Study Guide Dance as an Art Form 1 Upper Paleolithic and Neolithic Periods Dance was Used for communication Done to worship and appease G ds Basic and imitative of nature Ritual Focused on fertility Land hunt and gathering 2 Ancient Period Dance was Influenced by socio political events Purposely aesthetic Combined with other art forms Religious rituals CEREMONY Formal sacred observance Gestures adhere strictly to conventional forms External display Contemporary Counterpart Wedding Rites of Passage 3 Medieval Period Dance was Banned by most European religions unless used to glorify the church Flourished in Islamic lands as ritual ceremony and entertainment 4 Renaissance Period Dance was More codified Focused on the individual artist Becoming a professional endeavor Characterized according to class Work Folk Noble Court dance ballet 5 Contemporary Period Dance is across cultures world dance with many different techniques styles Migrating Combining Drawing on everything that has gone before Looking ahead to new possibilities Some cultures still maintain traditional dance forms though the context and conventions have changed for most In some cultures dance is a separate pursuit practiced by a limited portion of society Dance continues to reflect the concerns of society through ritual ceremony and entertainment World Dance Definitions 1 World Concert Ritual Dance dances that portray something that is important to a specific culture religion moral values work ethic historical information relating to the culture Passed down from generation to generation and performed at traditional gatherings weddings births and funerals Not Shared 2 Folk Dance dances that provide a social activity that gives people a sense of community and culture Countries Cultures and Dance Forms 1 India Serpent Ritual religious dance jumping without preparation Bharata Natyam Principal Classical Indian Dance form Began as a worship in Hindu temples Women starting as young girls dancing in honor of temple Deities Graceful arm movements very soulful Formal classes and set performance structures developed Together it describes a dance that tells a story through expression melody and rhythm 2 Australia Aboriginal Dance Children and adult men group participation Moving of the legs many ways of walking Purpose insure spiritual well being raising of the children laws Elements Center of energy stomach art painted on body to identify the tribe counter movements dancing for themselves no competition World concert ritual 3 Polynesian Cultures Hawaii Hula In Hawaii describes a genre of dance Began as a worship Became celebration to entertain wealthy Hand gestures now were more important as language fades Solidarity of community Language and Worship Entertainment and Hand Gestures Two types o Kahiko of the old ancient style with chants and percussion only drums and boards Head and shoulder leis skirts and anklets Men and women bare chested o Auana modern style western music and instrumentation with more elaborate costumes Men women and children participate Whole community Props costumes repetitive movements chants Communicate with higher power Portraying what s around them Dedication to something someone World concert ritual New Zealand Haka Stick out tongues smack chests scratch themselves tattoos No women just men Purpose to show dominance over another group Props costumes repetitive movements and chants 4 Europe La Danse Macabre Dance of Death or Dancing Mania Reason Physical disorder caused by the black plague or direct response to an extreme feeling of dread and to the overwhelming control that the church placed upon the society 5 Turkey Sufi Monks Whirling Dervish sacred done for meditation 6 United Arab Emirates Bedouin wanderers who are constantly traveling Ayala Bedouin Dance Symbolic of war MUSIC always part of dance SYMBOLIC instruments POETRY or language song or chant PRIMARY way to transmit meaning 7 Ukraine Folk Dance European Social community oriented Typically danced in a circle Men women dance together Some parts dedicated to skills by gender Live music 8 Japan Bugaku dance Gagaku music Older men After WWI dance was much more public Hidden before WWI Characteristics torso perfectly erect repetition controlled movements Inappropriate to make faces show emotion Purpose unify continuity Elements portray strong characters masks costume Plots are typically abstract Focuses on single significant episode from a larger storyline Movement follows philosophy of JO HA KYU o JO clear introduction o HA development o KYU rapid ending Work concert ritual