1.2: Why Do Humans Dance?

As a kinesthetic expression with the human body as the primary tool, dance requires specific training to be proficient in the dance form understood by any given society. So, this begs the question, why do humans dance? Nineteenth century sociologist Émile Durkheim (1858-1917) proposed a phenomenon he termed “collective effervescence… [an] exhilaration, almost euphoria, that overtakes groups of people united by a common purpose, pursuing an intensely involving activity together” (Durkheim, 1995 [1912]). Dance can electrify a community and can fulfill a need for social cohesion. The needed ingredients are a number of individuals who share a common focus, purpose, and mood who gather physically in a demarcated place recognized by observers as a location that can serve the bodily processes of rhythmic expression. As participants become synchronized in both motion and emotion, this can illicit what Durkheim called the “intensification of shared experience” (Liebst, 2019).

As a shared experience, dance can serve to keep societies from fragmenting, despite racial, religious, socio-economic, regional, or cultural differences. Anthropologist Sir Edward B. Tylor defined culture as “… that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, law, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by [a human] as a member of society” (Tylor, 1871). When looking at dance as a marker of identity, as a member of society, dance can be a tool for rebellion, a means to reinforce social solidarity, mere exercise, or to tell stories about ourselves. Dance can send religious prayers to the gods as worship. Dance can be sold as a commodity for economic prosperity thanks to tourism. Dance can even defend a community. As an expression of courtship, art, ritual, work, entertainment, healing, stress relief, and political propaganda, dance anthropologist Anya Peterson Royce (1977) argued that dance serves numerous cultural functions (Petersen Royce, 1977). So, why do humans dance? To communicate with ancestors? To bring fertility, request good luck, safeguard success or prosperity? Why do YOU dance? Let’s dive in.

Definition: Culture

That complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, law, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by [a human] as a member of society (Tylor, 1871).

(Marion Paul Baylado from Dumaguete City, Philippines. (2015, February 13). Tinkling dance from the Philippines. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DSC_6404_(16527144315).jpg)

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