Reference no: EM133442378

Assignment:

Develop a new definition of dance that reflects ways that your definition of dance has altered and expanded to encompass a cross-cultural perspective.

Read the definition of dance that I proposed and think about what I left out that I should include now in a definition of dance in more than two paragraphs.

Gender roles happen a lot in dance because the male is said to be taller and stronger so he can carry the female and keep her from falling. Not just that but in our readings, it states that some dances are meant more for women, and some are mainly for men. The Indian dance called Bharata Natyam, and the Kathakali is a male dance. Facial expressions are in many of the dances and that is one thing I never cared to notice when watching someone dance, I usually pay attention to the body movements.

I have learned in the past that dance can symbolize many things, some people dance for their ancestors as a way of communicating. There are various dances done culturally and for religious purposes. Just like someone might get on the knees and pray, many religions or even cultures believe that dancing is a form of prayer. Some of these ceremonies take hours and some even longer.

My personal definition of dance is any movement you make can turn into a dance. I have always been infatuated by the many different tribes I have studied on and how they use drums, their voices and their dancing (stomping, clapping and other body movements) to call out to different "gods" or "spirits". Having different dances for different things such as the rain dance or the Sango dance to protect the children from adulteress is beautiful and very different from western dance. Dancing is a way of showing every emotion, you don't have to be happy to dance. There are songs for worship, prayer, emotion, wants and needs. Dance is simple and yet so hard to understand sometimes because it is such a beautiful and abstract art.