Dance in Primitive Cultures - Essay Example

Dance has been in existence in many years. Moreover, dance has been a dominant part of current societies and societies that existed in the past. The most significant thing is that dance was also a major part of primitive societies in the past. A reflection of the history of dance will help identify themes, examples and the role it played in primitive cultures. First, it is important to understand the origins of the primitive dance. The origin of the dance is thought to have a relationship to communication with unseen forces that provided food (West Virginia University 20).

Such forces are also said to have promoted fertility, controlled weather, and led to success in warfare. As a result, the forces had a say in tribal well-being and human survival. Originally, man used to dance to implore god on various occasions that were crucial in life (West Virginia University 20). Moreover, it is also thought that dance in these cultures begun as a gesture. This was used as a form of communication. Afterwards, there was the use of gestures such as facial expressions and combination of a guttural sound and action to reinforce an ideal (West Virginia University 20).

As a result, dance was used as a means of telling stories or passing information. However, in this era, there was a lack of proper speech. As a result, a man was forced to use a recognizable gesture. For success, the man was forced to supplement movements with the cries of animals and other natural sounds.On the other hand, there was an inspiration to the primitive dance. The most significant source of inspiration was the birds and animals (West Virginia University 21). Primitive man was knowledgeable of living things that surrounded him as he interacted with them.

The man fought with living things or survival, hunted for food and clothing and managed to know their character (West Virginia University 21). Primitive people also had an animist religion; they thought animals had souls and were similar to man. The perception was linked to the natural phenomenon that surrounded man such the sin and death. Primitive man also has an opportunity to dance with animals. Man insects and some animals perform ritualized movement patterns that appear almost similar to man conception of dance.

Hence, the dance-like movements of animals inspired the dance of primitive man. On the other hand, dance played a significant role in primitive society. One such role was in religion. In the performance of rituals, ancient man simpler imitative movements became changed into a more detailed structure of symbolic arts. All this was related to undoubting belief in the value of the ceremony. Primitive people had astounding beliefs. For example, a dervish could dance for 12 to 15 hours at a stretch without losing focus (West Virginia University 23).

This depicts the level of endurance and self-control that occurred in ancient societies. Such performance was done as man sought favor from gods or of nature in every part of his life. Moreover, there existed various primitive dance movements. Examples of such dances included whirling, leaping, vibrating, rolling of the pelvis, striding, and stamping (West Virginia University 25). However, there were some dances with a narrow range of movements.