Everybody knows how to dance. Even if you don’t think that you’re any good at it, you will be able to move your body to music or a beat. Even babies love to dance! And, at its most basic, that really is all that dance is. But everybody also knows that dance is much more than that.
As a form of artistic expression, dance is unique in its ability to create emotion and it really is completely universal. It can be easy, however, to think that if a dance is artistic then it has to communicate a serious emotion. That isn’t the case at all! For a great example of artistic dance that is also fun and joyous, check out the video from above by Afromanga. But we do dance for different purposes, and these can generally be grouped into four.
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1) Ceremonial dance
Ceremonial dances have a rich history spanning far back into the earliest civilizations. They are performed at major life events such as weddings and funerals, as a way of communicating with nature such as during harvest or to encourage rain to fall, and as a way of worshiping deities.
2) Recreational dance
But dance doesn’t always have to be for such important purposes. Most people who dance nowadays do so for fun. It can be in the form of professional dance classes, social dancing, or it can be on a night out with friends. In any of these situations, dancing can be such a joyous experience!
3) Dance as a form of exercise
There are numerous dance fitness programs such as Zumba and they got popular all over the world for a good reason. Dance fitness routines are fun and easy to follow through. Most of the time you don’t have to force your self to attend classes regularly. It’s so much fun, that most people will eagerly wait for the next class to be able to release endorphins by dancing again.
However not just dance fitness programs are great for exercise, in fact many dance styles such as salsa, hip hop, reggaeton and pole dance are quite intensive as well and will easily keep you in shape. By the way, you are welcome check out one of our most recent articles to find the best dance sneakers for your next Zumba class. For those looking for the best dance poles, feel free to follow the latter link instead. These poles are super sturdy – great for both home and dance studio use with many options to choose from.
4) Dance as a form of artistic expression
Dance is a powerful art form that can be used to tell stories, communicate emotions, or express complex ideas. Often, this type of dance is performed in a theatrical setting (but not always as you could notice from today’s featured video) and is often associated with dance styles such as ballet, contemporary, or modern.
If you liked this article, feel free to share it with your friends! As online learning becomes more popular, we’ve added a new section for online dance classes. Online classes are a fun and easy way to learn dance from the comfort of your home. You can take lessons from world-class teachers, practice at your own pace, and it’s super affordable too! Online dance classes are just great if you want to get moving and learn new dance styles, check it out.