Detailed study
Reading task: multiple matching 4
Now you may check if you guessed right.
For questions1-15, answer by choosing from the different sections on dance (A-H).Some of the choices may be required more than once. Write down yourguesses.
In which section of the article are the following mentioned?
1. evidence for the growing interest in traditional forms of dancing
2. people also appreciating traditional dance for its amusing aspects
3. dancing being a fundamental part of human behaviour
4. a reason why people may not appreciate traditional dance
5. the fact that modern forms of dance block communication between people
6. travel allowing people to become more exposed to foreign dance
7. dance allowing interaction between people who would otherwise be unlikely to meet
8. contempt for dance as a group activity
9. some people being frustrated with dance venues today due to their anti-social nature
10. dance being irresistible to everyone at some point
11. the health benefits that dance can bring
12. a psychological advantage of learning to dance
13. the British having never been acclaimed as good dancers
14. a particular individual being responsible for social dancing's decreasing popularity
15. dance being a spontaneous form as well as a rehearsed one
1. evidence for the growing interest in traditional forms of dancing
2. people also appreciating traditional dance for its amusing aspects
3. dancing being a fundamental part of human behaviour
4. a reason why people may not appreciate traditional dance
5. the fact that modern forms of dance block communication between people
6. travel allowing people to become more exposed to foreign dance
7. dance allowing interaction between people who would otherwise be unlikely to meet
8. contempt for dance as a group activity
9. some people being frustrated with dance venues today due to their anti-social nature
10. dance being irresistible to everyone at some point
11. the health benefits that dance can bring
12. a psychological advantage of learning to dance
13. the British having never been acclaimed as good dancers
14. a particular individual being responsible for social dancing's decreasing popularity
15. dance being a spontaneous form as well as a rehearsed one
Let's Dance
We do it when we feel good and we feel good when we do it. Rupert Mellor and friends learn tango, salsa, swing and ballroom.
A
Who really doesn't like dancing? Can even the most bad-tempereddance-floor-avoider last an entire lifetime without a shameless displayat a wedding, a triumphant jig after the birth of a child - or aparticularly good goal - or refrain from a secret shuffle around theprivacy of their living room? Dance can take many forms: whether itcomes as an impulsive release of energy and emotion, or within askilful display of practised artistry, alone or in company, to dance isas fundamental to humans as breathing. The great dancer Martha Grahamwasn't overstating it when she said, 'Dance is the hidden language ofthe soul, of the body: The first human art form, dancing is aninstinctive celebration of physical existence, a language that can bespoken by anyone and understood by everyone. Beyond speech, learntbehaviour, or even conscious thought, we do it when we feel good, andwe feel good when we do it.
B
It's a little sad, then, that as a nation, our reputation as dancershas historically earned us no points and no recognition. Alwaysever-so-slightly embarrassed by fun, Britain has failed to give dancingthe status and support it deserves. But times, and dance-floors, arechanging. More and more of us are returning home but with glowingmemories of cultures in which dance is a vital part of life, andmusical cross-pollination has accustomed our ears to exotic dancerhythms from all over the world.
C
Cinema too is having an effect. Evita, The Tango Lesson and Strictly Ballroom all celebrate
traditional dance artistry, and expect the profile of the incredible Argentine style to
skyrocket after several new releases. For many years, the pop musicplayed in night clubs consigned ballroom, Latin and rock'n'roll to thelaughably middle-class scrapheap. And while the faithful keptold-fashioned floorcraft alive in schools and competitions, within 20years social dancing, that is dancing with a partner or partners, wasbroadly perceived in Britain as a slightly bizarre cultural quirkpractised by people in shiny, spangly outfits.
D
Lyndon Wainwright, of the British Dance Council, lays the decline ofsocial dancing squarely at the fast feet of the actor John Travolta,who as disco dancer 'Tony Manero' in Saturday Night Fever struck aniconic, swaggering solitary figure up on stage. But now dancing in allits different styles has made a revival. Behind its rebirth lies aconfluence of factors: the global village, delight in the accessories -the glittery hair and the extravagant costumes, and boredom with theloud unfriendliness of modern dance clubs.
E
On an average week in London, the entertainment guide Time Out usuallylists around 50 Latin dance nights, many of them offering tuition.Meanwhile, traditional dance schools too have started to reportsignificant attendance rises. 'Just across traditional ballroom andLatin styles, we know that 240,000 amateur tests were taken last year,'Wainwright says. 'The schools tell me business is booming, with salsaand Argentine tango especially on the rise.' For those unconvinced, hepoints to the following: 'An evening's dancing is as good for you as athree-hour hike. It pumps blood up your legs, so it's good for yourheart, and it helps posture and breathing, too. And you don't get thatkind of fun on an exercise bike.'
F
Dance is also good therapy too, busting stress, promoting relaxationand, with the mastery of a new skill, brings self-confidence and asense of achievement. 'There is nothing more notable about the Greekphilosopher Socrates than that he found time, when he was an old man,to learn music and dancing, and thought it well spent,' the Frenchphilosopher Michel de Montaigne once mused. Professor Cary Cooper, ofUMIST, says that dancing allows people to have physical contact in asafe, sanctioned environment, that it literally puts people in touch.All humans need tactile contact. The touch of another person affirmsthat we are real, that we are alive.
G
Whether you're in it purely for the social contact or the romance,there's no denying that social dancing offers unparalleledopportunities to encounter a range of partners, in a forum whereability and enthusiasm transcend age, gender and class. 'We liveextremely insecure, isolated lives.' Cooper says. 'More and more of usleave our native communities, work long hours, sacrifice ourrelationships, neglect our social lives. Clubbing, with its deafeningmusic, solo dancing and heavy competitiveness, provides less and lesssocial contact, and becomes an avoidance activity. Now people areembracing the old forms again. Social dancing is a ritualistic reachingout. People want to reconnect with others.'
H
However, one step forward, another back; not all are happy with recentdevelopments. One venue in Suffolk has banned line-dancing at itsCountry and Western nights. The DJ Vic Stamp, 77, fumed: 'I'm notagainst line-dancing but I resent them gate-crashing and taking up allthe dance floor. There is nothing worse than dancing round the floorand bumping into people doing a line dance. It stops your rhythm.' Ohdear. Perhaps he should follow the advice offered by the Indian sage,Krishnamurti: 'You must understand the whole of life, not just onelittle part of it. That is why you must... sing, and dance... for allthat is life.'
We do it when we feel good and we feel good when we do it. Rupert Mellor and friends learn tango, salsa, swing and ballroom.
A
Who really doesn't like dancing? Can even the most bad-tempereddance-floor-avoider last an entire lifetime without a shameless displayat a wedding, a triumphant jig after the birth of a child - or aparticularly good goal - or refrain from a secret shuffle around theprivacy of their living room? Dance can take many forms: whether itcomes as an impulsive release of energy and emotion, or within askilful display of practised artistry, alone or in company, to dance isas fundamental to humans as breathing. The great dancer Martha Grahamwasn't overstating it when she said, 'Dance is the hidden language ofthe soul, of the body: The first human art form, dancing is aninstinctive celebration of physical existence, a language that can bespoken by anyone and understood by everyone. Beyond speech, learntbehaviour, or even conscious thought, we do it when we feel good, andwe feel good when we do it.
B
It's a little sad, then, that as a nation, our reputation as dancershas historically earned us no points and no recognition. Alwaysever-so-slightly embarrassed by fun, Britain has failed to give dancingthe status and support it deserves. But times, and dance-floors, arechanging. More and more of us are returning home but with glowingmemories of cultures in which dance is a vital part of life, andmusical cross-pollination has accustomed our ears to exotic dancerhythms from all over the world.
C
Cinema too is having an effect. Evita, The Tango Lesson and Strictly Ballroom all celebrate
traditional dance artistry, and expect the profile of the incredible Argentine style to
skyrocket after several new releases. For many years, the pop musicplayed in night clubs consigned ballroom, Latin and rock'n'roll to thelaughably middle-class scrapheap. And while the faithful keptold-fashioned floorcraft alive in schools and competitions, within 20years social dancing, that is dancing with a partner or partners, wasbroadly perceived in Britain as a slightly bizarre cultural quirkpractised by people in shiny, spangly outfits.
D
Lyndon Wainwright, of the British Dance Council, lays the decline ofsocial dancing squarely at the fast feet of the actor John Travolta,who as disco dancer 'Tony Manero' in Saturday Night Fever struck aniconic, swaggering solitary figure up on stage. But now dancing in allits different styles has made a revival. Behind its rebirth lies aconfluence of factors: the global village, delight in the accessories -the glittery hair and the extravagant costumes, and boredom with theloud unfriendliness of modern dance clubs.
E
On an average week in London, the entertainment guide Time Out usuallylists around 50 Latin dance nights, many of them offering tuition.Meanwhile, traditional dance schools too have started to reportsignificant attendance rises. 'Just across traditional ballroom andLatin styles, we know that 240,000 amateur tests were taken last year,'Wainwright says. 'The schools tell me business is booming, with salsaand Argentine tango especially on the rise.' For those unconvinced, hepoints to the following: 'An evening's dancing is as good for you as athree-hour hike. It pumps blood up your legs, so it's good for yourheart, and it helps posture and breathing, too. And you don't get thatkind of fun on an exercise bike.'
F
Dance is also good therapy too, busting stress, promoting relaxationand, with the mastery of a new skill, brings self-confidence and asense of achievement. 'There is nothing more notable about the Greekphilosopher Socrates than that he found time, when he was an old man,to learn music and dancing, and thought it well spent,' the Frenchphilosopher Michel de Montaigne once mused. Professor Cary Cooper, ofUMIST, says that dancing allows people to have physical contact in asafe, sanctioned environment, that it literally puts people in touch.All humans need tactile contact. The touch of another person affirmsthat we are real, that we are alive.
G
Whether you're in it purely for the social contact or the romance,there's no denying that social dancing offers unparalleledopportunities to encounter a range of partners, in a forum whereability and enthusiasm transcend age, gender and class. 'We liveextremely insecure, isolated lives.' Cooper says. 'More and more of usleave our native communities, work long hours, sacrifice ourrelationships, neglect our social lives. Clubbing, with its deafeningmusic, solo dancing and heavy competitiveness, provides less and lesssocial contact, and becomes an avoidance activity. Now people areembracing the old forms again. Social dancing is a ritualistic reachingout. People want to reconnect with others.'
H
However, one step forward, another back; not all are happy with recentdevelopments. One venue in Suffolk has banned line-dancing at itsCountry and Western nights. The DJ Vic Stamp, 77, fumed: 'I'm notagainst line-dancing but I resent them gate-crashing and taking up allthe dance floor. There is nothing worse than dancing round the floorand bumping into people doing a line dance. It stops your rhythm.' Ohdear. Perhaps he should follow the advice offered by the Indian sage,Krishnamurti: 'You must understand the whole of life, not just onelittle part of it. That is why you must... sing, and dance... for allthat is life.'