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Dance is one of humanity's oldest and most widespread forms of expression, yet no tangible artifacts of this art remain. The limited knowledge we have of ancient dances comes from sparse accounts and those few that are still performed today. For centuries, dance has served as a tool for community bonding, spiritual worship, and even healing. Many of these dances have origins steeped in mystery, with most now on the brink of disappearing.
10. Whirling Dervishes
The dervishes of the Mevlevi Order seek divine union through their dance. Established in 1273 by the poet and mystic Rumi, this order originates from Konya, now part of modern-day Turkey. Although Rumi was born in Afghanistan, he fled westward with his family to escape the Mongol invasion. His introduction to the mystical dance tradition came through his friend, Shams-e Tabrizi. After Rumi’s death, his son Sultan Veled and his grandson, both disciples, helped establish the Mevlevi Order.
The Mevlevi are a distinguished school within Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam. The whirling dervish dance, called Sema, was formalized in the 15th century, with its origins attributed to Rumi. Every element of the dance holds symbolic meaning. The white skirt represents the shroud of the ego. The camel-hair hat symbolizes the tombstone of the ego. The removal of the semazen’s black cloak signifies spiritual rebirth, while crossed arms reflect divine unity and the oneness of God.
9. Madagascar’s Dance Of The Dead
In Madagascar's central highlands, the Malagasy people engage in a unique dance with the deceased. During the Famadihana ritual, the bodies of the departed are exhumed from their tombs and paraded to the rhythm of a brass band. This moment allows the living to converse with their ancestors and seek their wisdom. Rakotonarivo Henri, a 52-year-old farmer, reflects on the significance of ancestor worship: “We do not come from mud; we come from these bodies.”
Famadihana is practiced by millions across Madagascar. The Malagasy people traditionally believe that the line between life and death is not sharply defined. Ancestors are thought to possess the ability to move between worlds. Jean Jacques Ratovoherison, a 30-year-old tech worker, shares, “Famadihana strengthens the bond between generations in our family. The bones of our ancestors hold immense value and must never be forgotten.” The costs associated with Famadihana can be steep, with large gatherings that include abundant food and live music.
8. Medieval Dance Mania
Between the 13th and 17th centuries, Europe was overtaken by an eerie dance frenzy. Known as St. John’s Dance (or St. Vitus’s Dance), this phenomenon caused individuals to dance uncontrollably for extended periods, sometimes lasting months. Tragically, some dancers danced themselves to death from exhaustion, heart failure, or stroke. In 1278, 200 frantic dancers in Germany perished or were injured when the bridge they were dancing on collapsed. Although modern historians often associate this mania with women, historical records reveal that men, women, and children alike were affected by this mysterious affliction.
The most infamous episode of this dance mania occurred on June 24, 1374, in Aachen, Germany. However, these outbreaks were not confined to Germany. Other regions such as Holland, Italy, France, and Luxembourg also experienced similar episodes over the course of three centuries, involving thousands of individuals. Some theorize that ergot poisoning could have been behind the symptoms of St. John’s Dance. Others suggest that the dancers were members of fringe sects trying to gain divine favor after the devastation of the Black Plague.
7. Wendigo-Like Dance
In Algonquin, the term “wendigo” loosely translates to “the malevolent spirit that devours humanity.” According to legend, these gaunt creatures with tangled hair and rotting skin were created when a person resorted to cannibalism. They were cursed to become a wendigo, driven by an unquenchable hunger for human flesh.
To cope with the terror of these cannibalistic monsters, the Cree developed a dance. The Wihtikokansimoowin depicts both satirical representations of the flesh-eating beast and heroic portrayals of those who hunt the wendigo. Legend says that the Cree’s “Wendigo-like Dance” was performed during times of famine to emphasize the seriousness of their taboo against cannibalism.
The dance, inspired by a dream, was initially performed by the Assiniboine tribe. The Cree later adopted it, integrating it into their Sun Dance ceremony. It is always performed on the final day of the celebration. The last known Wihtikokansimoowin in the United States was held at the Leech Lake Indian Reservation in Northern Minnesota.
6. Tarantella
First documented in the 15th century, the tarantella takes its name from a venomous Italian wolf spider known as a “tarantula.” Bites from this creature were believed to cause muscle spasms, delirium, and even death. According to legend, the sweaty, frenzied dance was developed as a remedy to expel the venom. Musicians would wander the fields, hoping to be paid for playing for those afflicted with the supposed bite. This lively tambourine rhythm eventually became the defining dance of Southern Italy.
This so-called cure persisted for 300 years until scientific inquiry began to question it. British playwright Oliver Goldsmith famously had his servant deliberately bitten by one of the spiders, only to find that the bite caused nothing more than mild swelling. A 17th-century Italian physician concluded that tarantism was merely “feigned activity of malingerers.” The tarantula was not responsible for the symptoms; people simply needed an outlet. Some suggest that the tarantella may have originated within a Dionysian cult forced into secrecy.
5. Morris Dancing
Morris dancing is a long-standing English tradition. Its earliest recorded mention dates back to 1448, though its origins likely stretch much further. Many believe the name comes from “Morisco,” a pejorative term meaning “little Moors.” The practice of some dancers blackening their faces seems to support this link to North Africa, as does their use of bells strapped to their legs. However, aside from these circumstantial signs, no direct evidence ties this ancient practice to Moorish customs.
A popular belief is that Morris dancing has roots in England's pre-Christian, pagan past. One theory suggests it was a fertility dance of the Celts, while others propose a more aristocratic origin, pointing to the popularity of elaborate, bell-adorned dances in European courts during the 16th century. Despite these theories, no concrete evidence firmly supports any of them. The dance endures today, with various regional forms still practiced throughout Britain.
4. Dance Of The Kachinas
The Hopi Kachina dances represent the arrival of both benevolent and malevolent spirits and ancestors into the world of the living. These vibrant and theatrical ceremonies feature masked dancers portraying these otherworldly beings from an alternate realm. The Soyaluna ceremony in December welcomes the spirits, while the Niman festival in July sends them off. The farewell ceremony includes numerous secretive rituals kept hidden during the public observance. No other ceremony displays such elaborate masks and spectacle.
In Hopi belief, all things in nature possess a spirit, some benevolent, others harmful. Within the Hopi pantheon, the Kachinas rank below Masauwu, the Spider Woman, and the Earth Goddess. Kachinas are believed to be capable of intervening on behalf of the living and are therefore honored and appeased. The Kachina dances serve as both a form of social bonding and playful mischief, ensuring that the community remains in harmony throughout the year.
3. The Dance Of Zalongo
The Dance of Zalongo represents a mass suicide performed by the Souliot women in defiance of genocide. In 1803, following a peace agreement with the Souliot Confederacy of Epirus, Ottoman governor Ali Pasha betrayed the truce and launched an attack. His intent was to enslave the women and wipe out the men. In protest, more than 50 women gathered on the cliffs of Mt. Zalongo. One by one, they threw their children over the edge before leaping to their deaths in solidarity.
The story of their resistance became legendary, spreading across Ottoman territories and throughout Europe. The myth was immortalized in Romantic art and Greek folk songs. Today, a sculpture by George Zongolopoulos commemorates the location of the courageous dance of death in modern Greece. While it is widely believed that the women danced and sang traditional songs during their final moments, this detail may have been embellished later for dramatic effect.
2. Dance In Honor Of The Gods
Candomble, a Brazilian religious practice, translates as 'Dance in Honor of the Gods.' This belief system blends Catholicism with elements of West African spiritual traditions. It arose between the 16th and 19th centuries when Portuguese slave traders brought Africans to Brazil. Though forced to convert to Christianity, the enslaved people integrated their native beliefs with their new faith and the indigenous Brazilian spirituality that mirrored their own practices.
From its early days, followers of Candomble faced persecution and were forced to worship in secrecy. Catholic saints became symbolic representations of the spirits and divine forces central to the religion. It wasn't until the 1970s, when Brazil's government lifted a law requiring police approval for religious ceremonies, that Candomble was able to emerge publicly. Today, over two million people practice this faith, with communities also found in Argentina, Venezuela, Uruguay, and Colombia.
1. Sword Dancing
Sword dances are among the most widespread rituals across the globe. In Pakistan and Nepal, they are a vital part of weddings and other important occasions. At Indian street fairs, the paika adhata, which once trained warriors in Odisha, is a key feature. Originating in Crete, sword dances were central to Hellenistic identity and continue to thrive throughout Europe, particularly in regions once part of the Holy Roman Empire and the Basque country.
For over four thousand years, cultures worldwide have developed dances to celebrate and study the sword. These sword dances were seen as an essential moral facet of martial arts, imparting lessons in patience, perseverance, and humility. Initially created as a military exercise in China, jian wu later evolved into a complex acrobatic performance and became one of the four central dances in Chinese Opera. The Ottoman Empire, fearing it could be a method to procure swords for rebellion, ultimately banned sword dancing.
