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Why Do We Dance?
Why do people
dance? They do it for different reasons but probably the most
expected answer is that they dance because they simply like it.
It is difficult to say when dance became an important part of
human culture. Dance has been used during different ceremonies,
rituals and celebrations since prehistoric times. Archeologists
have found Egyptian tomb paintings depicting dancing figures
from circa 3300 ВС. In the past people danced to tell myths and
to show feelings for one of the opposite gender. Dance plays a
vital role in many of the world's religions. People have used
dance in praise of their gods, in celebration of the seasons,
and simply as an outward expression of joy or grief. Native
Americans could not imagine their lives without dancing. It was
an essential part of their culture and heritage. Native
Americans danced for almost any reason: for worship, for rain,
when preparing to fight with other tribes or when preparing for
a big hunt.
Today a lot of
people are still fond of dancing though few of them dance for
religious reasons. For many of us dance is an excellent
opportunity to have fun, to express our emotions, to relieve
stress, to experience music and to improve our health and
fitness level. Dance can be also a form of nonverbal
communication as it helps two people say 'I love you' to each
other. That is why many couples celebrate their unions with a
wedding dance which is the symbol of their love and affection. A
wedding dance is an unforgettable experience and a person
remembers this happy moment during all his or her life.
There are many
interesting dancing styles and everybody can find something to
his liking. There are dancing styles that can be practiced alone
(solo dance), as a couple (partner dance), or as a part of a
much larger group (group dance).
Ballet is popular
with many people and it is best known for its unique features
and techniques. Ballet began to develop in Italy and later it
appeared in France. It combines classical music, mime, acting,
costumes and dance. Nobody can remain indifferent watching
ballet dancers' graceful movements.
The waltz is a
ballroom and folk dance in 3/4 time. It first became fashionable
in Vienna around the 1780s and spread to many other countries.
This dance form became the example for the creation of many
other ballroom dances. In Britain the waltz was considered
'riotous and indecent' as late as 1825. Now there are many types
of waltz, including many folk and several ballroom dances.
Tango is often
associated with love, passion and romance. This dance form
originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay
and it became popular in Europe in the early years of the 20th
century. Tango has influences from Spanish and African cultures.
Today, there are many tango dance styles, including Argentine
Tango, Uruguayan Tango, Ballroom tango (American and
International styles), Finnish tango, Chinese tango, and vintage
tangos.
Today many young
people, especially boys, are fond of break dancing. It is a
street dance style that evolved as part of the hip hop movement
among African American and Latin American youths during the
early 1970s. It is normally danced to funk or hip hop music.
Break dance is highly improvisational and physically demanding.
It allows dancers to display their skills by showing extremely
difficult and complicated elements. Some dancers organize
competitions and try to outperform each other.
Many people dedicate their lives to dancing and spend years
perfecting their dancing skills. But it is not necessary to be a
professional. The most important thing is just to love dancing.
There are many reality television shows such as 'Dancing with
Stars' and movies such as the one with Richard Gere 'Shall We
Dance' that have made ballroom dancing popular and appealing to
the average person. Some people take dance lessons or just buy
videos and DVDs that teach different dance steps.
While dancing
people try to express their ideas or to tell a story through
their movements and facial expressions. Dance fills our body
with energy and makes us feel happier. Dancing is a wonderful
way to exercise while having fun. Besides, it has a lot of
health benefits. It increases your muscle tone, lowers blood
pressure, relieves stress and releases endorphins (a chemical
that reduces pain and can make you feel happier). It helps us
burn calories and lose weight. But of course some people dance
simply for the sake of dancing.
1. Complete each sentence (A—J) with one of the endings (1 —
10):
A. Dance has been used during different
B. Archeologists have found Egyptian tomb paintings
С People have used dance
D. For many of us dance is
E. Ballet combines
F. The waltz first became fashionable
G. Tango originated
H. Break dance a street dance style that evolved as
1. in praise of their gods, in celebration of the seasons, and
simply as an outward expression of joy or grief.
2. in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay.
3. in Vienna around the 1780s.
4. depicting dancing figures from circa 3300 ВС.
5. part of the hip hop movement among African American and Latin
American youths during the early 1970s.
6. classical music, mime, acting, costumes and dance.
7. ceremonies, rituals and celebrations since prehistoric times.
8. an excellent opportunity to have fun, to express our
emotions, to relieve stress, to experience music and to improve
our health and fitness level.
2. Match the word with its definition
1. castanets 2. disco 3. tap dancing 4. Pilates 5. tutu 6.
the twist 7. prom 8. step 9. foxtrot 10. ball 11. toprock 12.
choreography 13. samba 14. pirouette
A. a short skirt made of many folds of stiffened material worn
by women ballet dancers;
B. the art of arranging how dancers should move during a
performance;
C. a large formal occasion at which people dance;
D. a formal dance party for high school students, often held at
the end of a school year (American
English);
E. a musical instrument made of two small round pieces of wood
or plastic that you hold in one hand
and knock together, used especially by Spanish dancers;
F. (in break dance) any string of steps performed from a
standing position, relying upon a mixture
of coordination, flexibility, style, and
rhythm;
G. a type of exercise based on yoga and dance that you do with
special equipment which makes you
push, pull, and stretch, so that your body moves more easily and
becomes stronger;
H. a dance movement in which the dancer turns very quickly,
standing on one toe or the front part
of one foot;
I.
a fast dance from Brazil, or the type of music played for this
dance;
J.
dancing in which you wear shoes with pieces of metal on the
bottom, which make a sound as you
move;
K.
a popular fast dance from the 1960s in which you twist your body
from side to side;
L.
a place or social event at which people dance to recorded
popular music;
M.
a formal dance which combines short quick steps with long slow
steps, or a piece of music for this
dance;
N.
a movement of your feet in dancing.
3. Read the following proverbs and explain their meaning
• All are not merry that dance lightly. (English)
• The devil dances in empty pockets. (English)
• A woman who dances too much gets ill from little work.
(French)
• You can't dance on one leg. (African)
• Do not choose your wife at a dance, but in the field among the
harvesters. (Czech)
• The hunt is like a dance for men, for the women the dance is
the hunt. (Austrian)
• If you are dancing with your rivals, don't close your eyes.
(Burundi)
• Those who can't dance say the music is no good. (Jamaican)
• He who has no shoes dances in his socks. (German)
• An old cat will never learn to dance. (Moroccan)
4. Answer the questions
1) Why did people dance in the past?
2) What role does dance play in many of the world's religions?
3) Why could not Native Americans imagine their lives without
dancing?
4) Why do people dance nowadays?
5) Why do many couples celebrate their unions with a wedding
dance? What does it symbolize?
6) What do you know about the features, techniques and history
of ballet?
7) How can you explain the popularity of the waltz?
8) What is tango often associated with? Why
9) Why are many young people fond of break dancing? Does this
style seem appealing to you? Why?
10) What has made ballroom dancing popular and appealing to the
average person?
11) What are health benefits of dancing?
12) Why do/don't you like dancing?
5.
Work in groups.
The
members of the first group will give their arguments against
dancing. The members of the second group will contradict them
giving their arguments for dancing
-
+
- 1. Dancing is only for
professionals. For amateurs it is just a waste of time
2.
3.
+
1. Dance is an art for everybody. The most
important thing is not how you dance
but how you feel about it.
2.
3.
.
6. Read and translate the quotations below. Choose any
statement and comment on it
• 'Dance is for everybody. I believe that the dance came from
the people and that it should always be delivered back to the
people.' (Alvin Alley)
• 'Every dance is a kind of fever chart, a graph of the heart.'
(Martha Graham)
• 'Dance is the hidden language of the soul of the body.'
(Martha Graham)
• 'To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful,
more powerful. This is power, it is glory on earth and it is
yours for the taking.' (Agnes de Mille)
• 'The dance can reveal everything mysterious that is hidden in
music, and it has the additional merit of being human and
palpable. Dancing is poetry with arms and legs.' (Charles
Baudelaire)
• 'Dancing is like dreaming with your feet.' (Constanze)
• 'And dance is wonderful because dance is so immediate.'
(Graeme Murphy)
• 'No sane man will dance.' (Marcus Tullius Cicero)
• 'There are those who dance to the rhythm that is played to
them, those who only dance to their own rhythm, and those who
don 7 dance at all.' (Jose Bergamin)
Find some extra information on the topic
'Dancing Styles' and prepare a report.
A. Read the definitions below. Choose the variant that you find
the most suitable. Explain your choice.
Dance is ....
A. an amazing pastime;
B. a great source of entertainment;
С a form of social interaction and communication;
D. a perfect physical exercise;
E. a silent language of seduction;
F. a magical combination of movements and music;
G. the best way to express your feelings (love, passion, sorrow,
joy etc.)
B. Read the text 'Why Do We Dance?' and find the answer to this
question.
Из учебного пособия
"Открывая
мир с английским языком. Современные темы для обсуждения.
Готовимся к ЕГЭ" Юнёва С.А. 2012г.
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