Dance is one of the most wonderful modes of expressions for human beings. When music and movement combines together, dance originates. Dance is an art that also acts as mode of communication and recreation. The origin of dance can not be traced accurately but since the inception of human civilization, dance has always been an integral part of human existence. Even the oldest of tribes used to celebrate by dancing. It’s a form of art which was never preserved yet it kept flourishing with the passage of time.
The primitive cultures used dance as the medium of expression for the changes witnessed by them in their lifetimes. Different types of dances were used to express the feelings from childhood to old age, war victories to defeats and change in weather as well. With development of cultures, dance was basically categorized in two segments of social dances and special dances.
Social dances were held at occasions like birth celebration, death, marriage etc whereas special marked dances were held in between on occasions like to cure the sick or to call god for rain, to end famine etc. Dances were also organized in prayers.
Dancing was an important element in ancient temple rituals. Right from Greek and Egypt to western countries and India, dance was an integral ritual element. Priests used to perform stately movements in ancient Egypt whereas sacred occasions in ancient Greece were marked with dance movements of temple virgins. Talking about India, several documents demonstrate presence of dance in 1st century AD. Temple priestesses used to perform dance movements by using hand movements in the temples.
Interesting thing was, each single gesture symbolized important thing. Bharat Nhatyam is an ancient form of dance which is performed in many parts of modern day India. Indian culture relish dance as can be seen in different festivals and other rites. Every happy occasion in India include some form of dance. Dance is joyful and when it comes to expressing your innermost feelings, dance is second to none.