PE 3: Nature and History of the Different Dances

Vocabulary flashcards covering the definition, functions, historical timeline, purpose classifications, and styles of dance.

Dance

A series of rhythmic body movements, often set to music, to express ideas, emotions, stories, or simply the joy of moving.

Cultural Function of Dance

A function of dance that preserves customs and rituals, reinforces identity, and transmits tradition.

Social Function of Dance

A function of dance that builds community and creates bonds during festivals and gatherings.

Recreational Function of Dance

A function of dance that offers joy, fun, and relaxation.

Educational Function of Dance

A function of dance that teaches discipline, creativity, cooperation, and history.

Physical Function of Dance

A function of dance that improves strength, endurance, balance, and flexibility.

Emotional Function of Dance

A function of dance that helps release stress, boosts mood, and fosters expression.

Spiritual Function of Dance

A function of dance used in ceremonies to honor deities, mark seasons, or heal.

Bhimbetka

A site in India featuring cave paintings dating to ~9,000 BCE that depict dancing figures.

Orchēsis

The Greek word for dance, which featured in festivals to honor gods, especially Dionysus.

Dionysus

The ancient Greek god honored through dance festivals during the Greek civilization period.

Pantomime

A form of narrative performance developed in ancient Rome (500 BCE - 476 CE) to tell stories through movement.

Corpus Christi

A festival during the Medieval Era in which the church allowed processional dances.

Renaissance Court Dance

Vital court dances developed among European nobility in Italy and France between 1400 and 1600 CE, including pavane, galliard, and allemande.

Domenico da Piacenza

Author of a 1459 dance manual that formalized early dance teaching during the Renaissance.

Académie Royale de Danse

An institution founded in 1661 by King Louis XIV of France that led to the development and codification of ballet.

King Louis XIV

The King of France who founded the Académie Royale de Danse in 1661.

Pierre Beauchamp

The French choreographer who codified ballet with five foot positions during the Baroque period.

Minuet

A formal social dance that dominated European ballrooms during the Baroque and Classical periods (1600 - 1800 CE).

Giselle

A famous Romantic ballet premiered in 1841 featuring ethereal themes.

Waltz

A popular ballroom dance that gained fame in the early 1800s.

Polka

A popular ballroom dance that gained fame in the 1830s.

Tango

A popular ballroom dance that originated in Argentina during the 1890s.

Isadora Duncan

An early 20th-century pioneer of modern dance who rejected ballet rigidity.

Martha Graham

An early 20th-century pioneer of modern dance who developed expressive and grounded movement styles.

Jazz Dance

A sharp, energetic, and syncopated dance style developed alongside jazz music in the U.S., blending African rhythms and European steps.

Tap Dancing

A rhythmic dance form that flourished in vaudeville during the early 20th century.

Hip-Hop Dance

A dance movement originating in Bronx block parties during the 1970s, leading to breakdancing.

Contemporary Dance

A late 20th-century fusion dance form combining modern dance, ballet, jazz, and other styles.

Ceremonial Dance

A type of dance performed for rituals, such as Native American rain dances, Igorot harvest dances, and courtship dances.

Social Dance

A type of dance performed for fun and connection, including salsa, swing, and contra dance.

Theatrical Dance

A type of dance staged for audiences, including ballet, Broadway musicals, and kathakali.

Competitive Dance

A type of dance performed in structured contests, such as ballroom dance sport, hip-hop battles, and folk dance contests.

Ballet

A classical and technical form of dance originating in Italian and French courts that often tells a story.

Folk Dance

A style of dance passed orally that reflects local life, such as the tinikling from Leyte, Philippines.

Tinikling

A traditional Philippine folk dance from Leyte that reflects local life.

Ballroom Dance

A style of formal and elegant partner dancing including the waltz, tango, foxtrot, and rumba.

Modern Dance

An expressive, grounded dance style that uses the floor and is often abstract.