Do You Want To Dance? “PURPOSES & STYLES OF DANCE” ©2006 EvaMedia Inc. Or simply learn a bit more about this art form?

3 Purposes Remember, there are 3 Purposes of dance: Ceremonial (Ritual)Ceremonial (Ritual) Recreational (Social)Recreational (Social) Artistic Expression (Performance)Artistic Expression (Performance)

Types of Ceremonial Dances … harvest worship marriage coming-of-age honoring nature courage good weather celebration

Types of Recreational Dances … ballroom line dancing aerobics hobby social gatherings games

Artistic Dances … express emotions or feelings communicate ideas share information attempt to persuade exhibit great technical skills engage an audience showcase choreographic talent

So, what kinds of dances do people create?

There are two basic types of dancing... Dances for participation these do not need an audience Performance dances intended for an audience

tell a story Some dances tell a story These are called NARRATIVE dances Classical ballet is often narrative (The Nutcracker, Swan Lake) Folk or ceremonial dances are sometimes narrative, too

People learn to dance in several ways 1. Some take formal classes ….

2. Others learn from the people around them... OR 3. Make up dances on their own

So, how do we define different STYLES of dancing?

Ballet highly stylizedhighly stylized traditionally uses classical musictraditionally uses classical music performance danceperformance dance

Folk these are often group dancesthese are often group dances passed from generation to generationpassed from generation to generation often culturally specificoften culturally specific participation dancingparticipation dancing

Social (or Popular) recreationalrecreational relatively easy to learnrelatively easy to learn usually originates from the people, not choreographersusually originates from the people, not choreographers often ‘couples’ dancingoften ‘couples’ dancing usually popular for a short time onlyusually popular for a short time only

Modern free-flowing, creative dance stylefree-flowing, creative dance style one artist is usually both dancer and choreographerone artist is usually both dancer and choreographer can be for participation or performancecan be for participation or performance

Jazz American stage danceAmerican stage dance uses jazz music as its basisuses jazz music as its basis performance danceperformance dance used often in musical theatreused often in musical theatre

Tap American performance danceAmerican performance dance characterized by percussive footwork and precise rhythmic patterns (feet as rhythm instruments!)characterized by percussive footwork and precise rhythmic patterns (feet as rhythm instruments!)

Theatrical Dance designed for performance in musical theatre, dance concerts and moviesdesigned for performance in musical theatre, dance concerts and movies requires an audiencerequires an audience often combines several styles (ballet, jazz, folk, modern, tap, etc.)often combines several styles (ballet, jazz, folk, modern, tap, etc.)

Dance has many styles... … which depend on creative movement combined with music music (or sound) & mood

You don’t have to be a dancer… … to appreciate dance … a difficult, beautiful, culturally important, and fun art form!

Just dance !

Dance !