Culture was healthier when everyone danced

[Marmie Dearest]

For centuries, royalty and peasants alike danced as a matter-of-fact way of socializing and finding recreation. In recent decades suddenly the West seems devoid of the kind of wholesome dancing that started to disappear sometime after disco. Dancing has degenerated either into some vulgar butt grinding that goes on in loud nightclubs, or else exists as a performance art, something that the average person doesn't necessarily do.

It also seems that people are fatter and sadder than they once were. I propose that wholesome couples or group dancing is a necessary part of a healthy culture.

What say you?

[Osprey]

Dancing was a matter, the entire village used to attend.
Kids, Young Boys and Girls, Lads and Lasses and Grandparents alike holding hands and revolving around.
It was wonderful thing after all.

A song for you and all those who love traditional dancing.
7movKfyTBII

[Incal]

Do you dance Marmie?

[Methmatician]

People still dance for socialising, it's just evolved into something weird.

[Marmie Dearest]

Has it evolved into something weird...or de-evolved, which is more to my thinking.

And yes, I do dance. :)

I grew up taking ballet and tap and jazz, and also learned some earlier dances like the Charleston, the shag, and of course the waltz.

Id like to take some classes in ballroom or swing dancing or something to meet other like minded people. I wouldn't know where to go to learn traditional folk dance.

[Grumpy Cat]

Dancing is a good workout. People now pay big bucks to take Zumba classes (which is dancing) at health clubs when they really could just go out dancing with their friends.

[Incal]

Has it evolved into something weird...or de-evolved, which is more to my thinking.

And yes, I do dance. :)

I grew up taking ballet and tap and jazz, and also learned some earlier dances like the Charleston, the shag, and of course the waltz.

Id like to take some classes in ballroom or swing dancing or something to meet other like minded people. I wouldn't know where to go to learn traditional folk dance.

Cool. If you ever feel interested for tropical rhythms, give me a call :D

[Stefan]

From a link posted by Albion in the Asperger's thread. I was reading it earlier, and found this portion interesting.

http://www.rdos.net/eng/asperger.htm


Music and dancing
In Africa, music and dancing is mostly tied to rites, that are performed in certain social contexts, and they are exclusively aimed at social activities. 29 This is also evident in black music in America, where social relations are the main theme, while complex music and instruments are typical of non-African music. In Africa, the main instruments are drums and the human voice, while outside of Africa, there is a variety of complex instruments, dances and music, that are more aimed at entertainment, creativity and perfection. 90,000 - 100,000 years ago Neanderthals had phalange whistles. 41 of them have been found in Prolom II in the Crimea. 70,000 - 80,000 years ago there is a flute in Haua Fteah, Libya, which has been found together with Neanderthal mandibles. Finally, 40,000 years ago there is another flute in Divje Babe 30 Neanderthals are also believed to have sang. 31 Interestingly, both the phalange whistles and flutes seems to have been evolving gradually up until recent times. This seems to indicate they originated in Neanderthals, and where taken over by AMH or hybrids. It's probable that Neanderthals primary use of musical instruments wasn't for entertainment or music, rather as a way to herd animals. This tradition is still seen in today's herding societies.

[Methmatician]

Has it evolved into something weird...or de-evolved, which is more to my thinking.

It can't devolve if it wasn't at this stage before. This is a new stage, so it's evolving.

[Marmie Dearest]

It can't devolve if it wasn't at this stage before. This is a new stage, so it's evolving.

I disagree. First of all a society can devolve much more quickly than something organic or genetic would occur. Things like acting on social norms (or lack of education or lack of civility) could easily show a socially devolved attitude toward dancing, as a crass erotic mating ritual devoid of the finer points of relationship pairing not involving the buttocks or the genitals. A more refined sort of dancing, even used to select mates, can take on a higher level of intellect in the complexity of the dance as a whole, and at the very least acknowledging your dance partner with other qualities to be enjoyed and admired outside of their reproductive function.

As an aside, even biological devolving can occur. Apparently there's a small group of people somewhere in South Asia who devolved back to walking on all fours and apparently have a lower level of intelligence. If I find the article or video later I will link it. However I think the devolved nature of dancing is currently social not biological.

[Pallantides]

This is a traditional dance from Hallingdal and Valdres called Hallingdans:
kono7b6bbgo

It was as much about acrobatics as it was about dancing, most males would dance halling and do the hallingkast to impress women but it was also a way for farmers to keep in shape.

[Dombra]

Most dance activities feels awkward today so I tend to avoid. But I would love to try a flamenco course, and if not, where can I find a cossack dancers in sweden? :D

[urrakiberg]

It can't devolve if it wasn't at this stage before. This is a new stage, so it's evolving.

shaking an ass in front of someone´s face while the crowd around screams is not dance evolution. that is primate behaviour.

[Vesuvian Sky]

I find dancing a frivolous waste of time. I'd much rather get the girl by hoping on a horse and wisking her away with me to the steppes.:D

Culture was much healthier when guys hunted with bows and drove arrows through the sabre tooth cat.:cool:

Women would see this and appreciate the heroic nature of their men and thus swoon for them.

Dancing, meh.

[urrakiberg]

clean people, pattern dancing of the past reflected social order. shaky drug fueled dancing of today reflects the decadence. maybe you like this song.



http://youtu.be/LKwO1aB1W3I

[Pallantides]

http://i.imgur.com/UM52j.jpg

[Chinup]

Agreed dancing is an important public humbling exercise .. a show of faith to our fellows .. without it tensions rise causing decay of mutual respect & self respect.

[larali]

Are y'all saying people don't dance anymore?

You guys should get out more ;)

[HillY35]

..