Uncategorized

The Realm of Dance

Posted on by Aamuktha

Dance isn’t just dance, it’s magical. Something that sets you free.

What is dance?

Dance holds a different meaning for every individual. From a simple leg shake or head bob to a string of exaggerated movements, any rhythmic motion counts as dance. What the connoisseurs realize is that dance exists in everything we do in daily life. Every regular movement can be turned into a dance piece that tells a story, delivers a message or expresses emotions. It amuses me how dance is used as a mode of communication that is purely dependent on interpretation. Sequences of varied but coordinated movements of distinct body parts have such great potential to unlock what is difficult to frame through words.  On a personal level, while this may seem quite eccentric, allowing the music to flow through me begets a unique sense of freedom. Every choreographer’s attempt at displaying this freedom is what forms a piece of choreography. 

Dance is about creating patterns of movement that sync with the patterns of beats in the music. It requires a sense of coordination, ability to process music and identify rhythms. 

Impulse to dance is an instinctual part of being human.

CBCDOCS

A study conducted by Professor Zentner at the University of Inssbruck, Austria, found that infants spontaneously move to music and the better the synchronization the happier they were (CBC, n.d.). A study conducted by Duke University found that babies react to music even inside womb. My love for dance always made me wonder if I was born dancing- now it makes sense!

Frivolity to necessity- why do we dance? 

To understand this, we need to discuss the idea of collective effervescence which refers to the sense of exhilaration we feel when performing an act collectively (Aeon Video, 2018). When we are united by a common purpose we are impacted by collective effervescence. Being in a stadium that suddenly erupts into cheer and applause is an example of the notion. It’s the happiness one feels in a moment that is shared with others.

In a more general sense, having been born into already existing groups of individuals (or societies), it is inevitable that we adapt to a certain standard of living set by one of these groups. Eventually we meld with the group or try to fit in, creating excitement that draws us together. Dance is an accelerator of collective effervescence. Whether it’s ritualistic dances or TikTok dances, the element of togetherness acts like a social glue and uplifts us.

Dance becomes a means of connecting to broader meanings and deeper emotional experiences—particularly ones associated with positivity 

Forbes

Delving deeper into human tendencies, studies have shown that we often try to sync our movements with those around us. When listening to music, we subconsciously try to find a common rhythm. Watching other people move activates a region in our brain that helps us replicate those movements. This process of synchronization releases neurohormones that make us “feel good”. The dopamine, serotonin and endorphins trigger an elevated sense of delight that gets us dancing.  

Motion to emotion- hidden meaning in movement

1.Cultural/historical role of dance

When we discuss cultures, we primarily discuss traditional food, traditional attire and festivals. There are certain cultures that we most easily recognize through music and dance. The Spanish salsa dancer is an icon that we connect to Spanish culture. The hip-hop dancer’s handstand is immediately associated with the hip hop culture of New York, America. Some forms of dance that were once unique to one country or culture have been adopted globally. For example, ballroom dancing from the European Baroque period is recognized as the go-to formal dance form. The myriad of dance forms we have today are classified under the larger umbrellas of hip-hop, contemporary, ballet and so on. Each of these branch out into multiple other forms that were born at different places around the world. In some cultures, dance is used as celebration. In others it is ritualistic. Indian dance forms such as Bharatanatyam, are performed to tell stories of the gods and demons. Since the beginning of the film industry,  Indian films are iconic for their dance numbers. The development of dance and its integration into culture is one reason why it’s so essential to representation and preservation.  

2. Modern era of dance

    With social media comes easier networking which has greatly benefited the dance community. Online classes, workshops, YouTube, Instagram reels and TikTok videos have all presented dancers with multiple platforms to share their common love of the art. Many dancers have gained fame by sharing 15 second dance videos on social media, eventually expanding their network to collaborate with others who share the same interest. A large part of American, Latin and Asian TV shows are dance themed. From ‘Dance Moms’ to ‘World of Dance in Americ’a and from ‘Nach Baliye’ to ‘Jhalak Dikhlaja’ in India, these shows have spotlighted dance. Dance now supports many livelihoods in all classes of society. There are also numerous movies based on dancers’ journey such as Step Up (a classic), Full Out, Work It, Feel The Beat, Into The Beat and more. 

    3. Personal development from dance

    Apart from the enjoyment or entertainment aspect, the practice of dance has healing abilities and offers many interpersonal skills. 

    • Writer and athlete Christopher Bergland found from studies that dance based movement can help with depression to improve quality of life (Steenbarger, 2020). Many individuals have used dance as a form of therapy. 
    • Dancer and psychologist Peter Lovatt found that dance improves creativity and reading skills. 
    • Sia’s choreographer Ryan Heffington highlights in his TedTalk “How Dance Can Unleash Your Inner Joy”.
    • A Forbes article on the psychology of dance fascinatingly highlights the relation between changing mindsets using the corresponding physical activity (Steenbarger, 2020). It discusses how the idea of extreme stillness employed in meditation to develop a quiet and controlled mind can be applied conversely. For example, if you wish to become a dynamic investor in stocks, you may want to purse high intensity dance training to energetic music. The physical aspect has potential to translate into the particular mindset that needs to be achieved. 
    • This video shows how Tango can equip one with leadership skills:

    Why do some people dislike dancing?

    Are you someone who enjoys dancing or is comfortable dancing? I would expect the majority to say no and the most obvious reasons for this include the fear of feeling clumsy or awkward and the discomfort attached to having an audience (TNN, 2018).  Dancing is conventionally supposed to be liberating but some of us are simply not accustomed to it, thus the overpowering self-consciousness that restricts us from moving when a dance number booms over the speakers. However, some cases are rooted in a medical condition/disorder- ‘beat deafness’. Humans tend to at least sway or nod to music but those experiencing beat deafness feel so urge to move to any sort of rhythm. “The blind man cannot imagine the truth of something like color because he has never seen or experienced them” (Jake, 2021). Similarly, beat deaf individuals cannot dance because they have never even experienced the effect of rhythm. Beat deafness can also be compared to tone deafness.

    Examining brain activity when exposed to sensory stimulation, a process is “neural entrainment” is triggered (TNN, 2018).   Entrainment allows the timing of upcoming beats to be predicted, which is how we learn sequences of moves and are able to perform them repeatedly. The bursts of synchronized brain activity caused by this process can continue even without any music due to interactions between already excited neurons. For beat deaf people, this is not possible. Their nervous system doesn’t support entrainment, depriving them of the coordination and concentration needed to move to the beat. 

    To add some statistics to the picture…

    A study from McGill University found that three percent of people suffer from congenital amusia (…which might become my drag name), and that means they can’t perceive music through either pitch, timing, or rhythm.

    LinkedIn

    More interestingly, there exists such a thing as the fear of dancing- chorophobia (CBC, n.d.). This is the extreme condition where one feels “paralyzed with fear and anxiety”, as Canadian director Michael Allcock described it. Chorophopic individuals do not even consider their fear as a lack of skill. Allcock has explored this phobia further to create his documentary “Fear of Dancing” that reveals what terrifies people. The direction explains all things “Fear of Dancing” in his interview. While this does seem like a problematic fear that reveals underlying issues pertaining to motor skills, those who are afraid to dance or are beat deaf can overcome it with professional guidance and practice.

    Wrap-up and Extra resources

    I have always believed that anyone and everyone can dance. With more practice and experience, one will begin to realize the inner emotion that dance elicits. Naturally flowing with the beats is a truly transcendent experience!

    Questions

    1. Do you enjoy dancing? If yes, what is it about dancing particularly that you enjoy? If not, why don’t you like it? 
    2. Is dance a significant part of your culture? Is there a specific purpose to this dance (celebration, ritual, etc.,)? Can you name these forms of dance? 
    3. Have you every experienced collective effervescence?
    4. Considering the versatility of dance, where do you think you could apply dance in your life? Could you link it to any of your other hobbies? 
    Aamuktha

    12 Comments

    1. this is a very interesting read, aamuktha. i didn’t realize that dance was such a big part of some cultures but it makes sense – its a form of artistic expression like any other and part of a community as well. i enjoy dancing but i definitely feel embarrassed about it.

      also, the idea of collective effervescence is very cool. i had an idea of it but never knew it had an official name. i mostly feel like in moments of collective singing, like with my friends or at a concert or something. its a great feeling.

      i think dancing is a great way to get some exercise in while still having fun. its cardio as well as increasing flexibility and stretching muscles.

    2. This was a really fun read. Awesome work, Aamuktha! I have never been the type of guy to dance. Don’t get me wrong; I love music and making music and have been playing the guitar for the past five years. But dancing always felt like an odd thing to me. When you are horsing around with friends or something, it makes sense to dance and fool around and stuff. But when you do so on a professional basis, there is a fine line between doing something truly skillful (an art form, if you will) or something that’s just plain odd. I don’t know; it’s probably just me and my perception of the world of dance.

      As an Indian, I definitely think that dance is an important component of the culture. But coming from a Muslim community in India (which is considered a minority), we really don’t dabble into dancing as much as we do in singing or playing instruments. But definitely, if you go far back into the history of the country, there are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of different traditional dance forms.

    3. I really enjoyed reading this, Aamuktha!
      Dancing is not only very important in my culture, but also therapeutic for me. Whenever I feel down or stressed, I just turn on the speaker at home and dance to my favorite songs. Belly dancing and middle eastern dancing is very famous in my culture, and you will find it in every happy occasion, especially in weddings. Although I am not very good at middle eastern dancing, I still try to improve in it because I feel like dancing is a form of self-expression for me. It helps me let out all the negative energy inside me and forget the world for a little bit as a I focus on synchronizing my moves with the beats of the song. It makes me feel happier and takes me away from any stress I am currently living in for a bit.

    4. Amazing Read!

      the cultural part of it really interested me because as a person from the levant we have the dabke and it is really fun

    5. I genuinely loved what you talked about in your blog, Aamuktha! This is a really fascinating topic. Personally, I find dancing to be quite enjoyable and interesting. I watched a lot of dance analysis videos when I was in quarantine, and some of them explained the physics and dynamics of dancing and how the dancer could conserve energy or stay in the air longer. I found the many dancing styles and genres to be quite fascinating, especially when you watch how different dancers execute the same dance move with distinct techniques. The fact that dance has a long history in Egyptian society, particularly among women, is another factor in my love of dance. When there is a wedding or any other event where women are hanging out together, they end up dancing in the Egyptian traditional dance, which many know as belly dancing. There are also a lot of different traditional Egyptian dances across the governorates. Some of them include both men and women. In recent years there has been dances for Mahragant songs which have a style similar to street dancing. I have experienced collective effervescence before when singing in groups!! Regarding your final question, I find the science of dancing as well as the concept of conserving energy and not overworking your body while performing to be extremely intriguing. I think these types of techniques could be applied to working out. I believe that as hobbies, singing and dancing go together quite nice. Since I started drawing again I am planning to use dancing as a reference for new postures and as a way for me to master and practice posture a little bit more not only because it is really useful and fun but also because dance postures are truly very beautiful to look at.

    6. I really enjoyed your blog post and I found it really interesting . Answering your first question I don’t particularly like dancing as in doing it but I like people dance especially diffrent cultures as dancers wear lovely clothes which in some culture I believe in Turkish also tell a story.

    7. Loved reading this Aamuktha!!
      Dance is definitely a form of expression, and as you said, it brings a sense of freedom to various people. I have only really danced a few times like at my sister’s wedding, but other than that, I don’t dance often (I would say that’s because I am not good at it haha). From the very few times I have danced with my family members or friends, I can remember the feeling of simultaneous joy or the rush of excitement and energy I felt. I didn’t really know that it had a name, but now I do understand it!! I get why people like to dance collectively due to those intensified feelings and emotions that allow you to connect with one another.

    8. Wow! This was so informative, Aamuktha, thank you. I’ve never really been into dancing as it’s not a huge part of our culture, especially for women, except at weddings. The idea of ‘collective effervescence reminds me of the ‘Dholki Night’ at AUS last year – dancing with some of my friends and many girls I’ve never met before to nostalgic music definitely incited a euphoric sort of feeling and I now realize what it’s called. I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve never viewed dance with any depth before, but learning about dance as a form of art, expression, and so much more, I’m interested in discovering how I can integrate it into my own life. Great work!

    9. Beautifully written, Aamuktha! Like a few other people mentioned, dancing (at least publicly) isn’t a big part of my culture, for better or for worse. But I can relate completely to what you describe of the ‘collective effervescence’ that dancing can evoke. I’m far from a professional dancer, but I can’t deny the powerful hold a good beat can hold over you. Regardless of one’s competence at dancing, I don’t think anyone is immune to a good ‘groove’ (I hope this is the correct term), even if it’s awkward and restrained and best done outside the public view 🙂

    10. The last time I danced was at the prom of the class of 2019 of my previous school. Personally, I do not dance often, if at all; however, I neither dislike nor like it, I am just the type of individual who would not start dancing even if everyone else does. Perhaps, if the occasion is right, I may debate dancing.

      In Egypt, dancing is a big thing, especially in the rural areas. We have our own style called Tahteeb which is based on the Ancient Egyptian method of fighting by the same name. Basically, you get a wooden stick and you dance with it. I have done it once or twice in my lifetime so far.

    11. I definitely enjoyed this blog post because it brought back so many memories! I especially enjoyed the neuroscience part! Dance was a huge part of my life, and I took ballet/contemporary dance classes for a while when I was younger. Answering your question, “Do you enjoy dancing? If yes, what is it about dancing particularly that you enjoy? If not, why don’t you like it? ” what I enjoyed about dancing was how it made me feel in the moment. While dancing, your brain is completely focused on the task and not thinking of anything else; therefore, dancing is the perfect coping mechanism and a beautiful way to escape life’s challenges.

    12. This is an amazing post! Really made me look at dancing in a different way. I have always enjoyed dancing but i never really understood why I did and this post made it make sense. Dance is definitely a form of art and expression that is important at a cultural and human level

    Comments are closed.