Dancing
is an ancient art and for centuries many cultures all over the world have look
on it as necessary part of their daily lives
.
Primitive
man danced to give himself vitality and stamina in order to survive. In the
days before laxatives, the body movement was centralized round the stomach. The
alternative contraction and relaxation of the abdominal muscles helped relieve
the body of internal poisons.
Confucius,
the ancient Chinese philosopher, perfected himself in the form of body culture
known as ‘Chong-Fu,’ and in fact may have originated the system as it comes
from part of his name.
The
Greeks were renowned for their physical beauty and it was Plato, after all, who
wanted to make dancing a compulsory part of education so that the race would be
healthy and beautiful and, according to his philosophy, ‘move in a manner
noble, harmonious and graceful’.
The
Yogis were influenced by the dance movements of China and Africa which provided
the basis for some of their ‘Asanas’ – a system of posture designed to keep the
body healthy and wake up the glandular system.
Health
and body cultures were regarded as necessities by the peoples of ancient China,
Africa, India, Egypt, and Greece, who understood the therapeutic and beauty
benefits that could be gained from certain rhythmical movements and postures
that constitute dancing.
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MARCH 16
