Nature and History of Dance

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the historical development of dance from its prehistoric origins and ancient civilizations through the Renaissance and Baroque eras.

Damson

The German word meaning “to stretch” or “to drag,” which is the origin of the word dance.

Instrument of dance

The human body itself, used to recreate selected movements with aesthetic beauty and symbolism.

Participatory Social Dance

A form of dance open to everyone that encourages group involvement, often performed in pairs, lines, circles, or chains at events like weddings and festivals.

Theatrical Dance

A professional and polished production performed for an audience, featuring planned choreography, costumes, and scenery.

Expanded dances

A sub-type of prehistoric dance ‘In Harmony with the Body’ performed by men, characterized by large, uplifting movements.

Closed dances

A sub-type of prehistoric dance ‘In Harmony with the Body’ performed by women, such as belly dance or movements done while sitting or whirling.

Purely convulsive dances

A sub-type of prehistoric dance ‘Out of Harmony with the Body’ characterized by uncontrolled and chaotic motions, often drug-induced.

Weakened convulsive dances

A sub-type of prehistoric dance ‘Out of Harmony with the Body’ where the movements are controlled by music, a musician, or stimulants.

Trf dance

An Egyptian dance performed by two men recorded during the Old Kingdom period.

Pan

The Greek figure known as the “dancemaker of the gods,” who allegedly invented dances based on Knossos steps.

Pyrrhic

A type of war dance originating in Crete and later popularized by the Greeks and Romans.

Sikinnis

A satyr dance identified by the writer Athenaeus as having its birthplace in Crete.

Symposia

Ancient Greek drinking parties where dance was a regular part of everyday social life.

Court Dance

A category of medieval dance that was dignified and formal, performed specifically in noble courts.

Country Dance

A folk-style medieval dance that was communal and lively, combining circle and line formations.

Basse Dance

A popular dignified performance found in both medieval court dances and Renaissance contexts.

Domenico da Piacenza

The individual who published the first European dance manual in the year $1416$.

Acadmie Royale de Danse

An institution chartered by Louis XIV in $1661$ that trained professional male and female dancers.

Le Roi Soleil

The ‘Sun King’ title given to Louis XIV after he performed as Apollo in the $1653$ Ballet de la Nuit.

Turnout

A technical feature of Baroque dance involving the outward rotation of the legs and feet.

Pli

A preliminary movement involving the bending of the knees, emphasized as a technique to begin steps in Baroque dance.