Reflections
1
Dance is not Only a Ritual
Anna Maria Davis
Throughout this semester, we have learned as a class the importance of history and its evolution with dance. There have been many historical time periods that represent various dances each highlighting the culture of that civilization at the time. Dance requires one to have a very open mind towards trying new moves and techniques. During the semester, I had trouble with some dances over others as some were more difficult to learn. Nonetheless, all techniques were unique in their own way. Dance is not only a ritual, but a unification and social aspect of our society.
In our class, we even started at the point of Hominims, which were the first people with dexterous fingers. The Neolithic era came after showing the domestication of plants, and animals. The point of the Middle Ages is that the Roman Empire falls and the nation states get Kings and develop into common Medieval dances used for courtship. In the Renaissance, we focused on the Canary Islands which was discovered by Spaniards. Each recorded dance shows how different each style can be and how it has developed with similar moves over time. While all of these time periods stood for different reasons, as a class, we were all able to identify the differing dance moves each period had to offer. Modern dance, for instance, became a reinvention of ballet using more pedestrian and organic movements. I believe that performing these dances in class has made me more open minded as I was someone who did not know the first step to executing a successful dance with rhythm! The experience of dancing with ballet showed me how gentle each move was and intricately was.
As a Political Science student, I look at critical historical time periods that have shaped politics to what it is today. Through this evolution, I am able to see turning points in elections, protests, and alternation of power. Moreover, in our dance class we have been able to pinpoint various historical events that have heavily influenced the progression of dance. For example, dance and Political Science are two differing fields of study, but when examined closely, they both feature two important components -- historical development and self-expression. I want to emphasize the expression of self because Political Science is all about what ideologies individuals resonate with showing how they identify themselves to the world through party selection.
As for dance, individuals can cultivate a series of moves that represent them or their culture. Furthermore, giving outsiders a glimpse into who they are as a person on a deeper level through their dance style. In conclusion, dance may seem like a completely separate study with no overlapping of any other subject, but if one examines the core components of dance more than at the surface level one can see the true benefits it has to offer in all aspects of life! Overall, this was an awesome class! I enjoyed my time.
2
“John Allen’s Dance House. 304 Water Street, New York City,” from Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, August 8, 1868. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
A Better Understanding of Overall History
One of my main takeaways is that dance is involved in everything. During many important historical times, dance was always there and used in rituals to connect and unite people. It was very interesting to learn about things like the neolithic period or the bronze age and have it connected back to dance in some way. People have really used their body movement in everything throughout time. Another main takeaway I had is that history can be fun. I never loved learning history in the past, but the way we combined it with dancing and learning rituals was truly a great experience.
I really enjoyed the learning style of this class and think experiential learning should be incorporated into every class. I believe you learn the most when you actually go out into the world and perform. I also think I learn more with my body than just sitting in a classroom and listening. We got to learn so many historical rituals that I had never even known about. Growing up dancing, I think it is really important to experience where it all came from.
First off, I think I just have a better understanding of overall history now, which is important in every aspect of life and is important to understand where we came from. I also learned that body movement is important. I can apply this to when I am working and know that moving my body for even 30 minutes a day will be extremely helpful for my mind. This class offered a very relaxed journey of learning which ends up being more beneficial in the end. Overall, I truly enjoyed this course and am so happy that I got to combine learning history with fun dancing!
3
Passing Down Movement
My main takeaway from this course is the idea of history as a spiderweb. In many of my previous history courses, we focused on one civilization and its linear trajectory towards the current time. However, I enjoyed that this course took a holistic approach to understanding the history of dance. Rather than only viewing one culture or one time period, we were able to move through advancements in dance, as they occurred across the entire world. This truly put into perspective the comparisons between cultures. While many of the dances had some religious or other purpose, each group of people had a unique way of portraying it, whether through intricate hand movements, storytelling, or partner work.
I particularly enjoyed the lessons in which we were able to either create our own choreography or to learn movements from the professors. As mentioned in the course, it is very difficult to study the history of dance because it could not be easily recorded until recent technological developments. Therefore, it directly relied upon the fidelity of passing down movement from generation to generation. As we learned the dances in class, I felt as though I was a part of this trans-generational pass of movement and was able to truly embody what it means to preserve dance forms. It also helped to put into perspective how the people were actually moving and engaging with others and how my body felt different as we transitioned through various time periods.
My main field of study is medicine, particularly neuroscience. Herein, a majority of my work focuses on reading textbooks, managing data, and writing reports. However, this class has posited experiential work as having utmost importance in truly understanding concepts. Moving forward, I would like to transition my work from papers and pencils to working with people and seeing how these concepts apply in the real world. I am especially interested in the development of movement disorders and paralysis which even further underlines the importance of seeing how a person moves and understanding the sensations and perceptions they have during those movements.
4
Photo: Richard Hubert Smith
History Tends to Repeat Itself
One of the biggest take-aways was from the first class where we needed to learn each other's names. I think that is a great philosophy for the rest of my life as even though it wasn't easy, I found it to be really important. Another take away is the importance in looking back in the past. History tends to repeat itself so we need to look at past historical cultures and social systems to see what worked and didn't work. Lastly, I took away there are so many different types of dances that I had no idea existed and it was cool to learn some.
This was a different style of learning from my other classes. Usually it is a big lecture where I sit the whole class but this class made me move and get out of my seat. There was also a lot of group work which I liked because I got to interact and talk with my other classmates. The different dances we had to do were fun to make and allowed us to be creative. I felt comfortable at all times with my classmates and professors.
I can apply what I learned by doing the bachata in social settings and showing people the basic steps of ballet. Also going back to the first paragraph I can pay attention to people's names when they tell me and remember it for the next time I see them. It will create a stronger bond and show the person that I care about them. As for the content, my career will be in sports and it was interesting to learn more about the history of dance in sport. The ritual we did to end class also emphasized meditation in my current life and when I am stressed I can take a deep breath to reset.
5
.jpg)
Expression, Spirituality and Emotion
Throughout this course, I have learned many things. I learned that dance serves as a multifaceted symbol of culture, religion, and emotions, embodying the essence of human expression and connection. Over the past few months I have learned how everyone has the ability to dance and that dance can be seen in various different ways. Different styles of dance often carry cultural narratives, symbols, and motifs, serving as a means of transmitting cultural heritage to future generations. Dance has the ability to reflect the cultural identity of a community. Also, I have learned that many religious traditions incorporate dance as a form of worship, meditation, or spiritual expression. Through movement, dancers can convey complex emotional states. It was interesting to learn how performers draw upon their own experiences and emotions. Dance serves as a universal language that transcends cultural, religious, and linguistic barriers, uniting people in shared experiences of expression, spirituality, and emotion.
With the interactive nature of the class, I feel like I was able to learn a lot of information through the lectures, the dance movements, the discussion posts and from the input from my classmates. I feel learning the information through discussion is a very impactful way of learning. It helps to better understand the material. The discussions also helped me understand other people’s perspective. I also did love the group dance that we were able to create at the end of each class. I think that applying the knowledge we have learned throughout the class and then making our own performance was a great way to show that we understand the material, and it also was fun to be able to create our own movements. Learning about the various topics, and then making dance about these time periods was also very impactful in the learning process. It helped to clearly understand the difference in dance movements throughout the different time periods.
My main field of study is architecture. As an architecture major, I work both on my own and with groups. Although I usually tend to do many projects on my own, this class showed me the importance of collaborating with others. Sharing different ideas and perspectives with other students is very important, and this is an idea that I can apply to my projects. Working with others will help to strengthen my knowledge and sharing ideas with other classmates can help to better enhance my projects. It was interesting to learn about the iron, copper and bronze ages within history because it allowed me to understand how people within those societies had to build their homes and other structures out of whatever materials they could find with limited tools. This idea makes me grateful as an architecture student in today’s society to have access to many resources.
6
Historical and Cultural Contexts
I discovered the profound role of dance across history, binding communities together through rituals during significant epochs like the neolithic period and the bronze age. It illuminated our reliance on bodily movement as a fundamental aspect of human existence. Additionally, I found that integrating dance into historical narratives made learning far more enjoyable, sparking my interest in history where there was none before. Understanding the connections between dance and rituals enriched my perspective on both subjects.
Throughout this class, engaging in discussions and crafting group dances deepened my understanding and appreciation of historical and cultural contexts. Furthermore, this course underscored the importance of history in shaping our present and the significance of physical activity for mental well-being. It emphasized the value of incorporating experiential learning methods into education. This course felt very rewarding, as it taught me history while also promoting the joy of dance.
As a business student, I have learned valuable lessons during this course when connecting with others. In the workspace, I'll have to connect with plenty of clients. I love how this class emphasized eye contact and connecting deeply with others, and also promoted the enrichment of different cultures.
7
Multifaceted Nature of dance
Throughout the course, my understanding of dance has undergone significant growth. I've come to realize that dance is not merely about physical movements; it's a profound reflection of culture, religion, and human emotion. It serves as a universal language that bridges cultural divides, offering insights into the essence of human connection and expression. Exploring the multifaceted nature of dance has deepened my appreciation for its role in society and its ability to convey complex narratives and emotions.
The interactive nature of our class has played a pivotal role in my learning journey. Engaging in a variety of activities, such as attending lectures, practicing different dance styles, and participating in discussions, has allowed me to explore dance from various perspectives. These interactions with both the material and my classmates have enriched my understanding and provided me with valuable insights. Particularly, the discussions have been instrumental in broadening my perspective and fostering empathy towards different viewpoints.
A highlight of the course has been the collaborative aspect, especially in creating group dances. Working together with peers to choreograph dances not only allowed for creative expression but also taught important lessons in teamwork and communication. Despite being accustomed to individual work as an architecture major, I've come to recognize the value of collaboration and the power of collective creativity. This experience has not only enhanced my understanding of dance but also provided valuable skills that I can apply in my future endeavors.
8
A Powerful Means for Storytelling
Of the many takeaways in this Dance History course, I'd say the biggest one is that history is a spider web. By this, I mean that history repeats itself and cultural preservation is so important in our current world. It's always important to be aware of our past, so that we may tackle our future with better insight and wisdom. Dance History is so important because it highlights so many expressions of various cultures, beliefs, and traditions of diverse societies throughout time. From ancient rituals to modern contemporary, dance serves as a powerful means for storytelling, communication, community, and cultural preservation across generations.
I truly enjoyed the learning environment of this course. It allowed for a collaborative environment in which we can all share our ideas and work. Learning in a small group setting and then performing/discussing amongst other groups reallly cultivated an atmosphere of learning, growing, and relating to other people, despite differences. Not only was it fun to learn in this experiential nature, but it also allowed us students to apply what we learned by performing and watching others. I am thankful that we were able to learn in this environment, as not many other courses allow for that application aspect of learning!
As someone entering the Occupational Therapy profession (for kids), I
am able to take what I learned in this course and apply it to the
profession. I will create a relationship with my future patients from
the first day, like Jorge did, to establish a fun, safe, and happy
environment for all. Additionally, I think the application process is
somethign I can use in my future career. Learning about something by
listening and talking is always important, however creating a
task/activity for someone to practice allows that person to really
practice and learn the best they can. I will most definitely take this
with me in my life.
9
Understanding our Origins
Alyssa Plasencia
Comments
Post a Comment