Dancing In the Dark and Other Places

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In the ancient world, dancing served several functions. It was part of worship and devil worship, both of which kept ancient hoofers quite busy. Today, its connotations are purely pleasurable and even erotic and sensual (like the graceful tango). Dancing is a way of shedding the sorrows and dust of everyday life and celebrating its elusive essence.

Certain dances are associated with specific countries and are rooted in ancient rituals. The Mexican Hat Dance is noted for its foot-tapping and bright colors. Men dress as charros (cowboys), and women wear brightly colored full skirts that swirl in a rainbow swath around a sombrero on the ground. Scotland’s Sword dance had its origins in war. The Ghillie Challium, was practiced by soldiers before entering a battle, and disturbing either of the crossed swords, meant bad luck on the morrow.

Morris dancing, which hails from England, and is still celebrated today, is also thought to be derived from rituals of the ancient world. It is believed to have originated in the Cotswold region, where every Spring, townsfolk and farmers intermingled, insuring both the prosperity of the next harvest (not to mention the creation of the next generation of farmers and townsfolk). The dancing featured costumes with leg bells, leaping and capering and thumping the earth with sticks in a symbolic effort to “wake it up” for the imminent growing season.

America can perhaps claim credit for the development of modern square dancing, but it’s roots lie in England, with a number of folk dances/rituals. The French had adapted the “English country dance” and turned it into the Quadrille, thought to be the precursor of the square dance.

I could go on and on, but I think I would rather go dancing instead.

Here’s to you, Fred Astaire, and Gene Kelly too, wherever you may be!