Classical Greek mythology

In a classical Greek song, Apollo, one of the twelve greater gods, the son of Zeus the chief god, and the god of medicine, music, and poetry, was called The Dancer. In a Greek line Zeus himself is represented as dancing. In Sparta, a province of ancient Greece, the law compelled parents to exercise their children in dancing from the age of five years. They were led by grown men, and sang hymns and songs as they danced. In very early times a Greek chorus, consisting of the whole population of the city, would meet in the market-place to offer up thanksgivings to the god of the country. Their jubilees were always attended with hymn-singing and dancing. In Greek and Roman mythology, Apollo (Ancient Greek , Apóllōn; or , Apellōn), the ideal of the kouros (a beardless youth), was the god of the Sun, music, medicine, death dealing, and archery and also a brother of Artemis. ... The Statue of Zeus at Olympia Phidias created the 12-m (40-ft) tall statue of Zeus at Olympia about 435 BC. The statue was perhaps the most famous sculpture in Ancient Greece, imagined here in a 16th century engraving Zeus (in Greek: nominative: Zeús, genitive: Diós), is... Sparta (Doric: Spárta, Attic: Spártē) is a city in southern Greece. ... In early tragedy, no parts were played by a single actor; because the actor left the stage often to change roles, the chorus was especially dominant. ...

Dance in Holy Scriptures and Religious Communities

Dance has been used throught the ages as an emotional response. The Christian bible at times has condemned the reason for a particular dance (lust, greed, deception etc.); however, it does not condemn dancing itself. Famously, Ecclessiastes 3:4 proclaims "a time to dance."

References to dance in the Christian Bible

A Time to Dance:

Ecclessiastes 3:4

Social Dance in celebration of what God has done:

Exodus 15:20; Judges 21:21 - 23 (Caution: the behavior of the men as portrayed in this last reference is illegal in civilized countries today)

In celebration before the Lord:

2 Samuel 6:14-16; 1 Chronicles 15:29

Social dancing in celebration of a god:

Exodus 32:19; 1 Kings 18:26 (The act of celebrating a false god is condemned here)

A child's dance:

Judges 11:34; Job 21:11

Celebraton of warriors:

1 Samuel 18:6-7; 1 Samuel 21:11; 1 Samuel 29:5;

As an expression of happiness:

Psalm 30:11; Lamentations 5:15;

In Worship to the Lord:

Psalm 149:3; Psalm 150:4

Social Dance with Friends:

Luke 15:25; Jeremiah 31:4; Jeremiah 31:13

It's not favorable to be like those who do not dance:

Matthew 11:17

A Lovers Dance:

Song of Solomon 6:13

For the king:

Matthew 14:6 and Mark 6:22 (The reasons for this referenced dance is condemned throughout the bible; however, the dance itself is not. It includes greed and lust)

Contemporary Dance in Modern Christianity

Although some denominations and independent congregations prohibit social dancing, dance has always been a part of the social life of a Christian. In the 20th century Christian lyrics were found in the sounds of the Ballroom, Rock and Roll, Night Club, and Disco.

Traditonal Dance in Modern Christianity

Numerous other examples of social dance can be found in modern Christian communities. The Brazillian dance/martial art of capoeira (particularly capoeira angola) is regularly performed--including between capoeiristas of different sexes--to lyrics and ladinhas (litanies) praising God, the saints, and the Virgin. In a similar vein, several genres of dance music in gypsy/Roma culture involve Christian religious themes and lyrics. Finally, the celebrations of Carnival and Mardi Gras--in which social dance plays a huge part--are the evolution of pre-Lenten celebrations in Christian tradition. Capoeira (IPA: ) is a Brazilian martial art created by enslaved Africans during the 16th Century. ... Capoeira Angola is the traditional style of Bahian Capoeira. ... Look up Gypsy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Tzigane redirects here; for the composition by Maurice Ravel, see Tzigane (Ravel). ... Carnival or Carnivale is an annual Christian festival season. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Shrove Tuesday. ... In Western Christianity, Lent is the period preceding the Christian holy day of Easter. ... Christians believe that Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant (see Hebrews 8:6). ...

Dance in Islam & the Qur'an

See also: Mevlevi

Whirling Dervishes perform near the Mevlevi Museum in Konya, Turkey. ...

Dance in Hindu scriptures

From a Hindu point of view, the whole Universe is being brought into existence as the manifestation of the dance of the Supreme Dancer, Nataraja. In the Hindu scriptures, every god has his or her own style (lasya and tandava respectively represent two aspects of dance) we read about 23 celestial beings called Apsarases who dance to please the gods and express the supreme truths in the magic of movement. Sacred Hindu temple dancer produced by author of Photo gallery of the sacred Hindu dance Bharata Natyam though it doesnt seem to be listed there (see talk page for details). ... Bronze Chola Statue of Nataraja Nataraja (literally, The King of Dance) is the dancing posture of Lord Åšiva, the aspect of God as the Destroyer in Hinduism. ... The term lasya, in the context of Hindu mythology, describes a highly sensuous and languorous dance, which the goddess Parvati performed as a counterpart but in a completely different style. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... For other uses, see Apsara (disambiguation). ...

The dance in the Hinduism used to be a part of a sacred temple ritual, especially in South and Eastern India, where the female priestesses devadasi's worshiped different aspects of the Divine through the elaborate language of mime and gestures. Natyashastra is the most ancient and the most elaborate scripture describing every element and aspect of this sacred art-worship. This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Natya Shastra is the classic Indian text of theater, acting, dance, music, and gesture. ...

The temple dance gradually evolved into what is known today as the South Indian Classical Dance that still preserves many ritualistic elements of Hinduism. Some of the classical Indian dancers are believed to be incarnations of apsaras. Indian classical dance is a misnomer, and actually refers to Natya, the sacred Hindu musical theatre styles. ...

See also

• Basic dance topics
• Ceremonial dance