The dance genres are all those manifestations and forms that arise dance, each with its specific characteristics, and they have given to this whole art a range of variations that place it as one of the most popular forms of artistic expression worldwide.
Like other arts, dance has evolved with history, and man has also made it an important part of life in society, culturally and much more. It is estimated that dance was born more than 9000 years ago as a ritualistic manifestation in primitive societies.
Step two of the ballet Don Quixote by the National Dance Company. Maite Villanueva, UmadeBuster / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
Dance, as the set of body movements with a symbolic and aesthetic intention, can be classified according to the different elements that compose it: rhythm, choreography, musicalization, place of origin, historical moment in which it was developed, etc.
Nowadays dance is not a hermetic practice, but it has been mimicked in a complementary way to other arts, making possible new formats and expressive genres in which two artistic manifestations are linked at the same level.
An example of this may be the link between dance and music, or more contemporary, between dance and theater.
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Main dance genres
Dance has three major genres, from which a large number of subgenres with their own elements are broken down; some from other eras, which have sought to modernize, and some others that have emerged in the midst of the contemporary era. These three great dance genres are: classical, folk and modern dance.
Classic dance
Classical dance is characterized by being a set of rhythmic and rhythmic movements of a high harmonic and aesthetic level.
This type of dance, through its choreographies and montages, seeks to express moods (depending on the narrative nature of the piece) or to expose the most delicate movements of the body.
It has been difficult to find the specific origins of some dance forms; Beyond its own manifestation, few records exist that document all the attributes behind each genre of dance.
From its earliest clues in cave paintings to the time it took root in man's culture, it is difficult to come up with a specific timeline.
One of the most popular subgenres of classical dance is ballet, practiced today worldwide and with an everlasting validity.
Ballet is form and technique at the same time, and saw its origins in Europe, mainly. Classical ballet focuses on absolute control of all body positions and movements, to create a harmonious and colorful result.
Both classical and contemporary, ballet has been integrated into other artistic expressions, such as theater, or even cinema. However, its first manifestations had an elitist character, and even its practice was not accessible to everyone.
Today, the highest levels of ballet in the world can present certain demands, but its initial practice is within everyone's reach.
Other forms of classical dance that emerged over several centuries were those considered ancient dances, present during the medieval, baroque and Renaissance periods.
The dances that emerged in these times were closely related to their regions and would give way, over time, to other much more local and characteristic forms.
It is estimated that during these periods dances such as the stampede and the saltarelo (Medieval) emerged; the low dance, the gallarda and the zarabanda (Renaissance); the bourré, the minuet and the paspié (Baroque). In other regions dances such as the polka and the waltz emerged.
Folk dance
Folk dance, or popular, is a genre from which multiple types of dance arise, limited or rooted in a specific region and culture and its more traditional and indigenous practices and ceremonies.
The continuity of folk dances in society is due to the ceremonial character that they could have long ago.
As an expressive form belonging to a nation, being part of its popular culture, folk dances have generated subgenres that vary in form, although perhaps not so much in essence, from each other.
Some forms of popular dance have been so popular that they have spread worldwide, such as tango, for example.
Among the attributes of folk dances are:
- A high value link with the traditional music of the region
- They are not carried out solely for commercial purposes, but as part of popular cultural activities
- Training and learning, in some regions, is quite informal in nature, aimed at those who grow up around the practice.
Despite its original character, folk dances have seen evolution and innovation in many of their dance forms around the world.
Some of the popular dances that are considered globalized today can be tango, Arabic or belly dance, flamenco, Scottish dance, salsa, cumbia, pole dancing, ribbon dance, etc.
Modern dance
Modern dance can be considered an insurgent genre, since it breaks with all the schemes imposed by classical dance and its variations.
It adapts to new musical styles that might not be considered "danceable", and yet they provide the ground for new forms of bodily expression.
This modern variant was consolidated in world society during the 20th century, and is characterized by giving the dancer or performer greater freedom over their movements and their own interpretation of the music that accompanies them.
The body does not have to comply with specific positions, but develops according to moods and expressive intentions.
Modern dance, worldwide, is presented together with musical genres such as hip hop, jazz, merengue, bachata, dancehall, funk, salsa, pop, dance, techno, house, dance rock, etc.
These genres have allowed freedom of movement and have informalized the rigidity imposed by classical dance.
However, modern dance is also practiced academically and methodologically, so that it can be added to the overall structure of dance as an artistic expression.
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References
- Adshead-Lansdale, J., & Layson, J. (2006). Dance History: An Introduction. Routledge.
- Foster, S. (2004). Corporealities: Dancing Knowledge, Culture and Power. Routledge.
- Hoerburger, F. (1968). Once Again: On the Concept of «Folk Dance». Journal of the International Folk Music Council, 30-32.
- Horst, L. (1987). Pre-Classic Dance Forms. Princeton: Princeton Book Company.
- Scholl, T. (June 27, 1999). DANCE; Conveying a Classic Back To Its Lavish Origins. The New York Times.