Dance today can be both a conglomeration of cultures and an expression of one specific culture. Ballet for example pulls stylistic elements from its origins in Russia, Italy, and France, whereas Irish step dancing is rooted specifically in Irish culture. Dance can tell a story of struggle like in hip-hop, tell a passionate love story in styles like the tango, or create a perfect party atmosphere. It is a wonderful representation of history, culture, and religion, which is the reason why dance is appealing to such a large audience. Since the beginning of time, dance has been a wonderful form of expression for human beings. It combines the mind and body in a unique way that is freeing. As someone who has a passion for dance, I understand how easily dance operates as a release. Also, as I see the influence dance has on the American culture right now, it is easy for me to understand how much the rest of the world feels impacted by it. Today, advertisements for sports products, antiperspirants, or athletic brands use dance to catch the attention of buyers. Right now the appreciation of dance is at its peak.
In the same way, dance also brings together communities. African rituals and festivals incorporate dance heavily. African dance includes the audience in on the experience of the movement. As dance continues to globalize, I believe it will be a positive thing for cultures to feel united under such a positive aspect of life.
Today, especially in the competition world, dance is a place for cultures to influence each other and mix. It has become more about the mixture of many styles than about the strict boundaries between each style. Contemporary movement might have both waltz and hip-hop influences. Dance, just like literature, is globalizing, which has allowed dancers to tell a much more complex story than ever before. Cultures combine to add texture to their dancing and explore new regions of movement.
One of the most popular global competitions is the Dance World Cup. Over 15,000 children ranging from four to twenty-five years of age can compete. The dancers represent over 40 countries that annually come together to share their unique take on dance. This competition values unity and precision as well as passion and storytelling. The finals were held in Portugal last year and this year they will be held in Romania. While watching an international dance competition, you can get a great picture of the diversity around the world. You see the traditions of a nation and the beliefs of a nation just in their movement quality.
While dance is a huge part of culture, I believe that art in general tells us a lot about where our world is headed. Ai Wei Wei used art as a bold statement to protest against the Chinese government. Art is forever changing and it is a positive influence for society.
Here is a link to the Dance World Cup page: http://www.dwcworld.com/
Here is a dance that just won the vibe competition. It shares a story about poverty around the world:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy4Ogh4TEuI
This is a link to the organization the dance supports:
http://m.worldvision.org/product/where-most-needed
-Isabel