We sometimes forget that all of us use at least two languages, the
language of speech and the language of gesture. The language of gesture
is probably as old as the language of speech, but to-day the language
of speech has so largely taken the place of the other that except
among the more emotional people of southern climes gesture is largely
neglected and frequently meaningless.
Folk-dancing is the practiced speech of gesture. By this means,
primitive peoples acted out most of the occurrences of the tribe, the
ways of various animals, the occupations of men, their wars, their
loves, their religion, even the moods of the moment.
There is, of course, the closest relation between music and the dance,
and the folk-dances and the music that accompanies them have lived
on together. The old ballads were all originally written for choral
dancing, so that song and gesture were closely united.
The theory that underlies belief in the educational value of dramatic
dancing was stated by Plato, in the days and among the race that saw
and knew lives of unexampled attainment and a record in the arts that
has not been approached by any other people. He said: “Rhythm and
harmony are made familiar to the souls of the youths, that they may
grow more gentle and graceful and harmonious, and so be of service both
in words and in deeds; for the whole life of man stands in need of
grace and of harmony.”
There is no apparent boundary line between singing games, rhythmic
games, and folk-dancing, in its simplest and innocent forms. Such
old singing games as London Bridge; Here We Go Round the Mulberry
Bush; Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley Grow; The Hare in the Hollow; King
William; and the Duke and the Castle embody dancing steps, though
they are games set to music. The historic minuet is an expression of
courtliness, as it was the historic dance of the old courtly days.
Miss Jane Addams and her fellow-workers at Hull House believe that
the development of the characteristic national dances of the various
countries that are sending us immigrants is going to be, together with
their folk songs, a valuable contribution to the refinement of our
national life, as well as an important support to the self-respect of
these people who, because of the arrogance of Americans, suppose they
have everything to learn and nothing to give.