Greek Dancing
"The dance, of all the arts, is the one that most influences the soul. Dancing is divine in its nature and is the gift of the gods. " Plato
Dance, according to Greek thought, was one of the civilizing activities, like wine-making and music.
In Greece, learning to dance was considered a necessary part of an education which favored learning an appreciation of beauty.
Two major styles of dance in ancient Greece were the Apollonian dance and the Dionysian dance. There was a great distinction between these two styles.
The term "dance" for the Greeks meant all the actions and movements of the body and limbs, and that expressions and actions on your face suggest ideas for a story. Marching, acrobatic performances, and mimetic action were also formes of Greek dancing.
Talented dancers were always praised for their work. Some were given golden crowns and had statues dedicated to them.
There are over 4,000 traditional styles of ancient greek dance.
Ancient Greek Dance History
Traditional Greek dance was inherited from the island of Crete which was conquered by Greece around the year 1500 BCE.
Greece is one of the very few countries in the world today were folk dancing is just as popular today as in ancient times.
In Greece, dance has been a very important role in the everyday life of Greek citizens.
The ancient Greeks danced to insure fertility in their crops, to overcome depression, to cure a physical illness, and to prepare for war, or to celebrate victories. There was also dancing at weddings as well as at religious festivals and celebrations.
Dance was regarded as one of the highest forms of art in ancient Greece.
Plato and his mentor Socrates said that every educated man should know how to dance gracefully. He believed that men should dance because it execirses the body and kept warriors strong and prepared for battle.
