7 Periods of Dance

1. Pre-historic period
Ancient Greek terracotta statuette of a dancing maenad, 3rd century BC, from Taranto. The
history of dance is difficult to access because dance does not often leave behind clearly
identifiable physical artifacts that last over millennia, such as stone tools, hunting
implements or cave paintings. It is not possible to identify with exact precision when dance
became part of human culture. Early dance has been an important part of ceremony, rituals,
celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of the earliest human civilizations.
Archaeology delivers traces of dance from prehistoric times such as the 30,000-year-old
Bhimbetka rock shelters paintings in India and Egyptian tomb paintings depicting dancing
figures from c. 3300 BC. Many contemporary dance forms can be traced back to historical,
traditional, ceremonial, and ethnic dances of the ancient period. Means of social
communication and bonding. Dance may have been used as a tool of social interaction that
promoted cooperation essential for survival among early humans. Studies found that
today's best dancers share two specific genes associated with a predisposition for being
good social communicators. As a method of expression. 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. The origins of the
dances of Sri Lanka are dated back to the aboriginal tribes, and to the mythological times
of aboriginal yingyang twins and "yakkas" (devils). The classical dances of Sri Lanka
(Kandyan dances) feature a highly developed system of tala (rhythm), provided by cymbals
called thalampataa. China Main article: History of Chinese dance Details from a copy of
a 10th-century painting Night Revels of Han Xizai by Gu Hongzhong, depicting a dancer
performing a dance known in the Tang dynasty. There is a long recorded history of Chinese
dances. Some of the dances mentioned in ancient texts, such as dancing with sleeve
movements are still performed today. Some of the early dances were associated with
shamanic rituals. Folk dances of the early period were also developed into court dances.
The important dances of the ancient period were the ceremonial yayue dated to the Zhou
 dynasty of the first millennium BC. The art of dance in China reached its peak during the
Tang dynasty, a period when dances from many parts of the world also performed at the
imperial court. However, Chinese opera became popular during the Song and Yuan
dynasty, and many dances were merged into Chinese opera art that was performed by
professional dancers rather than courtiers. During the 18th century, ballet transitioned from
a courtly dance of moving images as spectacle to a performance art in its own right. Ballet
performances developed around a central narrative and contained expressive movement
that revealed the relationships between characters.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_dancea

2. Greek Period
Greek Dance The Greeks believed in enjoying life. One of the things that made life
enjoyable for them was music and dance. Greeks had an appreciation for beautiful things,
and they believed that music and dance were among the most beautiful parts of life. Music
seems to have been a part of almost everything that Greeks did music notes break For the
ancient Greeks, dancing was often a part of religious ceremonies. The Greeks had many
public festivals through the year, and they almost always included dancing. Religious
dances were usually very simple and involved the dancer swaying gently. These religious
dances, which were called Apollonian, were performed with instruments such as lyres,
lutes, and kitharas. These dances might also be performed at funerals. Greeks also had a
more energetic dance, called Dionysian dance. break crownIt is clear that the Greeks
valued dancing and skilled dancers. Some dancers had monuments built in their honor.
Others were presented with crowns. It was even possible for well-known dancers to marry
into the upper class. This was almost impossible for everyone else. Break It’s possible that
the Greeks valued good dancing so much because they believed that it was invented by the
gods. They believed it was a gift that the gods only gave to certain humans. Therefore, the
Greeks believed a good dancer had been chosen by the gods to have such a talent. This
also explains why dance was used in religious ceremonies. Break Imagine that you’ve done
some time-traveling and have found yourself in ancient Athens. These are some dances
you can use to impress your new friends: Geronos: this was one of the most popular Greek
 dances. It was also one of the only ones in which boys and girls danced together (but only
children; not adults). This dance uses snake-like movements. It recreates the story of
Theseus escaping the labyrinth after killing the Minotaur. Dance and a mythology lesson,
all in one!Epilinios: dancers of epilionos danced atop vats of grapes. They crushed the
grapes with their feet as they danced, making wine in the process. I don’t know about you,
but I don’t think I want to drink anything made with feet!Imeneos: this was a dance done
by a bride and her mother at a wedding.Iporchima: this was a cross between dancing and
pantomime and was used in theater.You should also be prepared to sing. Greek dancing
included singing. The leader of the dance sang a statement, and another group repeated the
statement. This is where we get the idea for a chorus. There are still dances performed in
Greece that use this ancient style.

http://www.historyforkids.net/greek-dance.html

3. Roman Period
A peculiar characteristic of these dances was the movement jumped, often accompanied
by musical instruments like tambourines and cymbals or veils. The dance in Roman culture,
often inspired by the Greek, was linked to rites or the great feasts in honor of a god, such
as in the Dionysian rites or in the Saturnalia of ancient Rome. There were dances comic,
tragic, satirical and pantomimes. Some of the crowd were dancing, wild and promiscuous
with which the people are freed from the burden of poverty or a difficult life, days and days
of festivities where the body, movement and dance were so prominent leaders. A
characteristic of Roman dances, which can be seen as representations by frescoes and bas-
reliefs, is the movement skipped, sometimes accompaniedo by musical instruments like
tambourines and cymbals or veils. Dance schools, in fact, took the name of “ludi saltatorii.”
The “jump” finds its origin in one of the oldest and most noble of the dances, one of the
Priests “climbed”, which performed in honor of the god Mars, the “Tripudium”,
characterized by a march just three steps skipped.

http://www.gruppostoricoromano.it/en/the-nereids/roman-dance/
4. Medieval Period
Medieval Dance and music during the medieval period can be traced back to the early parts
of the medieval era and some even date back to the times the Anglo Saxon glee-men.
Medieval dances were categorized into two primary sections, the first one was the court
dance and the second the country dance. Medieval Dance History During the Middle Ages,
dancing was a very reserved practice and the church played a crucial role in the
development of medieval dances. The church primarily did not approve of medieval
dancing. However, it eventually became accepted and became part of some religious
sermons or ceremonies. Medieval dances showcased a variety of rich cultures from
different parts of Europe. There were several types of dances that were popularized during
the medieval period such as Carol, Basse Dance, The Egg Dance, Scottish Dance, among
many others. Instruments such as drums and lutes were also used while dancing. They were
used as accompaniment to the songs sung during these performances. Medieval Dancers
entertaining royalty Medieval dancers in medieval costumes entertain medieval royalty
Medieval Dance Costumes Medieval dance costumes varied per class. The upper class men
and women wore more vivid, dramatic and luxurious attire. They mostly wore gowns that
were made of silk and other expensive materials. Some medieval dance costumes were
strapless while others had longer sleeves for a more dramatic effect.Various kinds of laces
were used, sewn and entwined carefully over these medieval dance costumes. Underneath
medieval dance costumes, women wore corsets and heavily structured petticoats to form
perfectly rounded shapes towards the bottom of the gown. Headdresses were also very
popular among women from the upper-class society as they played a major part of the
medieval formal attire and were worn during social occasions and medieval dances.

http://www.medievalchronicles.com/medieval-life/medieval-dance/

5. Renaissance Period
Dances of the Early Renaissance (15th Century) As the arts and sciences flourished in the
European Renaissance, dance quickly rose to preeminence. Dance increased in
sophistication and social importance through the 14th century, but unfortunately no
choreographic descriptions survive from this century. It is from preserved music
tabulatures and literature, such as Boccaccio's Decameron, that we know the names of these
lost dances, which include the balli, carola (carole), stampita (estampe, istampita,
stantipes), salterello, rotta, trotto and farandole. Only treatises from later centuries give us
any hint as to what these 14th century dances might have looked like. The 15th century is
the first period in western history to have dances documented well enough for
reconstruction. Several surviving manuscripts describe the dances of the aristocracy, for
whom dance was an important courtly pastime. The dances from the northern courts
(primarily Burgundy – a large area north of the Alps including some of present-day France,
Germany and the Netherlands) tended to be conservative and Gothic. Southern France
(Provence) was more innovative, while Italy was the hotbed of the avant garde. The
primary dance of the Burgundian court was the stately Bassedanse. This was a memorized
sequence of steps performed as a processional, danced to music in "perfect" (i.e. triple)
time. One surviving Burgundian dance source is the beautiful handwritten Brussels
manuscript, penned in gold and silver ink by an anonymous scribe. The Italian courts also
danced the Bassadanza (as they spelled it), although it was lighter in spirit and somewhat
more intricate than the Burgundian Bassedanse. But the epitome of Italian court dance was
the Ballo. The 15th century Balli were beautifully designed choreographies for a set
number of dancers that featured a wide variety of steps, figures and rhythms. Unlike the
Bassadanza, the music and dance phrases of the Balli were inseparable. Both Bassadanzi
and Balli were composed by highly respected dance masters, following specific guidelines
of scientific and artistic movement. The first and most important dance master of the
Renaissance was Domenico da Piacenza (ca. 1395 - ca. 1465). Two of his students
represented the next generation of dance masters: Guglielmo Ebreo (also known as
Giovanni Ambrosio) and Antonio Cornazano. Fortunately, all three left detailed
manuscripts describing dance theory, deportment, specific choreographies and
corresponding music. While these surviving 15th century instruction books described the
dances from the highest courts, the dances of the artisans, burghers, lower classes and
peasants remained unrecorded until the end of the 16th century. — Richard Powers On
to the Late Renaissance

https://socialdance.stanford.edu/Syllabi/early_renaissance.html
6. Classical Period
Strictly Classical: classical music and dance Gavotte dance picture 1. Gavotte One of the
most popular dances of the French renaissance, the Gavotte is characterized by its
distinctive rhythmic pattern. Handel and Bach in particular were fond of the quirky rhythm,
and frequently incorporated a Gavotte into their works. If you're ever called upon to
perform one, the steps mostly go from side-to-side and participants stand in a line or a
circle.Il Divo and Strictly Come Dancing2. Ballet on Strictly?In something of a departure
for Strictly Come Dancing, Holly Valance and her partner Artem Chigvintsev performed a
ballet-inspired dance to Tchaikovsky's music from Swan Lake in 2011.chopin polonaise3.
Polonaise This is a confusing one - the Polonaise is, like the Mazurka, Polish in origin, but
its name is the French word for 'Polish'. So it's sort-of French too, in a way. No matter
where it's from, Chopin was one of the biggest exponents of the form, while other big-
hitters in the Polonaise world include Mozart, Schubert, Weber and Schumann. This picture
shows Chopin playing one of his Polonaises at a dance. Johann Sebastian Bach4. Badinerie.
This light and nimble dance is the equivalent of an Italian 'Scherzo' (literally 'joke') and is
rather similar to the Gavotte. The most famous example of a Badinerie is in Bach's
Orchestral Suite and, strangely, is a popular mobile phone ringtone. Here he is in his
dancing shoes. Andre Rieu performs at the Classic BRIT Awards 201 5. Viennese Waltz.
The waltz has a long and distinguished history, but undoubtedly the modern master of the
genre is Andre Rieu, the self-styled King Of The Waltz. He even guested on Strictly back
in 2011.6. Allemande. Another Baroque favourite, the Allemande is littered throughout the
whole period. However, once the likes of Bach and Corelli had finished with it, early
romantic composer Carl Maria Von Weber made the Allemande sound a little closer to the
waltz style with his Douze Allemandes. Milos Karadaglic live at the Classic BRIT Awards
7. Tango.The tango is one of the most passionate dance styles in modern dance, and there's
a wealth of material throughout the classical world. Here's the Montenegrin classical
guitarist Milos Karadaglic performing Piazzolla's Libertango at this year's Classic BRIT
Awards.8. Pavane. Originally a reserved and delicate dance for two, the Pavane has taken
on a life of its own as a musical form. The most famous examples are Faure's Pavane and
Ravel's Pavane for a Dead Princess.9. Polka.Like the waltz, the Strauss family were
particularly partial to a polka. Perhaps the best-known example is Johann Strass II's
 Pizzicato Polka, a delicate and lightly comical little piece. The first performance of the
piece in Russia went down so well that the crowd demanded nine encores. sailors dancing
hornpipe 10. Hornpipe Another dance with roots in the Baroque era, the Hornpipe is best-
known nowadays for its lively incarnation in Henry Wood's Fantasia on British Sea Songs.
The dance itself incorporates lots of nautical moves, including holding the hand to the
forehead as if looking out to sea. 11. Mazurka. This Polish dance has roots in the 19th
Century, when it became a popular ballroom style. Unsurprisingly, Polish composers like
Chopin and Szymanowski thrived on the dance form of their homeland, and produced
countless examples. Benjamin Britten 12. Sarabande. The Sarabande has its origins in 16th
Century Central America, but became popular when it crossed over to Spain via the
Spanish colonies. The musical form, though, caught on with lots of composers - Britten
(pictured), Debussy and Vaughan Williams all came up with classic examples, while their
predecessors in the Baroque period often incorporated a Sarabande into their dance
suites.13. Minuet predominantly in 3/4 time (like the waltz), the Minuet became popular
in the Baroque period - but then super-popular in the Classical period when it was
combined with a Trio section as well.

https://www.classicfm.com/music-news/pictures/strictly-classical-music-dance/benjamin-
britten-sarabande/html.

7. Modern Period

Modern dance doesn't just refer to the dances of 'today.' Instead, it refers to a particular period and
style of dance that developed in the early 1900s. In this lesson, we will briefly address the history
of modern dance, some of its characteristics, and some of the people who defined it. What is
Modern Dance? Modern dance emerged at the beginning of the 20th century in a time when ballet
had previously dominated the dancing world. While Europe claims the roots of modern dance, the
innovations made by dancers in the United States quickly gave a home to the developing dance
form. As a dance form reacting to the constraints and formality of ballet, modern dance developed
through the ideals of 20th-century America, such as democracy, social protest, and individuality,
disregarding the strict aristocratic roles and conformity from which ballet emerged. This changed
the language of dance choreography and the way that dances developed. Characteristics. Use of
Space: While ballet dancers typically face the audience directly, modern dancers use all
orientations, even completely turning their back on the audience. Relationship to Music: In ballet,
the dancer's movements correspond harmoniously with the music, but in modern dance, dancers
may dance off-beat or in contrast to the music, ignore the music completely, or dance on a silent
stage. Performers: Contrasting the large casts and strict hierarchy of ballet, modern dance
choreographers often also perform. They may work alone or with smaller dance troupes. Women
also gained recognition and influence as choreographers. Movement: Ballet has a very strictly
defined set of movements that get pieced together to create different dances. In modern dance,
however, dancers create a new language of movement with every piece, experimenting with how
they can manipulate the body.

https://study.com/academy/lesson/modern-dance-history-types./html