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Who was the first human to dance?

Unlike other art forms like cave painting and stone carving, the more ephemeral art of dance has no left no evidence from before recorded history. Still, it may be certain that when they first learned to stand upright is when the human race found its dancing feet.

Dance has served a variety of purposes through the ages, with motives as diverse as summoning battles, invoking health cures, praying for rain, instilling national pride, inspiring romance (or simply because it felt good.)

From ritual tribal dances in Africa, to the alluring rythmic dance movements of ancient India, dance later evolved in Western civilization at the royal courts of Europe where the first choreographed ritual of ballet took shape during the Renaissance.

Evolving with the more formal aspects of the art form were more popular dance steps emerging from traditional folk dancing invented out in the countryside. Perhaps the most famous of these that still survive today include circle dances, Irish step dancing, and in America, the square dance.

Later, the Jazz Age (who wants to jitterbug?) ushered in what would eventually lay the foundation for all modern forms of popular dance including disco and the current urban craze for hip-hop and breakdancing.

Around the Web, step back in time at these Eastern and Western dance history sites for a a further look at dance in all its variety....

More about dance history around the Web:

Dance History Resources from Artslynx - Hands down the motherlode of dance resources to history tutorials and timelines for ballet, Renaissance, modern and more.

Earthly Delights - This extensive Australian site offers dances, music, tips and costumes for dances from the Middle Ages through the Edwardian era.

Renaissance Dance - RenDance is a complete resource. Music, choreography, costume and more are covered. Everything for the medieval feast, except the knights in shining armor, are covered.

The Calendar of Early Dance - Stefan Kühn's love of historical dance and surfing the Net brings combines into a user friendly, multilingual site with upcoming events, classes in your area, clean links and a wonderful picture gallery.

A History of Irish Dance - Going back to the Celts and ending with RIverdance, this site covers it all. Links to more Irish cultural coverage including music and songs (and a delicious Irish Soda Bread recipe).

History of social ballroom dances - The gamut explained from cha cha, fox trot and mambo, to swing, tango and the waltz, with photos and related resources.

Free to Dance - Dance Timeline - The PBS television special chronicaling the history of black dance in America from 1691 to 2001 with clickable thumbnail images.

Musicals - Dance Films - The whole history of dance as it evolved from Hollywood with looks at some of the most famous landmark movies and directors of the genre including photos, related resources.

also in Dance -> Choreography | Modern Dance | Ballroom Dancing

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