Lesson 1

damson

The word dance comes from the German word _, which means "to stretch" or "to drag"

to stretch/to drag

The word dance comes from the German word damson, which means "_" or "_"

dancing

may be the oldest among all the arts.

dancing

It developed as a natural expression of united feeling and action.

stamping of the feet, clapping of hands, snapping of fingers

The music of early man came from the _,_,_ or any sound that can produce rhythm.

dancing

is an art that needs no instrument because the dancer's body is the instrument.

dancing

It is an art of precise expression of one's emotion through graceful movement, performed with musical accompaniment.

dancing

is considered the mirror of the society because it responds to historical & religious events as well as social and political statements.

prehistoric dance

It was very basic as it involved everyday movements.

prehistoric dance

A means of communication.

prehistoric dance

Revolved around life events that were meaningful to individuals & tribes: birth, puberty, courtship, marriage, and death.

prehistoric dance

Incorporated in religious ceremonies & festivals based on superstition infused with magic.

prehistoric dance

Used to explain supernatural & natural events happening in each tribe.

Shamans and spearheads

_ who were said to possess magical powers & who acted as physicians, religious leaders, & lead dancers, kept tribes healthy , prosperous, & safe.

prehistoric dance

They performed dance rituals to combat environmental forces & remain in good graces with the gods and spirits.

• The king

• The priest

• The virgin dancers

Dance was the Egyptian's primary way of expressing their religious services & teaching about their ancient myths. The major dancers were the following:

Irena Lexova

a 20th-century author classifies the ancient Egyptian dances into these categories: pure movement, or spontaneous dances, acrobatic dances, imitative dances, pair dances, group dances, war dances, dramatic dances, lyric dances, grotesque dances, funeral dances, and religious dances.

ancient egypt

Dance was also a popular form of entertainment.

Ancient Crete

Existed from 3000 to 1400 BC.

Ancient Crete

It was a cultural link in the ancient world between Egyptians & greeks.

Cretans

were sophisticated & rich in arts & culture.

Ancient Crete

Like Egyptians, their dances intertwined religious ceremonies & fertility rites, myths, & symbols.

Ancient Crete

Dance themes include: military training, healing, religious rituals, & entertainment.

Homer ;Cretans

According to the Greek writer _, _ excellent army because they used dance to perfect their training.

cretan women

usually performed a dance where they hold hands together & purify whatever was in the center.

Ancient Greece

Dances were extremely organized & structured.

Ancient Greece

A total of 95,140 combined body movements were calculated to have existed in these dances.

Ancient Greece

Incorporated ritualistic, symbolic, or representative gestures, accompanied by music (vocal &instrumental). The dancers are required to sing during a performance.

Ancient Greece

Dance was an essential part of religious celebrations, entertainment & theatrical performance.

Ancient Greece

The army performed a dance which "inflamed courage & gave strength to preserve in the paths of honor & valor."

Phorai & Cheironomia

are Greek terms that describe the carriage of the body during dance & mimetic gestures. Many steps were very much similar to the present classical ballet movements, such as leaps &pirouettes, & Greeks even used the "points" or the tips of the toes.

Schemata

refers to the form & shape of gestures, focusing on how a dancer executed the short movement patterns

Deixis

was pure dances, performed by a male Greek dancer who portrayed the essence of human character, animal, or natural element such as fire or wind.

Ancient Rome

Dances were primarily performed for religious, social, & entertainment purposes.

Ancient Rome

Burlesque, overtly erotic, comic, and frightening elements were often highlighted.

Ancient Rome

Many of the dance performers were slaves imported from Greece & other conquered nations.

Ancient Rome

Dancers had low status as professionals & were less respected as artists & participants of religious events.

Ancient Rome

Wealthy _ generally did not dance but they preferred to hire & watch dancers.

Salii

or the college of 24 dancing priests that were members of the noble class did war dances in full armor with a sacred shield in their left hand and a staff in their right.

Pantomime & mimes

were among the famous performances during the Roman period.

Ancient Rome

The dancers performed to portray comedies & satire about country life & other characters.

pantomime

The term _ refers to a performance by an actor or solo dancer who does not speak but acts in a stylized form.

Pantomimists

became famous for their ability to relate entire stories with gestures & postures.

The Middle Ages and the Renaissance

Dance played a vital part in peoples' lives during this period as a way to show their manners & as a form of celebration, amusement, and entertainment.

The Middle Ages and the Renaissance

Dance was associated either with the church (liturgical/sacred) or the society(secular).

The Middle Ages and the Renaissance

Themes included sacred dances & life-span events that were connected to religious activities & other occasions.

Feudalism & knighthood

prospered during the 12th century, defining codes of decorum, loyalty, bravery, romantic love, & chivalry.

Chivalry

transformed dancing, giving it a code of etiquette, manners, and courtly love.