Nature of Dance Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the definitions, origins, and historical contexts of dance based on the provided Physical Education lecture notes.

Damson

The German word from which the word "dance" originates, meaning "to stretch" or "to drag".

Dance

A series of movements that follow the speed and rhythm of a piece of music; an art form, often classified as a sport, consisting of a sequence of body movements.

Prehistoric Dance

Dances used by ancestors to communicate with spirits, celebrate victories, and mourn losses, including circle dances, stamping dances, and animal mimicking dances.

Ancient Egyptian Dance

The primary way Ancient Egyptians expressed their religious services and taught about their ancient myths.

Cretan Civilization

A civilization existing from 3000 - 1400 BC that acted as a cultural link between Egyptians and Greeks, where dance was intertwined with religious ceremonies, fertility rites, military training, healing, and entertainment.

Homer

The ancient author who stated that the Cretans possessed an excellent army because they utilized dance to perfect their training.

Ancient Greek Dance

Extremely organized and structured dances with a calculated total of 95,140 combined body movements, during which dancers were required to sing.

Schemata

In Ancient Greek dance, refers to the form and shape of gestures, focusing on how a dancer executed the short movement pattern.

Deixis

A pure dance performed by male Greek dancers who portrayed the essence of human character, an animal, or a natural element such as wind or fire.