Traditional Japanese dance includes mai and odori styles. Mai is reserved with circling movements, typical of Noh theatre. Odori features vigorous stepping movements, typical of kabuki theatre. Buyō combines mai and odori as modern dance term
Earliest Chinese character for "dance" (舞) shows dancer holding oxtails. Yayue, ritual dances, performed at imperial court until Qing dynasty. Tang dynasty saw peak of dance with over 60 Grand Compositions. Dance declined after Tang, absorbed into Chinese opera
Modern dance emerged in late 19th-early 20th centuries as reaction to classical ballet. Pioneered by Isadora Duncan, Loie Fuller, Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn. Artists rejected ballet's strict movement vocabulary and corsets. Duncan emphasized center of body, loose hair, and humor in her work
Contemporary dance emerged in mid-twentieth century, gaining worldwide popularity. Evolved from modern and postmodern dance, emphasizing innovation. Cunningham pioneered independent attitude towards modern dance. Tanztheater genre blurred art-life boundaries, creating fragmented choreography
"Strictly Come Dancing" (2004) is UK's most successful ballroom dance competition. Show features couples performing 90-second ballroom and Latin dances. Format includes professional dancers and guest stars (Pro/Am). Filmed in Blackpool Tower Ballroom, one of UK's most beautiful dance floors
Dance is a series of rhythmic movements to music. Can be choreographed or spontaneous. Can be used as verb to describe rhythmic movements