DANCE CULTURE AS A LIFESTYLE OF MODERN SOCIETY

DANCE CULTURE AS A LIFESTYLE OF MODERN SOCIETY

Kateryna German

Matriculation-Nr.: 205149

Email: katia.german2010@yandex.ru

UNIcert Ⅲ/ B, English in Management and Economics

Dr. Rob Evans

Submission Date: January 31^st 2014

Table of Contents

Abstract III

1. Introduction 1

2. The meaning of ‘modern society’ 1

3. The World of Dance 2

3.1 Changes in time – changes in styles 3

3.2 Dance as a lifestyle 4

4. Dance – as a creative processes 5

4.1 Influence of dance on personal development and imagination 6

5. Importance of dance culture for modern society 6

6. Conclusion 7

List of references 8

Abstract

This academic paper considers dance as the cultural aspect of life in modern society. Hence the paper will consider different modern dance styles, where they came from and their development. The main goal of the paper is to explore dance culture and to explain how important it could be for people, for whom dance is not just entertainment but a lifestyle.

1. Introduction

Fortunately we live in such a period of time when dance culture is developed enough and has stable foundations for further development. In a general sense dance culture is people, society, due to which it exists. Dance culture changes as society changes, they are interconnected with each other.

Modern developed urban society is made up of a large number of individuals, many of whom possess a high level of education, who can develop independently and can freely to adapt to changes in the surrounding world. In modern society dance culture is developing very quickly and has no boundaries. It is not hard to notice that a degradation of old styles is taking place and a lot of new styles of dance are appearing.

Today it is fashionable to dance. Thanks to the variety of styles every person may choose the one which will be closest to their personality. Many teenagers in developed countries prefer modern styles, because it is always interesting to try something new and to be a part of it. Dance is actually not only a sequence of movements, steps, but a sequence of thoughts, which a person is trying to express in this mute speech.

A well-developed imagination is the source for the emergence of movements. There is no other way for dance culture to be alive, each generation at the level of their development continues to transform it. Through the dance, they try to convey their perception of the world, thereby expressing their feelings and emotions. It is not surprising that modern society is interested in developing this culture, because it helps to make life colorful, interesting, changeable and meaningful. This is an art in which we are artists creating a masterpiece.

2. The meaning of ‘modern society’

Modern society covers two periods of development, corresponding to the two types of society - industrial and postindustrial.¹ A modern society also can be described as a society that lives according to a recently developed way of living, in which science, knowledge, technology take an important role. It refers to a post-traditional or post-medieval period of society that is characterized by intellectual advancements.²

According to Lipovetsky, a modern society it is a plurality of autonomous systems which interact with each other, influence each other, but do not absorb each other.³ This society is fundamentally heterogeneous with multiple centers of power, based upon growth and the expectation of growth.⁴ Development of modern society brings the importance of freedom of all options in a human life. The changes, which appear during the growth process are rapidly covering all spheres of human activity. For example dance, painting, music are gradually beginning to occupy a major niche in people's life and play an important role in the cultural and spiritual growth of each person.⁵ This statement got the right to exist, because it is one of the way of self-expression, satisfaction of cultural needs.

Modern society is aimed at preserving the old and the development of a new domain of human activities. In Ashley’s view, creativity, energy and ability to quickly process information, analyze and use it properly are the main features which characterize modern society.⁶