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.