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Welcome to our newsletter for
October. Topic is dance |
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**** If you can't see the images then click here. **** |
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There
is not a single culture in the world that does not dance. There are many
styles, forms and purposes for dancing. |
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Dancing
is not just for entertainment, cultures dance for religious ceremonies, courtship rituals and even for story telling. |
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If
you don't know any dance styles, it doesn't matter
you just need to move your body to the music. |
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Dance
history cannot be traced to a single date when it
first formed. As dance has been an important part of human culture, there
is no doubt we have been dancing from the beginning of mankind.
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The Bhimbetka rock shelters compose an archaeological site and World Heritage Site located in Raisen District in the Indian state
of Madhya Pradesh.
This rock painting is the earliest signs of dancing in human culture. Click here to view larger image. |
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Ballet emerged in late Renaissance
Italy, as a dance interpretation of fencing, and further developed
in the French court
from the time of Louis XIV
in the 17th century. |
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After
1850, ballet flourished in Denmark
and Russia.
From Russia, it returned
to Western Europe and subsequently the
globe. |
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Click here to watch video. |
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20th century dance |
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The Jazz
Age describes the period from 1918-1929;
the years after the end of World
War I, continuing through the Roaring Twenties and ending
with the rise of the Great Depression. The traditional values of the
previous period saw great decline while the American stock market soared. |
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A
popular dance from the Jazz Age was called the Jitterbug. Click here to watch video. |
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The
Twist was a
dance in the 1960s, inspired by rock
and roll music. It became a worldwide craze, enjoying immense
popularity among young people and drawing
fire from critics who felt it was too provocative. It was the first
international rock and roll dance of its kind. Click here to watch video. |
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Disco started in the 1970s, the music people danced to were Funk and Soul. The most popular dance was The Hustle. Click here to watch video. |
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Latin dance styles |
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Bachata: a form of
music and dance that originated in the countryside and the rural
neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic. Its subjects are often romantic; especially prevalent
are tales of heartbreak and sadness. Click here to watch video. |
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Cha Cha
Cha: is a dance originating in Cuba. Click here to watch video. |
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Merengue: partners hold each other in a
closed
position.
The leader holds the follower's waist with his right hand, while
holding her right hand with his left hand at the follower's eye level. Click here to watch video. |
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Mambo: is a Cuban musical form and dance
style. The word mambo (which means conversation with the gods)
is the name of a priestess in Haitian Voodoo. The name is
derived from the language of the African slaves who were imported into the Caribbean.
Click here to watch video. |
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Rumba: is another Cuban dance that
originated from the Africans, but has no religious connections. Click here to watch video. |
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Samba:
is a Brazilian
musical genre derived from African
roots, recognized as a symbol of Brazil
and Carnival. Click here to watch video. |
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Tango: is a musical genre whose
associated dance forms originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay and spread to the rest of the
world soon after that. Click here to watch video. |
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Salsa: is a partner dance, although
there are recognized solo steps
and some forms are danced in groups of couples,
with frequent exchanges of partners. Click here to watch video. |
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Flamenco: is a Spanish term that refers both to a musical genre, known for its intricate rapid passages, and a
dance genre characterized by its audible
footwork. Click here to watch video. |
Cumbia: originated from the Caribbean Region of Colombia. |
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This
is popular all over Latin America, especially in Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Panama, and El Salvador. Each has its distinct form of
Cumbia. |
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Click here to watch video. |
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Other dances |
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Waltz: a graceful dance in which two people dance together to
a regular rhythm.Click here to watch video.
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Tap dance was developed in the United States
during the nineteenth century. The tapping sound made when the small metal
plates on the dancer's shoes touch a hard surface. Click here to watch video. |
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Street dances |
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Moonwalk: Michael
Jackson's signature dance move. |
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The
Robot: this dance is to appear
as if your body is mechanical. Click here to watch video. |
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It appears as if he glides backwards, but his legs
move forward. Click here to watch video. |
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The Headspin: rotating your body by spinning on your head. Click here to watch video. |
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The
Windmill: this move is spinning your legs
around as if they are the blades of a windmill. Click here to watch video. |
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The Worm: your body waves along the ground just like a
little worm. Click here to watch video. |
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Body
Wave: this appears as if you
body moves like water. Click here to watch video. |
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Get down |
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This
means come and dance, get off your seat and move your body on the dance
floor. |
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"The
music is playing, so everybody get down!" |
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Ballroom
dancing competitions: In the 1970’s,
in New York City, a professional dancer called Pierre Dulaine started teaching ballroom dancing at schools to teach
students in poor areas valuable life skills. Click here to watch video. |
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Party dances with many people |
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Line
Dancing: is a kid of
dancing to Country and Western music that involves many people
dancing together in horizontal lines. Click here to watch video. |
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Conga
Line: the dancers form a long
line. It has three shuffle steps on the beat, followed by a kick that is slightly ahead of the fourth
beat. Click here to watch video. |
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The
Limbo: this is a
dancing contest where people have to lean backwards to dance under a stick.
Each round, the stick gets lower
until the person who can go the lowest wins. Click here to watch video. |
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In other cultures |
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Belly
Dance: in Arabic cultures, women will dance by using circular
motions of the stomach. Click here to watch video. |
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Carnival:
is one of the biggest
festivals in the world. In Brazil, there are parades in the
streets, and these attract many tourists. Many people there dance the Samba. Click here to watch video. |
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It takes
two to Tango |
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This refers
to activities – good or bad -- that take more than one person to be
successful. |
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"Ellen
tried to tell me the fight was all her sister’s fault,
but I told her it takes two to tango." |
