Assignment #6- Dance

1.       The Baroque period of dance was from about 1600-1750. The Baroque period is characterized by dynamic movement, overt emotion and self-confident rhetoric. It was very grandeur with sensuous richness, drama, vitality, movement, tension, and emotional exuberance.  The reign of Louis XIV of France (1638 - 1715) was a quintessence of European culture. During his rule and under his enthusiastic guidance, the art of ballet was born. His court at Versailles was a glittering one in which dance played a pivotal role. It is here that baroque dance history begins. Baroque dance consisted of ballroom dancing as well as social dancing. The majority of surviving choreographies from the period are English country dance. English country dance is a form of folk dance. It is a social dance form, which has earliest documented instances with Queen Elizabeth I of England.

2.       People dance for many reasons. Dance is a major form of expression. Dancers express not only their feelings through dance but their abilities as well. Some people also dance as a form of prayer. Some religious ceremonies involving lots of dancing. Dancing is also a great way to get fit. There are all kinds of dance classes aimed at weight loss (Zumba, Aerobics etc). Social interaction is also a major reason that people dance. There are many types of social dances. South Carolina even has its own social dance, The Carolina Shag. Going to clubs to dance is very popular in today’s society. Dancing is a great way to meet new people and spend time with friends. Above all, dancing is fun! People may dance for many reasons, but most just find it to be an overall enjoyable experience.

3.       The Bihu dance is a folk dance from the Indian state of Assam related to the festival of Bihu. This joyous dance is performed by both young men and women, and is characterized by brisk dance steps, and rapid hand movement. Dancers wear traditionally colorful Assamese clothing. It is performed in conjunction with traditional Bihu folk music, played with: the "dhol", similar to a drum; the mohor singor pepa, a pipe instrument made from a buffalo horn; the tala, a cymbal; the gogona, a reed and bamboo instrument; and the toka, a bamboo clapper. The songs (bihu geet) that accompany the dance have been handed down for many generations. The subject of the lyrics ranges from welcoming the Assamese New Year to describing the daily life of a farmer, from historical references of invasions to Assam to contemporary socio-political commentary in a satirical way. The dance takes several forms among the different northeast Indian tribes, for example, the "Garo Bihu dance" and the "Khasi Bihu dance." However, the underlying goal of the dance remains the same: to express the desire to feel both pain and happiness.