Dancing as a way of communication.

Dancing is the art of moving one's body in a way that portrays a message,provides physical fitness and relaxation.Dancing has evolved over the centuries from the ballroom dancing of the 18th century and before to the more vigorous dancing today.In the early centuries,the dancing was quite peaceful as the gentlemen swirled the ladies gracefully over the floor.The dancers were also respectful of eachother as there was hardly any ogling from either party during the dancing.

On the other hand,the dancing today is not as peaceful.Dances such as hip hop are all about the complicated steps and ogling style.The types of songs danced to help this situations they are also violent or vulgar in nature.For example,the famous rapper Lil Wayne swears approximately fifteen times in his three minute songs.This kind of music affects its dancers as the will want to swear and be violent to attain the respect their role models feign to attract.

In another light,we see the more traditional dances.Because I am not very familiar with the dancing culture in Malaysia,I will focus on the African native dances of which I am more certain.African dances are performed to express feeling,celebrate or mourn.The Zulu dance among the South Africans is a celebration dance that is performed at wedding ceremonies,the inauguration of a new king or when a war is won.Another example is the Larakaraka dance among the Bagisu of Uganda that celebrates circumcission,thus the transition of a boy into a man.Finally,in Rwanda,the dance is performed basically to show off the beauty and grace of the ladies and the masculinity and agility among the men.

By and large,different dances tell differentmessages.The way we dance may help other determine what kind of personality we may possess.If one dances provocatively,throwing one's limbs in all possible directions the perception made by others about that person may be different from the one who dances feet glued to the ground and hands positioned squarely infront of them.
Vanessa Bitature