“What is Dance?”
Ask this question to 100 different people and you will more than likely get as many different answers.
Today I typed in into Google and it came back with 32,200,000 search results!
I came across one site with a lengthy dissertation on the definition of dance. Admittedly I didn’t make it to the end of it, or even half way (it’s very wordy)…but my scanning did reveal some content to contribute to this discussion.
The author says that “defining any artform is difficult. Dance is no exception…”.
That got me thinking - why is it so hard to define?
Is it because the very notion of ‘defining’ implies limitation and boundaries - an idea that seems to go against the purpose of expression, and creativity?
Or is it because when the question “what is dance?” is asked, most people will really answer the question “what is dance to me?”.
By this I mean, the answer will be affected by their experience and feelings towards dance, as well as the context in which they dance (e.g. professionally, socially at a club) and their reasons for doing so (e.g. fitness, fun, self-expression).
Well, for whatever reasons, it hasn’t stopped people trying.
Here are just a few definitions of “dance” & “dancing” I came across:
Dance generally refers to movement used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance
An artistic form of nonverbal communication
Source: wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
to move the body and feet in rhythm, ordinarily to music
to move lightly and gaily; caper
to bob up and down
to be stirred into rapid movement, as leaves in a wind
Source: http://www.yourdictionary.com/dance
To move rhythmically usually to music, using prescribed or improvised steps and gestures.
To leap or skip about excitedly
Source: http://www.answers.com/topic/dance?cat=entertainment
The following is excerpt from the dissertation I mentioned above that offers another, more comprehensive definition:
Many dance critics, writers, and philosophers over the last several centuries have attempted to define “dance” using a variety of conditions and characteristics:
(1) human movement, that is
(2) formalized (e.g., by being stylized or performed in certain patterns), with
(3) such qualities as grace, elegance, and beauty,
(4) to the accompaniment of music or other rhythmic sounds,
(5) for the purpose of telling a story and/or
(6) for the purpose of communicating or expressing human emotions, themes, or ideas, and
(7) with the aid of mime, costumes, scenery, and lighting.
Source: http://csulb.edu/~jvancamp/diss2.html
These last two explanations of “what is dance” both come from the British Theatre Dance Association (BTDA) webpage.
I’m not saying they are “right”, “the best” or even the most comprehensive, but from the ones posted here, I think I like them the best (although the one about bobbing up and down did make me laugh).
I like them because they imply a connection between the dancer and their dancing - that quality I spoke about a couple of days ago (See: Why Do We Dance?) whereby you can see a part of the dancer come through in their dancing, and feel their passion and love for dance.
Dance transforms images, ideas and feelings into sequences of movement that are personally and socially significant.
Dance allows people to discover, explore and develop their natural instincts for movement, enabling students of dance to develop not only their motor skills but also their mental and emotional personalities.
Source: http://www.btda.org.uk/students1.htm
Lastly, I have for you a short video by Eddie Uehara.
It’s only short and simple, but nonetheless a glimpse at just a few of the answers you may get if you were to ask people “what is dance to you?”, brought to you with a little bit of Eddie Uehara finesse.
“It’s Dance”
Until next time, Whatever your definition of dance, do it like no one is watching!
Tags: British Theatre Dance Association, BTDA, dance, dance video, dancer, dancing, definition of dance, definition of dancing, Eddie Uehara, It's Dance, love for dance, what is dance, what is dance to me