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. Archaeologists 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.