The Evolution of Dance

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Dancing is an amazing activity which has acted as an ancient as well as universal form of human expression since ages. It has evolved significantly, from being a ritualistic and ceremonial practice to becoming and branching out in the different contemporary styles we witness today. Almost everyone we know loves to dance as a means of expressing themselves.

History tells us that dance started off as a means of reverence, then, became a medium for storytelling, followed by its transformation into a reflection of cultural identity and human expression. It has traced a fascinating journey ever since it was created, and its evolution has influenced several other factors over time.

Dance for Storytelling

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The ancient beginnings of dance are rooted in ritualistic practices and storytelling both. We can’t pinpoint the exact date as to when Dance started but obviously it started off because people wanted to communicate with either people or their gods. It was an important part of some of the earliest human civilization, and the earliest traces of dance are found in the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters of Central India, which are over 10,000 years old. These forms of dance were most probably related to religious ideologies and belief of the people living there. From there, Indian dance evolved and a test called Natya Shastra was compiled between 200 BCE and 200 CE, to explain performing arts. This is regarded as the blueprint for many modern branches of Indian classical dance forms, including Kathak, Manipuri, Bharatanatyam, Kathak kali, Kuchipudi, and Odissi. Each of these dance forms have their own styles, storytelling methods, choreography, and music.

In parallel, in the West, dance had become a very significant part of the ancient Greek civilization. The Greek had become used to dancing on several different types of occasions. They even recognized activities like ball-playing and exercise as dance because they believed that it was a natural response of the body and mind to music. It all started in the second millennium BCE and tradition tells us that the birthplace of Greek dance is Crete, which is the home of the Minoan civilization. It only flourished from that point onwards. Their dances were performed either by an individual or by a group, and had several styles including storytelling, showcasing of martial skills, entertainment of gods, and religious rituals. It became so important that even writers like Plato, Athenaeus, and Lucian didn’t pass out on recommending dance as an important part of the development of good citizens!

Similar examples have been identified in Egypt as well as Mesopotamia where Dance was, again, an important part of religious rites. Till date, the role played by Dance as a form of ritual and storytelling hasn’t died down, and many tribes and communities still use it to pay reverence to their gods and spin many mythological and historical narratives for storytelling.

Dance for Entertainment

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While Dance in ancient times was mostly intended for the above purposes, it’s important to note that the common people also used to dance for entertainment and celebration. This kind of entertainment ensued until the medieval times and the beginning of the Renaissance, after which many new dance forms were created just for celebrating art.

The Renaissance era witnessed the emergence of dance as an art form, which was influenced by the other artistic movements of the time. European dances before this weren’t that properly documented and only a ‘chain shaped’ dance was practiced by the commoners. This all changed because of the arrival of the Renaissance Era and many new forms of music gave rise to new forms of dance styles. Dance, an art form, had to be dynamic, expressive, and beautiful in order to captivate the attention of the audience.

Impressionism, Fauvism, and Pop Art are three art movements that played a huge role in boosting and supporting the emergence of Dance in Art.

After the Renaissance, Baroque dances became the new craze in French in English courts. And they paved the way for other new types of dances which focused more on skipping and jumping, and less restrictive women’s clothing.

Innovation

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Dance is used to express once feelings and that’s how pioneers like Isadora Duncan (often credited as the ‘Mother of Modern Dance’), Martha Graham, and Loie Fuller used it when they faced the rigid constraints of classical ballet. They introduced Modern Dance as a form of rebellion against these strict rules and their new style focused on internal experience, emotion, and natural movement. It also acted as a response to many social and political issues of the time and dancers could choose to use their art for presenting their views on matters like freedom, equality, and discrimination.

Soon, Modern Dance transitioned to become Contemporary Dance and many new styles like jazz, hip hop, and freestyle were created to encourage a new generation of dancers to push their boundaries and express their individuality.

Fusion

The latest trend in Dance, other than Contemporary Dance, is Fusion, which refers to the mixing and matching of similar dance styles to create a new one. This emerged in the 20th century and is a growing trend which combines elements from various styles into a seamless and unique combo.

So, if you want to make a fusion dance style, you will have to combine elements from music, costumes, and movements from the dance styles you want to mix and then, layer them accordingly. You also need to trust your partner, communicate effectively, and practice sufficiently in order to create a captivating style.

We are in the 20th century right now and dance is only expected to grow more from here. It will continue to evolve because of cultural and social influence, and its diversity will surely captivate and inspire audiences around the world for a very long time.

Resources

Dance for Storytelling

Mark, J. J. (2017, May 19). Music & Dance in Ancient Egypt. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1075/music–dance-in-ancient-egypt/
‌Mitchell, R. (2024, August 18). Ancient Rhythms, Timeless Moves: Exploring the History of Dance. Ancient Origins Reconstructing the Story of Humanity’s Past; Ancient Origins. https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history/history-dance-0021285
Choubineh, N. (2020, November 10). Ancient Greek Dance. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Dance/

Dance for Entertainment

Guarino, L. (2019). Learning about Dance: Dance as an Art Form and Entertainment, Eighth Edition: Nora Ambrosio. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 2018. 243 pages; $85.00 (paper). Journal of Dance Education, 21(1), 54–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/15290824.2019.1639179
François-Xavier Trancart. (2021, June 23). A Brief History of Dance in Art, from Degas to Contemporary Art. Artsper Magazine. https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/a-brief-history-of-dance-in-art-from-degas-to-contemporary-art/
History of Dance – From Ancient Rituals to Modern Dances. (2024). Dancefacts.net. http://www.dancefacts.net/dance-history/history-of-dance/

Innovation

Modern vs Contemporary Dance: Understanding the Differences and Styles. (2024, April 6). Brilliantio. https://brilliantio.com/modern-vs-contemporary-dance/
‌Breaking Boundaries: The Evolution of Modern Dance – Art of VIII School of Dance. (2024, April 26). Art of VIII School of Dance. https://www.artofviii.com/evolution-of-modern-dance/

Fusion