Brief History and Nature of Dance – Lecture Review

23 question-and-answer flashcards covering definitions, historical developments, types of dance, social contexts, and benefits as discussed in the lecture notes.

What are the five possible roles or needs that dance can fulfill?

Recreation, entertainment, education, therapy, and religion.

How does dance primarily differ from athletics or daily activities?

It focuses on providing an aesthetic or entertaining experience rather than purely utilitarian goals.

List the four main traditional reasons people dance.

1) To please gods, 2) To please others, 3) To please themselves or for self-expression, and 4) To build community within an ethnic or social group.

In primitive cultures, name two purposes of dance besides religious expression.

Courtship and mating; communication; therapeutic experiences (any two).

Which ancient civilization left extensive records of dance in wall paintings, reliefs, and hieroglyphs?

Ancient Egypt.

How was dance viewed and used by the ancient Greeks?

Highly valued; taught to boys in Athens and Sparta as part of military education and used for entertainment and display.

Name the three major Greek philosophers who regarded dance as part of education.

Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates.

According to Plato, what are the two kinds of dance and music?

Noble (fine and honorable) and Ignoble (imitating what is mean or ugly).

Why did dance in ancient Rome become more brutal and sensationalized?

Entertainers were often slaves and captives from many nationalities, leading to more gruesome spectacles.

What key change did the development of the Christian Church bring to dance?

Dance was approved when its form and intent were holy, making it part of worship and church services.

Name the two basic historical types of dancing described in the lecture.

Round dance and couple dance.

Describe the formation of a round dance.

Dancers hold hands, forming a chain that moves in an open or closed circle or extended line.

Why was couple dancing initially considered scandalous?

Because it involved close interaction between two individuals, which was uncommon and seen as improper at the time.

How did the clothing of the nobility affect their court dances?

Elaborate garments restricted movement, limiting steps to gliding, curtseying, and posing.

On what type of surface did noblemen typically dance?

Smooth, polished wooden or marble floors known as the ballroom.

Give one characteristic of peasant dances compared with noble dances.

Larger movements and wide-stepping figures performed on grass or beaten earth.

Finish the quotation by Wayne Sleep (1986): “Dance is fun! It lifts the spirit, _.”

strengthens the body, and stimulates the mind.

Why is dance classified as an aerobic activity?

It often involves about an hour of continuous, choreographed movement to music, raising the heart rate.

List two physical benefits of dance.

Develops cardiovascular and muscular endurance; improves coordination, balance, flexibility, and body composition; lowers risk of cardiovascular disease; lowers BMI; lowers resting heart rate; enables joint mobility (any two).

Give two mental or emotional benefits of dance.

Keeps the brain sharp; decreases dementia/Alzheimer’s risk; reduces depressive symptoms; increases self-esteem; helps release tension (any two).

Name two social benefits of dancing.

Provides a sense of togetherness; fosters positive interaction and relationships; contributes to self-actualization (any two).

What cultural contribution does dance make, according to the notes?

Promotes and preserves cultural values.