Dance As Art

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses ballet, ballroom dancing, folk dancing, and modern dancing and shows how they are all forms of art. The paper asserts that dance utilizes the human form and this will always place dance at the most creative forms of art.

From the Paper:

"Dance is perhaps one of the oldest forms of expression known to mankind. Rhythm is a part of life and moving the body in a type of rhythmic motion is a natural and fun response to life itself. Dance is also instinctive, allowing individuals to express themselves connect with one another. In a word, dance is human. There are as many reasons to dance as there are forms of it and they can include happiness, sorrow, thankfulness, celebration, and the simple reason that the act of expression is so easy with dance. Dance styles are diverse and each one can be defined as art because of the human element of expression. In addition, as art, dance forms have a background and a purpose. When we look at certain dance forms such as ballet, ballroom, folk, and modern dance, we are looking at a broad definition of dance but we are also looking at specific styles of art. From the complicated world of ballet and waltzes to the free world of modern dance, we have to admit that we are looking at art expressed in the most vivid of forms - the human form."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Alexander, Victoria D.. Sociology of the Arts. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. 2003.
• Campbell, Karen. "Modern Dance From Head to Toe.". The Christian Science Monitor. EBSCO Resource Database. Information Retrieved October 1, 2008. <http://search.epnet.com >
• Driggs, Jeff. "A Brief History of Clog Dancing." Information Retrieved October 1, 2008. <http://www.doubletoe.com/history.htm>
• "History of Ballroom Dancing." Central Queensland University, Bundaberg. Information Retrieved October 1, 2008. <http://linus.socs.uts.edu.au/~don/pubs/modern.html>
• Lane, Christy. Multicultural Folk Dance. Human kinetics. Champaign: 1998.

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