Unlike some early human activities such as the production of stone tools, hunting, cave painting, etc., dance does not leave behind physical artifacts. Thus, it is impossible to say with any certainty when dance became part of human culture. However, dance has certainly been an important part of ceremony, rituals, celebrations and entertainment since the birth of the earliest human civilizations. Archaeology delivers traces of dance from prehistoric times such as Egyptian tomb paintings depicting dancing figures from circa 3300 BC and the Bhimbetka rock-shelter paintings in India.
One of the earliest structured uses of dance may have been in the performative retelling of mythological stories. Indeed, before the introduction of written languages, dance was one of the primary methods of passing these stories down from generation to generation.
One of the earliest structured uses of dance may have been in the performative retelling of mythological stories. Indeed, before the introduction of written languages, dance was one of the primary methods of passing these stories down from generation to generation.
