Short History of Dance - prehistory and ancient times

Summary

The history of dance is a journey through human expression, from prehistoric rituals and tribal movements to the sophisticated styles of ancient civilizations. Early dances were integral to cultural and religious practices, evolving with societies in Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and India. Dance also played an important role in Greece and Rome, though its status waned under Roman rule. The rise of Christianity further suppressed dance in religious contexts. Despite this, the art form continued to thrive, influencing future cultures and retaining a legacy in modern dance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Dance has been a part of human expression since prehistoric times, with evidence of early dances seen in cave art.
• 😀 Prehistoric dances were often ritualistic, mimicking animals and nature, serving as war dances, exercises, and stress-relieving activities.
• 😀 The development of dance became more specialized as human societies evolved, with certain individuals becoming professional dancers around 3000 BC.
• 😀 Ancient Mesopotamian dances, like those for the goddess Ishtar, featured spinning movements, influencing modern Middle Eastern dances like the Dervishes.
• 😀 In ancient Egypt, dance played a significant role in funerary rituals and required highly skilled performers, as evidenced by ancient depictions and choreographies.
• 😀 Chinese court dance was characterized by slow, dramatic movements, and Confucius emphasized dance as an essential part of human education.
• 😀 Indian dance, particularly through the *Bharata Nāṭya Śāstra*, was sacred and intricately described, with gestures (*mudras*) used to tell stories about gods and heroes.
• 😀 Over time, dance in many cultures was divided into elite dances for religious or court purposes, and folk dances that were more accessible to the general public.
• 😀 Ancient Greece valued dance for its educational role, with dances often recreating mythological stories and integrating with theatre and festivals.
• 😀 Roman attitudes toward dance were more dismissive, considering it inappropriate for aristocrats, except for martial dances, which led to the decline of dance in Roman culture.
• 😀 With the rise of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, dance was suppressed due to its association with pagan rituals, and this decline continued into the Medieval Ages.

Q & A

When did dance first become a part of human expression?

Dance became a part of human expression long before recorded history. The earliest evidence of dance comes from cave art, which shows that dance was used in rituals and social contexts by prehistoric humans.

What were some of the primary functions of dance in ancient cultures?

In ancient cultures, dance served various functions, including religious rituals, imitating animals and nature, war dances, social bonding, stress relief, and entertainment.

How is prehistoric dance believed to have been performed?

Prehistoric dance is believed to have been simple and repetitive, with movements reflecting the environment, nature, and daily life, similar to modern tribal dance, often accompanied by rhythmic drumming.

How did the role of dance evolve with the rise of early civilizations?

As early civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and India developed, dance became more formalized, with specialized dancers performing for religious, social, and entertainment purposes, marking the emergence of dance as a profession.

What role did dance play in Mesopotamian culture?

In Mesopotamia, dance was used in religious rituals, particularly in worship of deities like the goddess Ishtar. A common element of choreography in Mesopotamian dance was the spinning movement, which has survived through time in rituals such as the Dervish order.

How did Egyptian dance differ from other ancient dance forms?

Egyptian dance had a strong gymnastic element, requiring highly skilled performers. It was also closely tied to funeral rituals and processions, emphasizing precise and often acrobatic movements.

What was the role of dance in ancient Chinese culture?

In ancient China, dance held a central role, especially in court rituals. Confucian philosophy emphasized the educational value of dance, and movements became highly symbolic, with each gesture carrying specific meaning.

What was the significance of dance in ancient India?

In ancient India, dance was considered a sacred art. The 'Bharata Nāṭya Śāstra' provided a detailed system of dance steps and gestures (mudras) to convey stories about gods and heroes, and this tradition continues in classical Indian dance forms like Bharatanatyam.

How did the social class system impact the development of dance?

As societies grew and became more hierarchical, dance split into two distinct categories: folk and entertainment dances accessible to everyone, and elite dances tied to religious rituals and court performances, which were reserved for the upper classes.

What was the impact of Greek and Roman cultures on dance?

Greek culture valued dance for its educational role and often used it to depict mythological stories. Roman culture, however, did not hold dance in high regard, viewing it as inappropriate for the aristocracy. After the Roman conquest of Greece, dance declined in importance, though it was later revived in Christian rituals.

Why did Christianity lead to the decline of dance in the Roman Empire?

When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire in 380 AD, it led to the rejection of dance in religious rituals, as it was seen as pagan. Despite this, dance continued to have a presence in folk traditions, but its formal role in religious and cultural ceremonies diminished.