What is Dance?

Dance is the action or way of dancing. It is about the execution of movements to the rhythm of the music that allows to express feelings and emotions. It is estimated that dance was one of the first artistic manifestations in human history.

What is Dance?

It is important to highlight the fact that dance has its origins already in Prehistory because man has always had the need to express his feelings and not only through verbal communication but also through what would be bodily communication. In these origins, however, human beings resorted to dance as a fundamental part of rituals related to fertility or war.

Dance involves the interaction of various elements. The movement of the body requires proper space management and rhythmic notions. The dancer’s intention is for his movements to accompany the music. For example: slow, quiet-paced music requires leisurely and unstrident dance steps. Body expression is also supported by clothing worn during dance.

It is important to note that the predominance of rhythm or use of space may vary according to the dance in question. Other factors that exceed the dance itself, such as mimicry and singing, are also part of the dance.

Many are the types and genres of dance that exist. However, we can fundamentally divide them into three large groups:

Traditional and folk dances. In this case, under this name are those that are the fruit of the popular culture of a population and that are understood as a fundamental part of its ethnographic wealth. These include flamenco, tango, Arabic dance or so-called ballroom dances.

Ballroom dances

Classical dances. From time immemorial to the present day, this type of dances are practiced that are identified by the fact that those who carry them out perform light, harmonious and perfectly coordinated movements. This category includes medieval dance or ballet, etc.

Modern dances. Young people are the ones who practice and develop this type of dance that, in many cases, have associated with a way of understanding life and even dressing. These include breakdance, popping, funky, jumpstyle, moonwalk or even rock and roll.

Many dance professionals throughout history have managed to become real myths. Among them we would have to talk, for example, of Mikhail Baryshikov, Rudolf Nureyev, Anna Pavlova or Tamara Rojo.

It is known as choreography to a structure of predetermined movements that is carried out when it comes to certain dances. The choreography indicates the steps to follow during the dance: it is therefore movements that are not spontaneous, but obey the design of a choreographer.

The choreographies take on greater relevance in dance shows where professional dancers take to the stage with the intention of staging an artistic work. Ritual dances or informal dances, on the other hand, do not usually follow any kind of choreography. In these cases, each dancer freely chooses the steps to follow.