Dance As a Form of Essay

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 909 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 0

Page 1 of 3

Nature is spiritual. The two are inseparable.

Second Step: Respond to at least 3 members of this discussion (response for Alyssa, Jessica, and Nicole) asking questions about their experiences with dance as religion or ritual.

Alyssa mentions that she has danced the Hava Nagila, but then goes on to note her surprise at the Dance of the Nigerian Christian Church:

This same dance shown in the Dance of Nigerian Christian Church and Communities section of the video also surprised me the most. I have never been to a church, and I was surprised to see that dancing took place in the church. I found it interesting and surprising that the dancing was not performed as a way of celebration and fun, but as a form of prayer and worship.

I was astonished at Alyssa's response since the Hava nagilla is the customary dance of Israel. It may be that Alyssa danced it out of Israel, but had she done so in Israel she would likely (although not necessarily) have become acquainted with synagogues. And in most synagogues in Israel, dance is a regular occurrence as part of worship. This is so regardless of denomination.

I was intrigued by Jessica's response and loved her connection of the Holy Spirit to dance. Meanings of rituals are deeper than these rituals appear to observers and they give the rituals a more meaningful import often making this ritual less ludicrous than they seem.

I also think Jessica courageous to have experimented with different forms of dance -- some so culturally different than that that she is used to.

I wonder whether my reaction to the Indian Bharata Natyam dance may have the same roots as that of Jessica's reaction to it.

Stuck Writing Your "Dance As a Form Of" Essay?

View All Our Example Dance As a Form of Essay

Have A Custom Example Essay Written

We were both surprised by the suggestive connotations. May that is because we are brought up in cultures where sacred has been made distinct from sexual?

Nicole talks about the horse that she saw in the Bat Mitzva of her friend. Actually, I have attended many Jewish bat Mitzvahs all across the spectrum of worship and am hearing about this for the first time. It may be that this is pertinent to that particular Temple or environment / community where the girl lived. Dance practices often reflect socio-economic and geographic influences too and are not as 'Jewish', 'Christian' or anything else as people may think but rather, frequently, a compound of influences.

Nicole talks about the dancers' focus in both church and Bat Mitzvah being on the center of the circle. She then talks about the Maypole. In the first two, the focus is on the celebrant or individual. Why -- I wonder -- would the maypole be the center of attention in the third?….....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Dance As A Form Of" (2013, February 13) Retrieved June 13, 2026, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/dance-form-85898

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Dance As A Form Of" 13 February 2013. Web.13 June. 2026. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/dance-form-85898>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Dance As A Form Of", 13 February 2013, Accessed.13 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/dance-form-85898
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example