Why Do People Dance?

Instructor:  Professor Marta Robertson
                 Department of Music

In this Seminar, we will explore how movement reflects its surrounding cultural context. Think for a moment about the differences between African-American step dancing, European classical ballet, and a Gettysburg lacrosse game. Yet try explaining these differences to somebody and you may find yourself at a loss for words. For example, when is dance a sport and likewise sport a dance? Because different cultures value diverse structural elements in movement, it is necessary to consider in depth the question “What is dance?” and to create a vocabulary to discuss it. A second question—“Why do people dance?”—unifies the course. Case studies of dancing from various global traditions (historically, culturally, and geographically) suggest that people dance for various reasons, including the expression of national, political, local, gender, or sexual identities, religious beliefs, or for just plain fun. Among the Seminar’s objectives is for us to gain an appreciation of the many global expressions of dance through reading, writing, and physical movement. Don’t be surprised if you analyze Madonna’s “Vogue” through comparisons to dance in Louis XIV’s court, belly dance, hip hop, and team sports.