Greek Dance History

Although it is impossible to identify an exact time period that dance evolved, it is estimated that it was approximately 9000 years ago; at around 6000BC, as shown from the Bhimbetka rock shelters throughout India. The paintings depicted tribe members celebrating after a successful hunt. That was later followed with other cave drawings throughout the Western World such as in countries as Spain and France. Modern Indian dance was actually based on a very early manuscript, 'The Natya Shastra', which was written between 200BCE and 200BE.There is also evidence from Egyptian tomb paintings at about 3300 BC which evidently features dancing figures. This in time would heavily influence Greek dance. It is also stated that when King Vijaya; the first …show more content…
Sri Lankan dances date back to the Vedda people who descended from King Vijaya around the 6th-5th century BCE.

There were many different reasons as to why people would dance. Some would use it as a way of expressing themselves. Dance was frequently used as a way of portraying passion and affection towards the opposite gender. The philosopher Plato (c. 428-348/47 BC) was an influential dance theoretician who developed dances that would enhance the beauty of the human body which ties in with using dance as a tool in order to attract a mate. It was also used as a way of storytelling. It was used in order for the people to perform and actually act out their myths in order to portray the story better. Greek dances are a great example of using dance in order to express oneself, e.g. pyrrhichē, the weapon dance which was practiced as