India: In India they still used and still do use there dance as a sign of worship, and to also express there emotions to millions of the Hindu Gods. These dances included signs of praise and gratitude to Hindu Gods known as the Yellamma. The Indians believed that the Gods would leave there families safe and happy and that they would have a good harvest for there crops. These dances that the Indians performed are just for entertainment. There are many different types of Classical Dancing, Bharatantyam, Kathakali, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Sattriya. Classical India dancing is a type of dance-drama that is a form of a total theatre. The dancer that is producing this dance is telling a story also it can be acting sometimes without using words just using there body and hand gestures.    

Ireland: Irish dancing is a form of dancing and it originates from Ireland and it could be spilt in two groups, social dances and performance dances. social dancing can be divided into two more things which are the ceili and set dancing. It is danced by four couples, two facing each other. Irish social dance is the national Irish dance that Is performed on special occasions. it varies in dances while set dancing is repeated once you get with another two couple facing you. Irish set dancing became popular in 1994, it became popular in a famous show called the Riverdance. It has many movements that involves foot, legs, arms and a straight back. The solo dances can be preformed with soft shoes which are called "ghillies or pumps" or hard shoes are similar to tap shoes. the Ghillies are only wore by girls and the boys wear black leather shoes called "reel shoes".  

Germany: In the 12th and 13th centaury German poets known as minnesingers performed and composed a piece of music for the love of there courtly love for the dukes known as Hohenstaufen of Franconia and Swabia. The traditional dance in Germany is known as the polka, It originated from a group called the Swabians, they came from Wurtemburg. In the 18th century they settled in a place known as the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The polka comes from the Czech word pulka which means half, this refers to short half steps in the dance. In the early 1840's the world polka was widely introduced in Europe and that is why many people now a days know how to dance the polka.  In 1800 Folk music of polka style appeared in written music.

Spain: The most popular dance in Spain is the flamenco. The flamenco is the traditional dance in Spain and it includes a singer,a guitar player, dancing, hand clapping and finger snapping. It is strongly associated with Romani people in Spain. In the recent years the flamenco has become much popular around the world and is now taught as an activity in non- Hispanic countries most likely in the United States of America and japan. Flamenco music was recorded in the beginning of the 18th centaury. the flamenco is a mixer of different dances such as Gypsy, Arabic and Sephardic. The dance is suppose to express the feeling of happiness and this is why it is performed in happy and nice occasions.

Lebanon : the most popular dance in Lebanon is called the Dabke, it is a form of a circle and line dancing. The line forms from right to left and it's mostly preformed in weddings and happy occasions. There are many instruments used to play the beat of the song that is used in the dance.(The Oud, The mijwiz, The tablah, The daff, The arghul). This dance was used to scare away evil forces to protect there security.

Hello, my name is Lara Assaf and for my environmental studies project I am doing a blog about the geography of dance around the world. dance is a form of entertainment, I always had an interest in dancing from when I was little and that's why I chose to do a blog about this topic. I hope you learn something and enjoy reading about the geography of dance from different countries.