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Being able to count music is not just for musicians--dancers, too, require the same ear to be able to fully utilize a piece of music or song to their advantage. Counting rhythm can vary in difficulty because some songs are very syncopated or in strange meters, but in general, if you develop your basic counting skills of whole beats... more »
Jazz is about rhythm, technique and improvisation. A big part of the dance involves the dancer's expression and attitude. Similar to how ballet relies on classical music, jazz dance relies on jazz music to drive the dance. Jazz remains one of the most dynamic dances in American dance as it combines various dances such as tap, ballet... more »
In samba, the back stop movement is a fancy dance step that is inserted into the traditional samba steps. The back stop movement uses the same intervals as the basic step, so it isn’t difficult to learn if you’ve already mastered the basic samba movements and steps. You should be proficient in the basic steps of samba... more »
Anyone can plan a day at the pool with friends during the summer months, but to throw a large, successful BBQ-pool party that everyone can enjoy, you need to have a game plan. The basics are simple: invitations, decorations, food, music, drinks, activities and financing. more »
The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is one of the largest cultural hubs in New York. Because of its Brooklyn location though, many people have never been to BAM. If you're thinking of going, the following will help you get the most out of your visit. more »
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Square dancing is a fun way to get some exercise, be with friends and get out of the house. Square dancing has roots all over the world and is... more »
Modern dance evolved out of a dissatisfaction with the constraints of classical ballet. One of the pioneers of modern dance, Isadora Duncan,... more »
Salsa dancing has become one of the most popular forms of dance worldwide. This mode of dance originated in New York City, where Puerto Rican and... more »
The purpose of dance music is to entice people to move. To do this, you need music with a cool groove or beat. If you're really serious about... more »
Samba is appreciated world-wide as fun, lively dance music. The national symbol of Brazil, Samba combines percussion with acoustic guitar, the... more »
This article is about dance music in general. You may also be looking for electronic dance music or dance-pop.
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement. In terms of performance, the major categories are live dance music and recorded dance music.
Origins
Folk dance music is music accompanying traditional dance and may be contrasted with historical/classical, and popular/commercial dance music. An example of folk dance music in the United States is the old-time music played at square dances and contra dances. Brazilian dance music includes Samba, Pagode, and Forró.
Historical dance music
While there exist attestations of the combination of dance and music in ancient times (for example Ancient Greek vases sometimes show dancers accompanied by musicians), the earliest Western dance music that we can still play with a degree of certainty are the surviving medieval dances such as carols and the Estampie. The earliest of these surviving dances are almost as old as Western staff-based music notation.
By period
The Renaissance dance music was written for instruments such as the lute, viol, tabor, pipe, and the sackbut.
In the Baroque period, the major dance styles were noble court dances (see Baroque dance). Examples of dances include the French courante, sarabande, minuet and gigue. Collections of dances were often collected together as dance suites.
In the Classical music era, the minuet was frequently used as a third movement in four-movement non-vocal works such as sonatas, string quartets, and symphonies, although in this context it would not accompany any dancing. The waltz also arose later in the Classical era, as the minuet evolved into the scherzo (literally, "joke"; a faster-paced minuet).
Both remained part of the Romantic music period, which also saw the rise of various other na read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance+music
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