Dance is one of the oldest activities ever done dating back to pre-historic time periods. Dance is a performance art form consisting of human movement. These movement has an aesthetic and symbolic value, and is acknowledged by performers and observers within a different cultures. Each culture interprets dance in their own way. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, or by its historical period or place of origin. An important distinction is to be drawn between the contexts of theatrical and participatory dance, they are similar however different whether it be because of social, ceremonial, competitive, erotic, martial, or sacred. Others forms of human movement are sometimes said to have a dance-like quality, including martial arts, gymnastics, figure skating, synchronized swimming and many other forms of athletics. …show more content…
Dance in Africa is intensely unified into society and major events in a community. Dances are performed for many thing from births and funerals, weddings and wars. Dance may celebrate the inauguration of a hospital, build community for rural migrants in unfamiliar cities, and be incorporated into Christian church ceremonies. Traditional dances impart cultural morals, including religious traditions and sexual standards. They also give outlets to repressed emotions such as grief, motivate community members to cooperate, whether fighting wars or grinding grain, spiritual rituals, and contribute to social cohesiveness. Thousands of dances are performed around the continent. Dances include traditional, nontraditional, and classical styles. Folkloric dances are popular. African dance has been altered by many forces, such as dance in contemporary African