Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Dancing plays an important role in a culture.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
Dancing plays an important role in a culture. Dancing is a means of expressing a cultural identity. Different nationalities and tribes dance for different reasons. For instance, some dance for religious reasons. Others dance to celebrate festivals. Still others dance for fun.
In The Odyssey, when Odysseus fights the suitors who surround his home, the suitors dance to celebrate their victory. Similarly, in Homer’s Iliad, Achilles dances to taunt the Trojans who attempt to take his life. These stories demonstrate how dancing has become an important symbol of culture and identity.
In the United States, popular dances such as the square dance, waltz, and polka, all originated in the 19th century. The square dance, which was first developed as a folk dance, was adopted by farmers as a form of exercise. Many regional variations of this dance exist today, including ‘hoedown,’ ’round dance,’ and ‘Ohio square. The waltz, which originated in Austria, Italy, and Germany, was originally a dance performed by peasants. Over time, it gained popularity in Europe and the United States and is now associated with romantic love. The polka is derived from a dance called the polonaise, which was first performed in Poland. The polka is still popular today, and Americans will often incorporate the dance into their celebrations.
The dances that were first developed to express religious or cultural beliefs are reminiscent of many Native American dances. For instance, the Navajo tradition of weaving blankets used ‘jumping’ designs, which were meant to be representations of the movements of a jumping snake. Many Native American dances honor specific gods or spirits by imitating these animals. to dance for ceremonial purposes. The Wassaja, a Native American dance group of the Lummi Indian tribe, has danced in ceremonies for over 100 years. Other Native American tribes dance for religious purposes as well. The Pawnee people, a Native American tribe residing in Oklahoma, perform dances in ceremonies, both as memorials to deceased individuals and as part of a healing ritual. Dancing for religious purposes is significant because it creates a connection between the dancers and their deity or spiritual being.
Many cultures have festivals dedicated to celebrating heritage, community, or country. Many harvest festivals have agricultural roots. The ‘Hogmanay,’ or New Year’s Eve in Scotland, is a celebration of the agricultural year. People in Scotland wear traditional Scottish dress and enjoy food and drink. In Ireland, the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, or ‘St. Paddy’s Day,’ celebrates the Irish heritage of that country. People in Ireland wear green, shamrocks, and Irish flags, sing traditional Irish songs, and drink Irish whiskey. In addition to celebrating their heritage, many festivals also serve to bring people together. For instance, the annual Celtic music festival, held each summer in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, brings together thousands of Irish, Scottish, and Welsh people. Another major festival that brings together people from many countries is the Burning Man festival, which has been held each year in the Black Rock Desert of Nevada since 1986. At the festival, artists create temporary artwork that adds to the festival’s artistic character. They also engage in activities that include building large structures, such as temples, pyramids, and bridges, and participating in group rituals. These large-scale festivals are an important way for people to connect with one another and to reaffirm their cultural identity.
Although dancing has a deep history in many different cultures, it has also evolved to serve social purposes. Many dances originated in countries where music had no written form. People danced to communicate, to celebrate, and to heal. Today, these dances exist primarily as entertainment. However, some dances, such as the square dance, are still popular because they provide a healthful form of exercise. The evolution of dancing into a popular form of entertainment demonstrates its importance to modern society.