History of dance - Dance Saturday
Hello everybody and welcome back to another blog post,
It is difficult to stem down the exact origins and roots of dance and where it came from because there are no physical artifacts left behind. However, we do know that dance in early times was custom during festivals and ceremonies. The 30,000 year old Bhimbetka rock shelter paintings in India and the Egyptian tomb paintings depict dancing figures from c.3300 BC. The contemporary dance style that is performed today, can be traced back down to historical, ceremonial dances of the ancient period.
In the 19th century Maria Taglioni first skimmed the stage like an ethereal being during the period of Romanticism. Ballerinas that expressed their emotions like Maria, first heralded the true art of pointe-work. This era was the first time that ballerinas formed their routines upon fantasy, mystical and exotic cultures. Ballets as we know them today, evolved from this point to form the big productions with costumes and plots that we can see performed in the Royal Opera House for example.
In the early 20th century however, there was a sudden explosion of new ideas and how people wanted to express themselves through motives of dance. Can you believe that modern choreographers of that time saw ballet in the most negative light? Isadora Duncan saw it as meaningless gymnastics. Martha Graham saw it as European and imperialistic.
However, big and well-known dancers like Fred Astaire, were well known for their hit dance moves in the 20th century. As a dancer, he is well known for his rhythm, perfectionism, and his innovation and ability to come up with something new from his time. A similar dancer to him is Bob Fosse. His style was closely associated with turned-in-knees and jazz hands which whilst they were new and quirky at the time, have since become more popular within the jazz style.
In the 1990s, Zumba moves became all the more popular. The dance class was created by Columbian dancer, Alberto Perez, and it took the fitness world be storm. To add to this, hip hop moves such as the Memphis jookin', were on the rise. This became a big player in many of the rapper's acts just as the music genre was getting a name for itself.
In the 2000s, the krumping move became more popular as the hip hop style was on the rise. It first started in Los Angeles in the form of street dance which consisted of expressive and jolty movements. As well as this, electro dance became very popular. This consisted of Vogue, Disco, and freestyle glow stick moves. Heavy pop beats inspired dancers across the world to create their own style.
Royal Opera House
What is your favourite year of dance? Let me know in the comments below and I'll be sure to reply to them. I ♡ hearing from you!
See you next time,
Bye,
XOX, Juliette
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