Sacred dance

Sacred dance is the use of movement within religious ceremonies and rituals. This practice is found in most religions throughout history and prehistory. It serves as a way to connect the human body with the spiritual world.

Because it involves the physical body, some religions have viewed it with caution. For example, certain branches of Christianity and Islam have prohibited dancing. However, for many other groups, dance is a vital way to express faith and devotion.

In 1923, the theologian W. O. E. Oesterley proposed several purposes for these dances. The most important reason is to honor supernatural powers. Dancers might also dance to "show off" before these powers or to unite themselves with a deity. Some perform ecstatic dances to reach unconsciousness. This makes the body a temporary dwelling-place for a god. Other dances aim to make crops grow or to help warriors find victory in battle.

Rituals may also occur during weddings to avert danger or during funerals to honor the dead.

Different types of religious dance have been categorized by scholars. In 2009, the dancer and scholar Harriet Lihs identified four main categories. First are dances of imitation, which mimic animals or battles. Second are "medicine dances," used for healing, such as serpent dances in India. Third are commemorative dances for specific events like the winter solstice. Finally, there are dances for spiritual connection, such as the whirling of Sufi Dervishes.

These categories help us understand how movement serves different spiritual needs.

History shows that sacred dance has been a constant in human culture. In ancient Egypt, dancers impersonated deities like the goddess Hathor. The Hebrew Bible also records many instances of religious dancing. It describes people rotating, jumping, skipping, and whirling during worship. For instance, the prophet Miriam led dancing after the crossing of the Red Sea. King David is also described as dancing before the Lord with all his might.

These ancient accounts suggest that dance was a common practice in early societies.

Many world religions continue to use dance in specific, formalized ways. In Hinduism, classical dances like Bharatanatyam are linked to the Sanskrit text Natya Shastra. These are often performed inside or near Hindu temples. Judaism includes dancing in the festival of Simchat Torah, and the Hasidic movement practices religious dance. In Islam, the Mevlevi Order uses ecstatic whirling as a form of active meditation.

Even in Brazil, the Candomblé tradition uses ecstatic dance to connect with Orishas.

In the 20th century, sacred dance saw a significant revival. Choreographers like Bernhard Wosien used circle dance to develop community spirit. Wosien introduced these methods at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland starting in 1976. His approach helped spread sacred dance styles across Europe and the world. Similarly, the Dances of Universal Peace were created in the 1960s in North America. These dances use singing and whirling to promote peace and raise consciousness.

Sacred dance also connects to the broader world of art and psychology. Anthropologist Lewis Farnell noted an "extraordinary uniformity" in indigenous dances globally. He suggested this might be due to humans responding to the same environmental stimuli. In Western art, famous choreographers like Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham incorporated sacred elements into contemporary dance. This shows how spiritual movement can influence both ancient tradition and modern creative expression.