Discussion Topic - Dancing

Discussion Topic - Dancing.

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

Q. 1. Do you enjoy dancing? [Why/Why not?]
Answer: I enjoy when good dancers and artists dance but I do not feel like doing it myself. I guess I don’t really enjoy dancing primarily because I have always thought of dancing is an art which is “appropriate” for artists who have great skills in it. Besides, I never “felt it” in me, and as such, I never had the interest to look “awkward” when dancing, especially, in front of others.

Q. 2. Has anyone ever taught you to dance? [Why/why not?]
Answer: Well, nobody has ever taught me to dance mainly because I never really showed any interest in the art of dancing and nobody from my family was involved in music and dancing. Besides, I was rather interested in playing sports with other kids and reading books instead of being a “laughing stock” of others, trying to dance, and thanks to God that nobody forced me to learn dancing as I believe it is a difficult art form which should be tried by enthusiastic persons only.

Q. 3. Tell me about any traditional dancing in your country.
Answer: One of the most popular traditional dancing of Malaysia (my native country) is called the “Joget” which is performed by couples by blending their fast and graceful movements in a playful manner. The “Joget” essentially is a lively dance with an upbeat tempo which has its origin in Portuguese folk dance.

Q. 4. Do you think that traditional dancing will be popular in the future? [Why/Why not?]
Answer: Yes, I do think that traditional dancing will be more popular in the future primarily because many countries around the world are trying to regain their own “national identities” by reviving their cultural heritage which was thought to be once lost. Besides, many countries are trying to promote tourism as an industry by displaying their traditional lifestyles and cultural heritage to international tourists. Finally, traditional dancing styles are being adopted to make this art form more attractive to the young generation and this will make it more popular in the future I guess.

 

Part 3: Details Discussion. 

1. Is dancing an integral part of a country's culture?
Answer: Yes, dancing is and can be an integral part of a country’s culture, in my humble opinion, as they often contain pieces of their history and livelihood that would otherwise be lost. The American Indians are an example of this, as many tribes have looked to dance in the past as a way to convey joy, mourning, and even times of battle and war. The same is true at the roots of many people groups, as dance is a common language that unites us all on some level. Besides, dancing is our way to tell other people about what are the things that they need to know about our culture.

2. How dancing has changed during the last two or three decades?
Answer: Dancing has certainly changed during the last two or three decades. For example, before two or three decades, dance was confined to music, dance and drama competitions, or some entertainment or cultural shows in school. But, these days, people turning to dance just for fun or to learn a new technique for maintaining fitness. Besides, in the past, people used to follow certain rules and dance steps in dancing, but today, more and more people are forgetting about the proper dancing steps and adopting freestyle dancing moves. Finally, dancing today has more moves than the old style, traditional dancing.

3. How important is music in dancing? Why?
Answer: Music is very important in dancing, primarily because it sets up our mood for dancing. Music is needed in dancing also because it helps drop the beat and create the motivation needed to start moving. In fact, music has that ability to make us feel a certain way in our body and mind, which is why it plays such an immense role in dancing. And that’s exactly why when we hear a certain song on radio or television, we feel a sudden urge to get up and dance. Music stimulates dancers' inner throbbing and gives more passion to them so that they will have a strong desire for performance.

4. Should dancing be taught to elementary students as part of their leisure activity? Why?/Why not?
Answer: In my opinion, dancing should be taught to elementary school students as part of leisure activity primarily because the experts agree that dancing is a wonderful activity for children of all ages. Not only is it an excellent form of exercise, but it also teaches grace, coordination, rhythm and self-confidence, and it inspires creativity and self-expression. Besides, children learn to express their emotions through movement, and the focus that dance demands can help them find greater stability in their lives and form stronger self-identities.

5. Which one is more important - traditional dancing or modern dancing? Why?
Answer: Well, the answer depends on whether we are looking to preserve our cultural heritage or simply trying to deal with our moods and emotions. If we are looking to protect our cultural heritage and traditional lifestyles, traditional dancing is certainly the way to move forward. On the other hand, if we are trying to deal with our daily stress of life, emotion and moods, there is just no better alternatives to modern dancing. So, in essence, both traditional and modern dancings are important if we really want to thrive in our lives personally and socially.

6. What are some qualities to become a good dancer in your opinion?
Answer: Some people are just innately born with traits and abilities that allow them to do magnificent things like, for example, dancing. But, unfortunately, not everybody in this world is born with traits and abilities, and as such, people, who want to become good dancers in life, have to work really hard to develop several qualities in them. First quality, of course, is to have strong motivation and determination to pursue success in life. One should also have the discipline that would allow him or her to keep practising as long as it is needed. Finally, one should also have a good ability to focus and enthusiasm to become a good dancer.

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Rating 2.00 (6 Votes)