Dance
The way in which we express ourselves through dance is influenced strongly the cultures of the social groups with which we interact. Do you always dance in the style of your country’s traditional or national dance? Do you consider that style to be a true representation of the popular (low) culture of your country or does it relate more to formal (high) culture? Is there just one traditional style of dance in your country or are more influences at work than nationality alone? The two articles below explore these themes a little further:
- Dance as a Form of International Cultural Heritage, World Dance Heritage
- Beyond Binarism: Exploring a Model of Living Cultural Heritage for Dance, World Dance Heritage
Now consider: What influences your own dance styles?
- Are you influenced most by who you hang out with? Where you dance? Formal classes, clubs or training? Particular styles of social or ethnic groups?
- What trends & meme culture do you follow online and how do they influence popular dance in your communities? Do internet-based dance trends have a culture of their own?
- How do the dance styles in your communities compare with the styles of dance in other communities?
- Is dance style a fixed or ever-changing expression of culture? Why?
Watch the videos below and then make some notes on the “Surface Culture” section of your cultural iceberg, tree, or other graphic representation to capture your thoughts on how your own cultural influences might be communicated to others through the ways in which you dance.
A playlist of cultural dances from around the world:
2018 Ultimate Meme Dancing Rewind
The Git up Dance Challenge TikTok 2019
TikTok The Flow THE CROW The No The Yo
We Found Love New TikTok Dance Challenge 2022