February 3, 2008 – 9:49 am
(Continued from Part 4) Religion and Dance Many scholars have described dance in terms of religion. Kraus describes it among the ancients as being used “as a means of communication with the forces of nature – for becoming one with the gods,” and as “a major form of religious ritual . . . a means [...]
February 2, 2008 – 7:47 am
(Continuation from Part 3) Middle Ages The ring dance was also present throughout the Middle Ages in the Reigen, or round dance of the peasants, and in the entertainment of the troubadours in the courts. At this time, there was still a cosmic element associated with the round dance pattern as Honorius states, “In their [...]
February 1, 2008 – 8:03 am
(Continuation from Part 2) Greece The ancient choruses, dances, and songs of the dithyramb of Greece displayed the familiar pattern of a dignified, circular dance around the altar of Dionysus in the theater’s orchestra. In fact, the term orchestra originally meant the circular dancing place of the theater. In addition, the terms carole and chorus, [...]
January 31, 2008 – 8:08 am
(Continuation from Part 1) The Genesis of the Round Dance Bryce Haymond “Then shalt thou dance in a ring together with the angels, around Him who is without beginning or end, the only true God . . .” –Clement of Alexandria Introduction Round dances, through all ages of time and all locations of the world, [...]
