Often, you have seen people moving with a music rhythm. This is known as dancing. The dance can be formal or informal (improvised dance).
Why People Dance
Naturally, people have an urge for dance. We have seen people dancing for entertainment, relaxation, or as a way of celebrating a particular event. Dance is also an essential element among most religions; it is a way of appeasing a deity. In some parts of the world, people engage themselves in folk dances when marking the life stages, such as death and birth.
Classical Dance
This is a historic form of dance whose learning typically takes many years, and it involves formal steps. Classical dance from the Western world combines body movements and silent acting, also known as mime, and it is known as ballet. Ballet originated in Europe in the 15th century. Classical dance is created using choreography.
Nations like Thailand and India also boast strong classical dance traditions. Indian dances are usually used to act out Indian mythological stories. Typically, these dances involve slow and controlled body movements.
Improvisation
Although it can still be choreographed, improvised dance does not involve any formal steps, and it is the basis of the modern dance we see today. Through improvisation, dancers are able to effectively express their emotions. This makes their performance more personal and natural.
Choreography
This is the act of organising movements and dance steps into a sequence. The steps and movements are usually organised in harmony with a piece of music. Choreography ensures that dancers know the steps to perform in advance, before the real performance.
Can Anyone Dance?
Anyone can dance, whether young or old, or physically disabled or not. You will see those in wheelchairs spinning in time to a music tune. Those who cannot move can shake their heads or hands.