Dances Around the World

　There are many dances/around the world.// Each of them/has a unique background.// Here,/let’s look at three styles of dancing:/the hula,/Irish dance,/and breakdancing.//
　The first dance is the hula/in Hawaii.// It comes from the indigenous religion there.// In ancient Hawaii,/people showed their respect for gods/by dancing.// They also danced to pass on important values/from generation to generation.// That was because/they had no formal writing system/at the time.// In other words,/the hula was more than a leisure activity.//
　In the hula,/dancers use their hands/to express emotions/and things in nature.// The dancers believe/that they can communicate various messages/through the hula.//


　The next example is Irish dance.// It is famous/for the dancers’ quick steps.//
　This dance dates back to the 16th century.// In those days,/Ireland was a colony of England.// People there/were not allowed/to perform their traditional music or dance.// As a result,/Irish people quietly sang their songs/indoors/and created a new way of dancing.// In the dance,/they did not move their upper bodies.// They only moved their legs.// Thus,/when someone outside looked through the window,/the person could not tell/if they were dancing.//
　Irish people tried to protect their tradition/by stamping their feet/to their own music.// The dance shows Irish people’s quiet/but strong resistance/against England at the time.//


　The last example is breakdancing.// This dance is known for its acrobatic moves/such as head spinning.// The dance is a part of hip hop culture.//
　Breakdancing was born/in New York City’s local communities/in the 1970s.// In those days,/fights between gangs/often happened in the city.// Some members asked themselves/if there was a peaceful solution.// They began to use breakdancing/to decide on the winner/of a fight.// Afterward,/the dance gradually became popular/across the US.// Today,/breakdancing attracts many young people/around the world.//
　Dances are connected with the culture/of their birthplace.// Through dances,/people have expressed their ideas and feelings.// Dancing is a way of communication.//