Origin of Dance

Origin of dance is continuing mystery as because it does not leave behind any identifiable artifacts! From the beginning of time, songs and stories have brought people together. 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.

It is not possible to identify with exact precision when dance came into existence or became part of human culture. Dance has been an important part of rituals, entertainment and celebrations. But then, there are surviving records, ranging from the mediaeval period to the end of the 20th century and, ultimately, beyond.

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Mediaeval Dance: The Middle Ages are a period for which are no known choreographies have come to light. There is, however, ample music clearly written for dance. The most documented form of dance during the Middle Ages is the CAROL also called the "Carole" or "Carola" and known from the 12th and 13th centuries in Western Europe in rural and court settings.  It consisted of a group of dancers holding hands usually in a circle, with the dancers singing in a leader and refrain style while dancing. No surviving lyrics or music for the carol have been identified. Those records we have are, for the most part, pictorial or literary.

Renaissance Dance: During the Renaissance period, there was a distinction between country dances and court dances. Country dances such as Chiarantana remained popular over a long period - over two centuries. A Renaissance dance can be likened to a ball. Knowledge of court dances has survived better than that of country dances as they were collected by dancing masters in manuscripts and later in printed books.  Renaissance period of dance is commonly referred to by dancers as ‘15th century’ and the Late Renaissance period of dance as ‘16th century’.

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During 15th and 16th Century: Dancing was a favourite pastime in the Renaissance period. These dances were formal, some were flirty or comical. Dancing in those days were an elegant form of exercise and an expected social skill for society's noble set

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. 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.

The Allemande originated in the 16th century and was favoured by the Germans, then eventually the French grabbed onto it. The Allemande basically was a serious dance which paraded as couple's, back and forth the entire length of the ballroom, walking three steps, possibly a little hop. Some of the Allemande would find its way into the Waltzes and Square Dance. The grave and majestic Courante was a sight to see. Then there were the lively dances such as the Galliard, Coranto, Canario, Saltarello, La Volta and others.

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During 17th and 18th Century: For the most part, the development of historical dance styles in the 17th century is obscure. Sources for the first quarter-century are often difficult to understand; by the last quarter, the Baroque style has already come into being. Baroque dance is the conventional name given to the style of dancing that had its origins during the seventeenth century and dominated the eighteenth century until the French Revolution. Now, for the first time, the dance steps are accompanied by highly codified diagrams showing the use of the hands and arms. Baroque dance notation is no longer verbal, and it is necessary to study the relevant dance manuals in order to understand the diagrams.

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During 19th Century: Dances popular during this period included the polka, schottische, two-step, and the waltz. Balls now opened to the stately measure of a polonaise or a Grand March, which also provided a form of fashion display. Stage dance, such as early Classical Ballet, now began to inhabit its own world, quite separate from that of the ballroom.

The Dances were brought together in the late 1960's by Samuel L. Lewis also known as Murshid Sam (1896-1971), a Sufi Murshid (teacher) and Rinzai Zen Master, from their life experiences. The Dances have spread throughout the world, touching more than a half million people in North and South America, eastern and Western Europe, the former Soviet Union, India, the Middle East, Africa, Pakistan, Australia, and New Zealand. Dance circles are continually springing up around the globe.

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During 20^th Century: At the turn of the century, the public looked upon dance as a diversion, not a form of artistic expression.  In 20^th century the American Society went through many changes. There appeared to be a crisis in almost all the decades. People found ways to express their feelings about each crisis through dance which came all over the world. We have recorded music (on wax, shellac, vinyl, magnetic tape, CD, and digital media), but it is the invention of moving pictures, captured on photographic film or video, that has revolutionised our ability to study the actual movements of many dancers in the 20th century.

New dance styles keep emerging but, as a counter-balance, interest in the dances of the past is also strong. Latterly, there has been a considerable revival of interest in ballroom dancing, hugely popular throughout much of the 20th century.

The considerable development of interest in early music over the last 150 years has brought with it a growth of interest in early dance, as people have come to realise its huge influence, but there is scope for much more pleasure to be found in historical dance.