Dance Rituals

[pygmalion]

A lot of the dances we do originally grew out of social or religious rituals. And if you visit some countries today, you'll see dance rituals still being practiced. I've seen this in a few African countries. It seems that people dance and sing at the drop of a hat -- at funerals, at arrivals, and departures, when babies are born, you name it. In modern society, it seems that we've lost a lot of that ritual. Or have we? The dance rituals I can think of are the traditional wedding dances -- the couple's first dance, father/daughter dance, etc. And of course, cheerleaders at sports games.

I'm curious. Are there other places in our societies where ritualized dancing is still done? Or are there rituals built into the social dancing we do? What do you think?

[SDsalsaguy]

Well, couldn't the dancing at most nightclubs be considered part of modern mating rituals? :lol:

[dancersdreamland]

Hmm...excellent topic, pygmalion! I think their are various dance rituals still performed based on religions and ethnic groups or heritage. There are several Reservations in my area and they typically host...I've completed drawn a blank on what they're called...the tribe gets together and dances ancient dances which promote various things (i.e. good health, happiness, etc.)

Hmm...hopefully the rest of this thought will come back to me and I'll be able to finish this post. My apologies...

[salsachinita]

Well, couldn't the dancing at most nightclubs be considered part of modern mating rituals? :lol:

For sure :lol: :wink: ! How many time have you heard a guy learning to dance just to impress that girl (or vise versa in some cases :? ).....?

Sure adds new meaning to the term "clubbing" (which, during caveman times would have been a standard mating ritual literally :lol: )!

[SDsalsaguy]

Hmm...excellent topic, pygmalion! I think their are various dance rituals still performed based on religions and ethnic groups or heritage. There are several Reservations in my area and they typically host...I've completed drawn a blank on what they're called...the tribe gets together and dances ancient dances which promote various things (i.e. good health, happiness, etc.)

Hmm...hopefully the rest of this thought will come back to me and I'll be able to finish this post. My apologies...
umm, Pow Wows?

Well, couldn't the dancing at most nightclubs be considered part of modern mating rituals? :lol:

For sure :lol: :wink: ! How many time have you heard a guy learning to dance just to impress that girl (or vise versa in some cases :? ).....?

Sure adds new meaning to the term "clubbing" (which, during caveman times would have been a standard mating ritual literally :lol: )!
............. :uplaugh: :uplaugh: :uplaugh:

[dancersdreamland]

Pow wows?

That's it!!! You're a genious!!!! :D :D Thank you for rescuing me from the "land of forgetfulness." :wink:

[danceguy]

That's cool DDL! I grew up near a few reservations, and Native Americans do have a very strong tradition of dancing in their culture. Its one of my favorite things to watch...I could listen to their drums forever... 8)

I remember back in college I took a World of Music class from an Indian professor (from India), and he was also a trained classical Indian vocalist. He said at the start of class "now I encourage all of you to really listen to the music I will play from different parts of the world and how it makes you feel. If you want to sing or get up and dance, please do so at any time!"

Even when he asked us to sing, I was the only one in the class who would!

Usually he'd find a classroom of staring faces, and he's said once "what happened to you American kids? Did someone tell you to shut up and be seen and not heard when you were young? Get up and DANCE! Sing! Be happy!"

For our final exam, he asked us to do one of three things: make an instrument to play, sing a song, or do a dance.

I opted to do two of these - I made an instrument and dressed up in Chinese clothes and did some Tai chi in front of the class...it was the only kind of 'dancing' I knew at the time.

Funny part was, I had a sprained foot and I didn't even fall on my butt....I also was the only person who did any type of dancing. :wink:

Hmm...thinking back...that wasn't the first time I did tai chi in front of a class. In one of my Psych classes I sat and meditated in front of a group of 100+ people for 30 minutes without moving or saying a word...then I got up and did some Tai chi for them.

You know...I guess I was always a dancer and I never knew it... :D

SG

[SDsalsaguy]

Pow wows?
That's it!!! You're a genious!!!! :D :D Thank you for rescuing me from the "land of forgetfulness." :wink:
Don't go giving me too much credit now DD... what type of cultural anthropoligist would I be if I couldn't come up with "Pow wow"? :wink: :lol:

[pygmalion]

Even when he asked us to sing, I was the only one in the class who would!

Usually he'd find a classroom of staring faces, and he's said once "what happened to you American kids? Did someone tell you to shut up and be seen and not heard when you were young? Get up and DANCE! Sing! Be happy!"
SG

You should've seen it, a couple years ago when some folks held a banquet in my honor. One of the evening's entertainments was a dance/drum group. When the dance troupe asked everyone in the audience to stand up, clap along with the music and dance, it was hilarious! Only a handful of people did it without being forced. And even those who did looked so self conscious. Americans and dance. Who knows why dancing seems to have become so conspicuous. All through American history, there were people who danced. Hoe downs, barn raisings, rent parties, juke joints. You name it. People danced. And now it seems you have to go off to some special bar or club or ballroom, to make it okay to dance publicly. Your professor was right. Americans need to be happy.

[Spitfire]

Native Americans still perform their various ceremonial dances. One in particular that stands out is the Hopi snake dance where the dancers actually put live rattlesnakes in their mouth. :shock: