June's Mini-Challenge: Dance!
For this challenge you have to describe to me two different forms of dance. The first one is an accessible, participatory form of dance (Think modern club dancing, hoe downs, etc... anything where anyone can jump in) and one exclusive form of dance (ballet, noh, anything that requires training or isn't usually seen by the proles.) Give me an overview of each of these dances. For example, you can explain to me how the dances are performed, who performs them and for who, whether there are meanings in the forms, what is worn during the dance, and what the general attitude towards them are.
The dances don't need to exist within the same culture.
Do this in at least 200 words and you will get 5k. Remember that you don't need to participate in the greater challenge to win this one.
Also, as a one time bonus of 1k, draw me at least two pictures of what the dance looks like performed. You can use stick figures, I just want to see the general idea.
Dance form one, the accessible participatory form, is the Trader's dance. Dance form two, the exclusive form, is the highly technical paint dancing.
The trader's dance is thematically very similar to folk dances, with a number of basic moves and steps that are then rearranged to fit into whatever dance and song is played. As far as the dances go, they can be done with any number of people as long as there is a big enough space to accommodate the dancers. The dances are very common, so as it stands most people will either know the dance or a variation of it and can easily join in as soon as the music starts. For those who do not know the dances it is easy to pick it up as you go as it is a simple matter of following what the person in front/to the side/everyone else is doing. Or for the more timid, as the dances are repetitive and just a few variations and changes in sequence on a few basic moves, you can watch, learn the steps and then jump in when you are ready. Luckily for both options the dances are very forgiving on missed beats and steps, the various forms accommodate all skill levels.
The paint dance is much less forgiving of learners. Paint dancing involves years of training and special skills, specially created equipment and dance floors, and requires precision with every movement and step. The dancers can be any number, with the larger number of dancers meaning a greater difficulty. Like in Ballet there is a small range of heights where the dancers may lay, however the similarity in height must only be among the dancers and there is no restriction on individuals. Paint dancing is done with magic infused chalk that is attached to the heels of the dancer in a special shoe, as they dance the chalk is deposited on the ground, and it eventually forms a pattern, the painted are usually employed because they also have illusion magic which can further enhance the optical properties of the dance. The spaces must be open, and to get a full view it is best to be at a raised position from the stage like with an amphitheater or the audience on a balcony above the space (Think basically a smaller version of the Nazca lines except it is only temporary). As such the only places that see much use are the upper echelons of the empire, usually restrained to the islands. The Arena in the Stone Lands is also equipped to be a suitable stage although the lack of trained dancers means it is not something that happens.
It is still June right? I had this written up a few days after you posted this and have been trying to draw the dances and have finally just decided to use stick figures. For the pictures, are they one picture of each dance or two pictures of the same dance like in a sequence?
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