The Transformation of Traditional Dance from Its First to Its Second Existence: The Effectiveness of Music - Movement Education and Creative Dance in the Preservation of Our Cultural Heritage

TLDR

Greek traditional dance has evolved from a generational transmission of cultural heritage (first existence) to a more entertainment‑centric, tourist‑commercial form (second existence) as modern social, political, and economic forces reshape its educational and cultural role. The study investigates whether Music/Movement Education and Creative Dance can preserve the cultural traits of Greek traditional dance’s first existence while teaching it in its second, entertainment‑centric form. The authors employ a communication‑triangle framework—dancer, dance, and viewer—to interpret the transition from first to second existence of Greek traditional dance. Adopting Music‑Movement Education and Creative Dance successfully preserves much of Greek traditional dance heritage, enabling younger generations to acquire cultural identity and build a better future.

Abstract

Being an indispensable part of our folk tradition, the traditional dance bears elements of our cultural tradition and heritage and passes them down from generation to generation. Therefore, it contributes substantially to the reinforcement of our cultural identity and plays a crucial role in the "cultural development" of our society.Our culture is going through a constant process of mutation. Some traditional elements get lost, while others resist and survive or get transformed and readjust to new emerging circumstances.The aim of the present study is to investigate the learning process of Music/ Movement Education and Creative Dance within the context of the “second existence” of dance, and the way in which this learning process can effectively save and preserve the characteristic cultural traits of the "first existence" of the traditional dance.The experiential way of learning and transmitting dance from one generation to the other, is characterized as “the first existence” of dance. Changes in modern social, political and economic conditions have influenced the Greek traditional dance, which has acquired a more entertaining and tourist-commercial character, while its educational character has transformed going through teacher-centered educational processes. Having undergone this change, the traditional dance is now defined as “the second existence” of folk dance. The conversion of the traditional dance from its "first existence" into its "second existence" is supported and interpreted by the three components of the dancing process, the so-called “communication triangle”: the dancer, the dance and the viewer. The adoption of the particular approach of Music - Movement Education and Creative Dance in teaching Greek traditional dances can preserve and convey a large part of our cultural heritage to the new generation.Only by learning their country’s history and culture will the young generations be able to learn their own identity and make the best of the past in order to live more happily today and create a better future.