why do people dance?

Question

what made the origin of our species want to get up and jig about after a hard day hunting dinosaur and rubbing sticks together?

and how did music get involved with all this?

I am a musician in a lowly band. we play pretty authentic 50's to 70's radio music. I just wondered why my piece of wood and wires, played though an amplifier can make a bank manager jump about like a monkey!

there is without a doubt sexuality involved. similar to male birds performing for a mate. But why is music so entrancing? I have witnessed sick people in wheelchairs wiggling? old, blind people that have got up and danced (and danced into a wall!!)
music can really ascend all humans but why doesn't music work on animals then?
or is that another question???
thank you all for your replies so far!
andy.

the really stupid thing is I cant dance for toffee! when I go to a ball I stand in the corner and watch all night...! dancing makes me embarrassed!
but I can get up on stage and play and sing to 1000 people without a thought!!!
why is that then?
thanks for all your answers so far! keep 'em coming!!

Answer 1

what a great question....its going to be buzzing through my head as i go off to bed now......hmmmm maybe its because we get such a good feeling from movement...proprioceptive feedback and because its good for us.....we're communicative animals and it is important for us to make fine distinctions between sounds and the understanding of rhythm develops are awareness of syntax....there are many possibilities....but you've got me apuzzlin now and i'll be dancing a fandango in me head all night.....sweet dreams : )
now i've slept on it i still think its all about our skills of communication and developing a subtle appreciation of variation in pitch, rhythm and timbre ....its hard to communicate everything we hear but movement gets pretty close

Answer 2

Good question. Not sure I know the answer but this I would say - dance feels good.

How did music get involved.... the cave man struck a stick against another stick cause he was upset with his parent for not giving him his due ration and it sounded nice. He got curious as to what else he could make sounds with. One day his sister got curious as to why he always wondered off into the forest by himself. She heard the sounds and started swaying and moaning; her bf was not far off he came around and got so excited he started hopping. Soon everybody joined in and history was made :).

Answer 3

That's a very good question. It will only leave me wondering. We do it because it's a way of expressing how we feel. I guess some cave man must have made some sort of make shift instumet by accident and he liked the sound of it and started hopping around.

Answer 4

Humans hunting dinosaurs?
What's next? People in the middle age used to watch TV?

Sometimes people dance to express himself

Answer 5

I think when you here something like music your brain can't resist moving because of a certain thing in the virbartions.

Answer 6

It is intoxicating and sexually arousing the way many natives do it. It changes the blood chemistry and hormonal levels.
In the West it's mostly a way to meet sex partners... so same rationale ;-)

Answer 7

You sound 'exciting'-sure Your a musician.Rhythm mate.;music ,dance-the beat.Primitive man danced and made music and connected with their prey on a psychic level

Answer 8

Why do people eat and sleep? Why do men watch football annd women nag?

Answer 9

They like to

Answer 10

Coz it's GOOD! Move your body, exercise, feel Good!