role in human education, leading to the development of a somber and symbolic character of movement.

Why is the Bharata Nāṭya Śāstra significant in the history of dance?

The Bharata Nāṭya Śāstra is significant because it is the oldest tractate about dance from ancient India, providing a detailed language of movement with steps and gestures called mudras, used to deliver stories about gods and heroes.

How did the development of a class system influence the function of dance in ancient societies?

The development of a class system led to the diversification of dance functions, with some dances being for entertainment and folk rituals accessible to everyone, and others being elite dances connected with religious celebrations and court affairs.

What was the attitude of ancient Greek philosophers towards dance?

Ancient Greek philosophers, such as Plato, held dance in high regard for its educational purposes, and dance was often used to recreate mythological stories with a strong connection to theatre and festivals.

How did the Roman Empire's conquest of Greece affect the art of dance?

After the Roman Empire conquered Greece in 130 BC, the art of dance began to degrade, as Roman aristocrats found dance inappropriate for a nobleman, and the only acceptable form was a war dance.

What changes occurred in dance culture when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire?

When Christianity became the official religion in 380 AD, Roman governors removed dance from rituals, considering it pagan, and this marked a significant shift in the role of dance in religious and cultural practices.

What was the general attitude towards dance in the medieval ages following the fall of the Roman Empire?

The medieval ages brought a new philosophy and attitude towards the art of dance, which did not regain its previous position in the church or society, reflecting a significant change from the attitudes of the ancient world.

Outlines

00:00

🕺 Origins and Early Forms of Dance

This paragraph delves into the ancient beginnings of dance, highlighting its role in rituals, as a war dance, and as a form of entertainment and socialization in early human societies. Cave art serves as evidence of dance's significance in the past, with movements likely mirroring modern tribal dances. The script mentions a recording from the early 20th century of an African tribe, emphasizing simple, repetitive steps and rhythmic structures created by drum accompaniment. As societies evolved, specialization led to the emergence of professional dancers, with civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and India developing unique dance styles. Notable examples include the dance for the goddess Ishtar in Mesopotamia and the gymnastic and highly skilled funeral dances of Egypt. The paragraph also touches on the philosophical influence of Confucius on Chinese dance and the sacred art of dance in ancient India, as detailed in the Bharata Nāṭya Śāstra.

05:00

🏛 Development of Dance in Ancient Civilizations

The second paragraph explores the evolution of dance within the context of societal growth and class systems, where dance became both an accessible folk art and an exclusive elite art form. It discusses the significant contributions of ancient Greek and Roman cultures to dance, with Greece valuing dance for its educational purposes and Romans initially continuing Greek traditions but later degrading the art form. The paragraph also covers the impact of Christianity on dance, initially incorporating folk dances into rituals but later removing them due to their pagan associations. The fall of the Roman Empire and the onset of the medieval ages brought new philosophies and attitudes towards dance, marking a transition in its cultural significance.

Keywords

💡Dance

Dance is a form of art that uses the body to express emotions, tell stories, or celebrate cultural traditions. In the video's theme, dance is portrayed as an integral part of human expression since prehistoric times, used for rituals, entertainment, and social interaction. The script provides examples of dance from different civilizations, such as the repetitive steps and rhythmic accompaniment of drums in tribal dances, and the specialized dance forms in Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and India.

💡Cave Art

Cave art refers to the paintings and drawings created by early humans on cave walls, which often depict scenes of daily life, including dance. The script mentions cave art as the earliest evidence of dance, suggesting that dance was used in rituals and had a significant role in ancient societies. The comparison between modern tribal dance and cave art illustrates the continuity of dance as a form of cultural expression.

💡Rituals

Rituals are formalized practices or ceremonies with symbolic meanings, often performed for religious or cultural reasons. In the context of the video, dance was used in rituals to imitate animals and nature, serve as a war dance, and boost morale among hunters. The script highlights the role of dance in ancient civilizations, such as the dance for the goddess Ishtar in Mesopotamia, and funeral dances in Egypt, showing how dance was deeply intertwined with spiritual and communal practices.

💡Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia, often referred to as the cradle of civilization, is one of the earliest known civilizations, located in the region of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The script discusses the unique dance culture of Mesopotamia, where female priestesses performed dances for the goddess Ishtar, featuring spinning movements that have persisted in Middle Eastern culture to this day.

💡Egypt

Egypt, known for its rich history and cultural contributions, is highlighted in the script for its significant dance culture. The script mentions that dance in ancient Egypt was characterized by its gymnastic nature and high skill level, with funeral dances and processions being particularly important. The script also references a recreation of Egyptian dance from the movie 'Ten Commandments' to illustrate the skill of these ancient performers.

💡China

China is noted in the script for its courtly dance traditions, where long-sleeved costumes and slow, dramatic movements were popular. The script emphasizes the influence of Confucius, a prominent Chinese philosopher, who believed in the educational importance of dance. His philosophy contributed to the development of a somber and symbolic character in Chinese dance, where every gesture held specific meaning.

💡India

India is recognized in the script for its sacred approach to dance, with the oldest known treatise on dance, the Bharata Nāṭya Śāstra, originating from this civilization. The script describes this text as providing a detailed language of movement, including steps and gestures called mudras, used by dancers to convey stories about gods and heroes. The script also notes the enduring influence of this tradition, with styles like Bharatanatya still practiced today.

💡Class System

The class system refers to a social hierarchy in which people are divided into different levels or classes based on wealth, social status, or occupation. The script explains that as societies grew and divided into class systems, the function of dance evolved. There were dances for entertainment and folk rituals accessible to everyone, as well as elite dances associated with religious celebrations and court life.

💡Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece is highlighted in the script as a culture where the art of dance thrived, with philosophers like Plato recognizing its educational value. Dance in Greece often recreated mythological stories and was closely connected with theater and festivals. The script notes the popularity of group dances and movements inspired by nature, characterized by soft lines.

💡Roman Empire

The Roman Empire, which conquered Greece in 130 BC, is mentioned in the script for its changing attitudes towards dance. Initially, Romans did not value dance as much as the Greeks, with aristocrats finding it inappropriate for noblemen. The only acceptable form of dance was the war dance, derived from the Greek Pyrrhic dance. However, the script also notes that the Christian religion, which emerged during the Roman era, carried the legacy of Greek dance culture.

💡Christianity

Christianity, as the script explains, initially incorporated folk music and dance into its rituals, continuing the legacy of Greek dance culture. However, after Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire in 380 AD, Roman governors removed dance from rituals, considering it pagan. The script indicates a shift in the role of dance within religious practices, with dance not regaining its position in the church even after the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD.

Highlights

Dance is an ancient form of human expression with origins in cave art.

Prehistoric dances were used for rituals, imitation of animals, war dances, exercise, and socialization.

Modern tribal dances may share features with ancient prehistoric dances.

The profession of a dancer emerged with the development of early civilizations.

Mesopotamian culture featured dances for goddess Ishtar with spinning movements.

Egyptian dance was characterized by gymnastic skill and was important in funeral rites.

Ancient Chinese dance was integral to court life and had a symbolic, educational role.

Bharata Nāṭya Śāstra from India is the oldest known treatise on dance, detailing choreography and gestures.

Ancient Indian dance was a sacred art form used to convey stories about gods and heroes.

The development of dance art was influenced by societal growth and class systems.

Rich societies in ancient times sought exclusive art forms, leading to a distinction between elite and folk dances.

Ancient Greece valued dance for its educational and mythological storytelling purposes.

The Roman Empire initially valued dance less, with a preference for war dances.

Christianity initially incorporated dance and folk music into its rituals, but later removed it due to pagan associations.

The fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the medieval ages brought a new perspective on dance.

The video encourages viewers to support the creation of more dance content by liking and subscribing.

Transcripts

Short

History of Dance

It is not possible to trace back the exact time

when dance became a part of human expression.

The only evidence of dance created

by earliest human ancestors is a cave art.

Thanks to it we know what role dance had in the past.

It was used for rituals

often imitating animals and nature

as a war dance, it was an exercise

and morale boost for hunters

and as entertainment it helped to release

the stress of everyday life

and socialise with other tribe members.

It is hard to imagine the exact look

of prehistoric dance but we can assume

it had similar features

to the modern tribal dance. Here we can see

a recording of an African tribe

from the beginning of the XXth century

As we see the movement is based on

simple repetitive steps.

Dance group creates structures of straight lines

and circles.

The rhythm is created by the accompaniment

of drums.

If we compare it to cave art, we can see

it is quite accurate example of dance made

by the first human ancestors.

Slowly prehistoric tribes settled

and build the first cities. New lifestyle

allowed some members of society to specialise.

That was a moment when profession of a dancer was created.

Around 3000 BC

first civilisation developed

culture of Mesopotamia,

Egypt, China and India

each created a unique style of movement.

In Mesopotamia popular was a dance

for goddess Ishtar

performed by female priestess.

The element of choreography often used

was a movement in which, dancer spin around oneself.

A lot of dance elements from this civilisation

survived through the ages in the culture of the Middle East.

For example

spinning movement is well known

from the rituals of the Dervish order. However, it roots

go back to ancient times.

In this video, we can see

a dance ethnologist Farima Berenji

her choreography can familiarize us

with the character of dance

performed in the times of Mesopotamia.

In Egypt very important were funeral dances

and processions. Dance had a strong gymnastic

character demanding highly skilled

performers

In this recreation of Egyptian dance

from the movie "Ten Commandment"

we can see how skilful were dancers.

Numerous wall painting, and first written descriptions

helped choreographer to revive a very accurate example of it.

The abundance of sources about

dance from this culture indicates

how important it was in Egyptian society.

In ancient China, dance played

extremely important role in court.

Popular were dances with long-sleeved costumes

and slow dramatic movements

Most important Chinese philosopher Confucius

claimed that dance had eminent role

in human education.

Influence of his philosophy

and integration of dance with rituals

resulted in development of sombre character of movement.

Dance became symbolic. Every gesture

had a different meaning.

In Ancient India dance was sacred art.

The oldest tractate about dance

comes from this civilisation.

It is written in Sanskrit language and is called

Bharata Nāṭya Śāstra

It precisely describes steps of the choreography

and the gestures called mudras.

This detailed language of movement

was created by dancers to deliver stories

about gods and heroes.

Culture of dance was cultivated

in Indian Penisula with a huge devotion.

As a result ancient style of dance

like Bharatanatya survived to this day.

Even though, each civilisation created

different style. The development

of art of dance was similar.

Growing societies evolved and divided into class system.

Rich people wanted art to be exclusive.

Because of that the function of a dance developed.

There was a dance for entertainment and folk rituals

accessible for everyone, and there was elite dance

connected with religious celebration and court.

We can't talk about art of dance

in ancient times, without mentioning

two big cultures from the end of this era:

Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire.

In Greece art of dance thrived

philosophers like Plato showed high regard

for the educational purpose of it.

Dance often recreated mythological stories

and had strong connection with the theatre and festivals.

Popular were dances in groups.

Movement often was inspired by nature and

had soft lines.

Gold ages of dance in the Mediterranean basin

ended in 130 BC

when Roman Empire conquered Greece.

Romans did not value dance equally,

under their dominance, it started degrading.

Roman aristocrats found dance inappropriate

for a nobleman. The only acceptable

form of dance was a war dance

originating from Greek Pyrrhic dance.

While Roman aristocrats had high

disregard for dance, new religion

Christianity carried the legacy of Greek dance culture.

Christians incorporated a lot of folk music

and dance into their rituals

Unfortunately, everything changed in 380AD.

When Christianity became official religion of the Empire.

Roman governors removed dance from rituals.

Because they found it pagan.

Even though shortly after in 476 AD

Roman Empire collapsed

Dance did not gain back its position in church.

The new era of medieval ages began

and with it came new philosophy and attitude for the art of dance.

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