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Lecture History & Nature of Dance

The document provides a brief history and overview of dance. It discusses dance origins in prehistoric times as religious ritual and social expression. During ancient civilizations like Egypt, dance became fully developed and documented. In ancient Greece, dance was part of military and philosophical education. While ancient Rome gave less importance to dance, it later became corrupted entertainment. The document also outlines physical, mental, emotional, social, and cultural benefits of dance and characteristics of a good dance.

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Marvin Moraleja
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335 views

Lecture History & Nature of Dance

The document provides a brief history and overview of dance. It discusses dance origins in prehistoric times as religious ritual and social expression. During ancient civilizations like Egypt, dance became fully developed and documented. In ancient Greece, dance was part of military and philosophical education. While ancient Rome gave less importance to dance, it later became corrupted entertainment. The document also outlines physical, mental, emotional, social, and cultural benefits of dance and characteristics of a good dance.

Uploaded by

Marvin Moraleja
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BRIEF HISTORY &

NATURE OF DANCE
WHAT IS DANCE?
• Regular rhythmic movement that focuses primarily on
an aesthetic or even entertaining experience.
• People dance mainly for four reasons:
To please the gods
To please others
To please themselves or self-expression
To build community within an ethnic group or social
interaction
HISTORY OF DANCE
The origins of dance are rooted in the prehistoric past
• Dance is a major form of religious ritual and social
expression within the primitive culture
During the pre-Christian era
• Real knowledge of dance came about within the great
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern civilizations
• Became full blown and richly recorded in ancient Egypt
Ancient Greece
● Dance was taught as an aid in military education among the
boys in Athens and Sparta
● Commonly used in education as Greek philosophers
such as Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates strongly supported
this
art as an integration of body and soul

Ancient Rome
● gave less importance to dancing
● became brutal and sensationalized as their entertainers
were slaves and captives and was used for gruesome purposes
● eventually became an integral part of corruption in the
latter
days of the Roman Empire
BENEFITS OF DANCE

PHYSICAL
1. Develops cardiovascular and muscular endurance
2. Improves coordination, balance, flexibility, and body
composition
3. Lowers risk of cardiovascular diseases
4. Lowers body mass index
5. Helps improve and maintain bone density and osteoporosis
BENEFITS OF DANCE

MENTAL / EMOTIONAL
1. Helps keep the brain sharp
2. Decreases incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s
disease
3. Decreases depressive symptoms
4. Increases self-esteem and improves body image
5. Aids in releasing emotional and physical tension
BENEFITS OF DANCE
SOCIAL
1. Gives sense of togetherness within a group
2. Encourages positive social interaction and
interpersonal relationship in a group
3. Contributes to the individual’s potential for
self-actualization in society

CULTURAL
1. Promotes cultural values
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD DANCE
1. Unity – movements are coherent and flow smoothly
2. Continuity & Development – organized progressively
3. Variety and Contrast – variety within the development
of the dance Ex: slow to fast, small to big movements
4. Transition – link between movements
5. Repetition – emphasizes movements that are important
6. Climax – where the apex of energy in the dance is
reached

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