Dance may be the oldest art form: it reflects humanity’s ancient need to express joy or sorrow to others through the body. Almost all important events in the life of early humans were marked by dance: birth, death, war, the selection of a new leader, healing the sick. Dance expressed pleas for rain, sunlight, fertility, protection, and forgiveness. Dance steps (French pas — “step”) originate from the basic human movements — walking, running, jumping, hopping, sliding, turning, and swinging. The combination of these movements gradually evolved into the steps of traditional dances.

The main characteristics of dance are rhythm — the relatively fast or slow repetition and variation of basic movements; pattern — the combination of movements in a composition; dynamics — variation in the amplitude and tension of movements; technique — mastery of the body and skill in performing basic steps and positions. In many dances, gestures, especially hand movements, are also very important. Dance has various means of expression:

• harmonious movements and poses,
• plasticity and facial expressions,
• dynamics — “variation of amplitude and tension of movements,”
• tempo and rhythm of movement,
• spatial patterns and compositions,
• costume and props.