Ancient Dance References - Book Report/Review Example

Full Ancient Dance References Art was not recently borne but have for centuries been a part of human cultures, not only to the progressive countries but to all races regardless of education and other circumstances. Whatever knowledge the modern man has about dance and other arts, I believe have been passed on from generation to generation and has developed to whatever each race has adopted and whatever genre there are that we now know similar to how other part of our culture have been passed to us.

If stories, poems and other literary works have been preserved through words of mouth in the early centuries, I believe that in an identical manner, dance have been preserved through what has been taught and passed on from generation to generation. The literary works passed on through many generations may have a lot of innovations that have affected what has been put into writing for our enjoyment and appreciation. Correspondingly, dance has its own changes as different generations adapted other aesthetic dance movements which could have been an expression of an individual’s own artistic inclination or probably have been adopted from other cultures.

The only evidences preserved for us to see in physical form the dances of ancient times are the drawings left by past civilizations like the ones engraved on the stones or woods found in Egypt and other pertinent places among which is India. It has been so wise of Bharata Muni (Chiego 84) to have recorded an integral part of her country’s and any other country’s cultural background, preserving India’s dances through her written works. India has dances which are considered competitively beautiful and probably they can be noted among the top best dancers, tracing such practice to the entertainment of their nobles.

Dance, along with other artistic expressions have usually been used to entertain the rich especially the royalties. In most history books and historical films, dance has a virtual importance in the portrayal of the lifestyle of kings and other powerful figures in ancient times. Usually, dancers are summoned during banquets prepared by or for the king and his royal friends. Basically, centuries ago, art was enjoyed only by those who were able to afford it unlike these times where all forms of arts are readily available at affordable prices.

Dancers abound and everyone inclined to the talent are given the chance of expressing their hearts out through the discipline. Linking dance to other nations who practiced dancing as a part of their royal entertainment is Egypt. There has been a time when women were considered like flowers who beautify rooms, houses or to the ancients, palaces. The king always had the luxury of entertaining himself with dancers and other artists usually portrayed in plays and historical films, greatly useful in giving a picture of the past to the modern man.

Egypt as one of the powers in ancient civilizations has had its own share of the beauty seen in such culture. In fact, they are among those whose tombs and pyramid inscriptions preserved the evidences of such treasure. Being led by pharaohs during biblical times and with the fact that the people were made to think that their role was to honor the king through their services, dancers were vital to the service of the king. Another would be ancient Greece with Aristotle as her recorder of her culture that includes the value of dance.

True enough, dance reflects the culture of a people as he mentioned that through rhythmical gestures, character, experience and actions are expressed. One example could be the Greek war dances that portray what happened in the wars they have been through. There are also dances of the same race which speak of their love and pursuit for peace and is commonly called peace dance. This shows that even dances which give no words, also tell stories that are important to a nation’s history and culture.

Some other countries speak about their livelihood through their dance and thus reflect the wise words of the philosopher that character is shown in dances, too. Dance also has a religious attribution as mentioned in the article which spoke about the dance of Miriam with the use of tambourine to celebrate the victory their God has given them in running away from their oppressors, the Egyptians. Being the oldest recorded dance in the Bible, it shows one good reason for the act that is, thanking God in times of joyful celebrations.

This happened long before the first king was anointed so that we can imagine dance not only to be a luxury for them, at least not for the Israelites but is a part of their cultural celebrations because having tambourines during a great escape would be last of anyone’s concern. However, with the tambourine not only of Miriam but of other dancers, being available at such a time; show the importance of the art in their culture. Reference Chiego, John. The Musical Experience (2nd Edition). USA: Kendall Hunt Publishing, 2010. Print.