Dance
From Wikipedia
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting.
Dance may also be regarded as a form of nonverbal communication between humans, and is also performed by other animals (bee dance, patterns of behaviour such as a mating dance). Gymnastics, figure skating and synchronized swimming are sports that incorporate dance, while martial arts kata are often compared to dances. Motion in ordinarily inanimate objects may also be described as dances (the leaves danced in the wind).
Listening in to the radio on Friday evening I heard something that made me thing about the origins of dancing in various cultures. One musical piece using a ‘folk dance’ as its root was fast and, as the presenter described, you can almost hear where they stamped their feet and clapped their hands; probably movements to warm them up on cold nights.
The origins of the earliest dancing are so far back in human history that the actual reasons for moving in a particular way, repeatedly until it becomes a known and recognised pattern in a culture are lost and gone for ever.
So why do people dance?
It’s fun.
It’s a sort of bonding between people doing the same thing.
It’s entertainment to watch.
It lifts one out of oneself.
It’s a great form of exercise that is lots of fun to do.
It’s a form of mental and physical discipline that brings other rewards of competence in other areas of their lives.
I went to look at some, and several hours later, here are some of the better dances I found online.
So browse if you want. Me – I’m off outside to dance in the drifts of autumn leaves.
One better – Nelson Mandela dancing
Chinese State Circus, excerpt from Swan Lake
Spanish for the Olympics
More Spanish and more and more
Maypole dancing in reality and again
Maori Haka (for those who think only rugby players dance it) and of course the read deal (All Blacks Haka)
Viewfromtheside's Blog 
It is also a way of releasing all your worries and living for the moment. 🙂
I used to love dancing when I was younger — now we only dance maybe once or twice a year — sad, really. Thanks for a wonderful post.
we should all dance more!
We should 🙂
Wonderful clips, Sidey.
Loved Nelson Mandela . . . and the baby dancing the Samba! Too funny.
thanks.
it was fun researching. not a very even spread across the world, but a sample.
Mandela was not a young man there, but always game for somethimg to make people smile and be happy together
Wow! A week’s dance lined up for my perusal! I’m from the Footloose school of dance. When the music starts I just can’t help that toe tapping. And the rest…
I have my moments (then the world quakes)
That is a lovely lot of links!
You are Carl Maria von Weber, with your Invitation to the Dance!
(btw – I usually copy my responses here as well.)
good. i’ll put you in twice
I know, everyone should find something in the videos
There’s a lot of things I’ve enjoyed doing in my life, but I’m not sure there ever was anything that came close to dancing…
it does have a special place in many lives and memories
http://yellowhousecafe.wordpress.com/2011/05/15/to-dance/
you know…I was sad that my poem made you sad (though, i never write them with a happy hand) so I thought I MUST write for your weekend theme despite the fact I had started, but was struggling. Ergo, we’ve this end product, a poem about one who dances, BUT, one who earns her creative freedom, and it is ageless. Ironic, I forgot that you are in autumn…I’m glad I stuck with my fall-time memories. Cheers ~
poetry shouild evoke emotions. One can not be happy all the time, or how would you know you ARE happy when you are?
I love the samba baby. In isiZulu one would say “uyayishaya” which literally means he is good but you would say that when you are totally enchanted. 🙂
he’s so cute you just want to give him a hug!
That is a lot of dancing. Check out Leonard Cohen’s song dance too.
The Choen was really beautiful! Thanks
Great videos!
Thank you.
some were great fun, weren’t they?
Ah, thank you, Sidey, for such an uplifting post! Love it! As for my personal favorite, I never tire of Nelson Mandela’s smile, wisdom and dancing – nor of Johnny Clegg & his awesome music. Thanks again 🙂