What+is+Dance?


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Dance** is an [|art form] that generally refers to [|movement] of the body, usually rhythmic and to music,[|[1]] used as a form of [|expression], [|social] [|interaction] or presented in a [|spiritual] or [|performance] setting. Dance may also be regarded as a form of [|nonverbal communication] between humans, and is also performed by other [|animals] ([|bee dance], [|patterns of behaviour] such as a mating dance). [|Gymnastics], [|figure skating] and [|synchronized swimming] are [|sports] that incorporate dance, while [|martial arts] [|kata] are often compared to dances. [|Motion] in ordinarily inanimate objects may also be described as dances (//the [|leaves] danced in the [|wind]//). Definitions of what constitutes dance are dependent on [|social], [|cultural], [|aesthetic], [|artistic] and [|moral] constraints and range from functional movement (such as [|folk dance]) to [|virtuoso] techniques such as [|ballet]. Dance can be [|participatory], [|social] or [|performed] for an [|audience]. It can also be [|ceremonial], [|competitive] or [|erotic]. Dance movements may be without significance in themselves, such as in [|ballet] or European [|folk dance], or have a [|gestural] [|vocabulary]/[|symbolic] system as in many Asian dances. Dance can embody or express ideas, [|emotions] or tell a [|story]. Dancing has evolved many styles. [|Breakdancing] and [|Krumping] are related to the [|hip hop culture]. African dance is interpretive. Ballet, Ballroom, Waltz, and Tango are classical styles of dance while [|Square] and the [|Electric Slide] are forms of [|step dances]. Every dance, no matter what style, has something in common. It not only involves flexibility and body movement, but also physics. If the proper physics is not taken into consideration, injuries may occur. [|Choreography] is the art of creating dances. The person who creates (i.e., choreographs) a dance is known as the [|choreographer].

Eighteenth century [|social dance]. Translated caption: //A cheerful dance awakens love and feeds hope with lively joy//, ([|Florence], 1790)

Origins and history of dance
Main article: [|History of dance] Dance does not leave behind clearly identifiable physical artifacts such as [|stone tools], hunting implements or [|cave paintings]. It is not possible to say when dance became part of human culture. Dance has certainly been an important part of [|ceremony], [|rituals], [|celebrations] and [|entertainment] since before the birth of the earliest human [|civilizations]. [|Archeology] delivers traces of dance from [|prehistoric times] such as the 9,000 year old [|Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka] paintings in [|India] and [|Egyptian] tomb paintings depicting dancing figures from circa 3300 BC. One of the earliest structured uses of dances may have been in the performance and in the telling of myths. It was also sometimes used to show feelings for one of the opposite gender. It is also linked to the origin of "love making." Before the production of written languages, dance was one of the methods of passing these stories down from generation to generation.[|[2]] Another early use of dance may have been as a precursor to [|ecstatic] [|trance states] in healing rituals. Dance is still used for this purpose by many cultures from the Brazilian [|rainforest] to the [|Kalahari Desert].[|[3]] [|Sri Lankan dances] goes back to the mythological times of [|aboriginal] yingyang twins and "[|yakkas]" (devils). According to a Sinhalese legend, [|Kandyan dances] originate, 250 years ago, from a magic ritual that broke the spell on a bewitched king. Many contemporary dance forms can be traced back to [|historical], [|traditional], [|ceremonial], and [|ethnic] dance. Partner Dancing in Art
 * [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Pierre-Auguste_Renoir_146.jpg/125px-Pierre-Auguste_Renoir_146.jpg width="125" height="236" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pierre-Auguste_Renoir_146.jpg"]]//Dance at Bougival// by [|Pierre-Auguste Renoir] (1882–83)[[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Phenakistoscope_3g07690b.gif/237px-Phenakistoscope_3g07690b.gif width="237" height="237" link="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Phenakistoscope_3g07690b.gif"]][|Eadweard Muybridge]'s [|phenakistoscope] "A Couple Waltzing" (c.1893)

Dance classification and genres
Main articles: [|List of basic dance topics] and [|List of dances] Dance categories by number of interacting dancers are mainly [|solo dance], [|partner dance] and [|group dance]. Dance is performed for various purposes like [|ceremonial dance], [|erotic dance], [|performance dance], [|social dance] etc.

Dancing and music
See also: [|Category:Music genres] Many early forms of music and dance were created and performed together. This paired development has continued through the ages with dance/music forms such as: [|jig], [|waltz], [|tango], [|disco], [|salsa], [|electronica] and [|hip-hop]. Some [|musical genres] also have a parallel dance form such as [|baroque music] and [|baroque dance] whereas others developed separately: [|classical music] and [|classical ballet]. Although dance is often accompanied by [|music], it can also be presented independently or provide its own accompaniment ([|tap dance]). Dance presented with music may or may not be performed //in time// to the music depending on the style of dance. Dance performed without music is said to be //danced to its own rhythm//. [|Ballroom dancing] is an art although it may incorporates many fitness components using an artistic state of mind. Saman Dance from [|Gayo people] of [|Sumatra], [|Indonesia][|Morris dancing] in the grounds of [|Wells Cathedral], [|Wells], [|England] An amateur dancesport competition at [|MIT] Professional dancers at the [|Tropicana Club], [|Havana], [|Cuba], in 2008

Dance studies and techniques
See also: [|Dance theory], [|Choreography], and [|Dance moves] In the early 1920s, dance studies (dance [|practice], [|critical theory], [|Musical analysis] and [|history]) began to be considered an [|academic discipline]. Today these studies are an integral part of many [|universities]' [|arts] and [|humanities] programs. By the late 20th century the recognition of practical [|knowledge] as equal to academic knowledge lead to the emergence of //[|practice research]// and //practice as research//. A large range of dance courses are available including: [|Academic degrees] are available from [|BA (Hons)] to [|PhD] and other [|postdoctoral] fellowships, with some dance [|scholars] taking up their studies as //mature students// after a [|professional] dance career.
 * Professional practice: performance and technical skills
 * Practice research: choreography and performance
 * [|Ethnochoreology], encompassing the dance-related aspects of [|anthropology], [|cultural studies], [|gender studies], [|area studies], [|postcolonial theory], [|ethnography], etc.
 * [|Dance therapy] or dance-movement therapy.
 * Dance and technology: [|new media] and performance [|technologies].
 * [|Laban Movement Analysis] and somatic studies

Dance competitions
A **dance competition** is an organized event in which contestants perform dances before a judge or judges for awards and, in some cases, monetary prizes. There are several major types of dance competitions, distinguished primarily by the style or styles of dances performed. Major types of dance competitions include: Today, there are various dances and dance show competitions on Television and the Internet.
 * **[|Competitive dance]**, in which a variety of theater dance styles—such as [|acro], [|ballet], [|jazz], [|hip-hop], [|lyrical], and [|tap]—are permitted.
 * **Open** competitions, which permit a wide variety of dance styles. A popular example of this is the TV program [|So You Think You Can Dance].
 * **[|Dancesport]**, which is focused exclusively on [|ballroom] and [|latin dance]. Popular examples of this are TV programs [|Dancing with the Stars] and [|Strictly Come Dancing].
 * **Single-style** competitions, such as [|highland dance], [|dance team], and [|Irish dance], which only permit a single dance style.

Dance occupations
There are different careers connected with dancing: Dancer, dance teacher, dance sport coach, [|dance therapist] and [|choreographer]. Dancer Dance training differs depending on the dance form. There are university programs and schools associated with professional dance companies for specialised training in classical dance (e.g. Ballet) and modern dance. There are also smaller, privately owned [|dance studios] where students may train in a variety of dance forms including competitive dance forms (e.g. Latin dance, ballroom dance, etc.) as well as ethnic/traditional dance forms. Professional dancers are usually employed on contract or for particular performances/productions. The professional life of a dancer is generally one of constantly changing work situations, strong competition pressure and low pay. Professional dancers often need to supplement their income, either in dance related roles (e.g., dance teaching, dance sport coaches, yoga) or [|Pilates] instruction to achieve financial stability. In the U.S. many professional dancers are members of unions such as the [|American Guild of Musical Artists], the [|Screen Actors Guild] and [|Actors' Equity Association]. The unions help determine working conditions and minimum salaries for their members. Dance teachers Dance teacher and operators of [|dance schools] rely on reputation and marketing. For dance forms without an association structure such as Salsa or Tango Argentino they may not have formal training. Most dance teachers are self employed. Dancesport coaches Dancesport coaches are tournament dancers or former dancesports people, and may be recognised by a dance sport federation. Choreographer Choreographers are generally university trained and are typically employed for particular projects or, more rarely may work on contract as the resident choreographer for a specific dance company. A choreographic work is protected intellectual property. Dancers may undertake their own choreography.