5 Oldest Dance Forms in The World

Dancing is one of the world’s oldest forms of self-expression. Although the origins of dance itself aren’t properly known today, we do know that it has existed nearly as long as humans have, based off of cave paintings and written works.

In this article, we’re going to look more closely at some of the world’s oldest dance forms, where they originated, and why they are as widely revered as they are today. Let’s get right into it!

5 Oldest Dance Forms

5. Flamenco

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It’s interesting to note that although flamenco is one of the oldest forms of dance in the world, it is also considered to be an art form! Although its origins are mostly unknown, many believe that flamenco originated in towards the end of the 18th century in Baja Andalusia. The word flamenco does not refer to one specific type of dance, but rather, is used as a broad term to refer to musical styles that are both contemporary and traditional.

There are various form of expression in flamenco that do not involve dance! These include toque, or guitar, cante which means song, and baila, which means dance.

Did you know?

You can earn a graduate degree in flamenco from the University of New Mexico, located in Albuquerque.

4. Ballet

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Ballet is one of the world’s oldest dance forms and also one of the most technically challenging and widely known types of dance as well. It first originated during the Italian Renaissance during the 15th and 16th centuries, and later spread to Russia and France. When ballet was first developing, it wasn’t as technically challenging as it is today. This is because at the time, the performers wore intricately embroidered and heavily beaded costumes, making it difficult for their movements to be light and fluid.

Over the years, the movements showcased in ballet have evolved and are now complex and physically demanding for its dancers. There are a few types of ballet; these include classical ballet, contemporary ballet, romantic ballet, and neoclassical ballet.

Did you know?

A study conducted in 2014 discovered that ballet dancers are at a higher risk to develop an eating disorder when compared to the general population.

3. Odissi

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Odissi is one of the most interesting and unique forms of dance in the world, in addition to being one of the oldest forms of dance to exist today. Much like Bharatanatyam and Kathak, Odissi’s origins are mentioned in the Natya Shastra. It’s worth noting that the origins of Odissi actually originated in temples located in Odisha. In its early days, this dance form was performed mainly by women. It told religious stories and expressed various spiritual ideas.

It’s interesting to note that the main practice of Odissi expressed ideas of Vaishnavism through the performance itself. When Odissi was first performed, female dancers performed in Hindu temples. They reenacted various religious stories and poems, and combined the dance movements with facial expressions.

Did you know?

Odissi is taught at the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar as part of the institute’s Bachelor of Technology syllabus, making this college the first in India to include a classical dance in any academic syllabus.

2. Kathak

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Kathak is another form of dance that has been around for several centuries, making it another one of the world’s oldest dance forms. When we were researching this article, we discovered that Kathak has a very interesting origin story! Much like Bharatanatyam, Kathak’s origins can be traced back to the Natya Shastra, the treatise on performing arts. Many also associate the origin of Kathak with the traveling bards in North India who were called Kathakars, which means storyteller. They told stories from the Hindu epics and Hindu mythology through the form of music, dance, and songs.

This dance form is well known for its pronounced hand movements and footwork, and its dancers are known for their facial expressions and physical flexibility. The modern version of Kathak includes three major components; these are the invocation, a dance recital that is abstract in nature, and an expressive dance.

Did you know?

Although both Kathak and Bharatnatyam’s roots come from the Natya Shastra, these two dances are very different. A Bharatnatyam dancer’s facial expressions are more open, while a Kathak dancer’s expressions are more subdued and withdrawn.

1. Bharatanatyam

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Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest forms of dance and one of the most famous dance forms in India. It is considered to be a classical type of dance in India, and it originated thousands of years ago. Although details of the origin of it are a bit hard to track down, historians believe that the foundations of Bharatanatyam were found in a Sanskrit text called the Natya Shastra. The Natya Shastra was a text detailing various kinds of performing arts. It’s also worth noting that some references to Bharatanatyam were found in an important Tamil text called the Silappatikaram.

In terms of the actual dance form itself, a Bharatanatyam performance consists of a team of people. There is the primary dancer, a few singers, and a group of musicians. The reason that Bharatanatyam is considered to be a classical dance in India is because the elements of a performance include the vocal performance, musical notes, and physical movements that are all mentioned in the Natya Shastra, as well as other texts like the Abhinaya Darpana.

Did you know?

The name Bharatanatyam is actually less than 100 years old! This form of dance used to be called Sadiraattam but was renamed after Rukmini Devi Arundale and E Krishna Iyer proposed a name change.

Conclusion

In this article, we looked at five of the world’s oldest dance forms. We were particularly interested to learn that the majority of them originated in India, but we also weren’t surprised about this! India is a hugely diverse country with a rich cultural heritage. We were also interested to learn that ballet is one of the oldest dance forms as well. This article was a ton of fun to write and research, and we hope that you learned something new from it.