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What is dance and how does it relate to language? According to hyperdictionary.com, dance is the “artistic form of nonverbal communication” while language is “the mental form of verbal communication”. From this, we know that dance and language are both forms of communication. The only difference is that dance is non-verbal and language is verbal. Although, if language is strictly verbal, then why is the way mute or deaf people communicate called Sign Language? If movement of the hands to convey a message is called Sign Language then why not consider dance as language since it also conveys a message not only through hand movements but through body movements as well. Dance is an important part of every culture. During the early days, ancient people used dance to communicate to the highest beings. For example, the natives performed rain dance to ask the gods for a good harvest by giving them rain and they dance again to thank the gods after a good harvest. Why not just say it aloud like what most people do in houses of worship nowadays? It is probably because they think that dance is the highest and most powerful form of communication. They reserved dance for sacred purposes only.
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