Ethnographic databases: a way to study functions of dance in nuptial rituals?
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| Year of publication | 2022 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
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| Description | Dance is a globally present act, an expression, and a ritual. In human history it has a wide variety of forms and contexts in which it is performed (Adshead-Lansdale & Layson, 2006), including the context of nuptial rituals which are also a universal phenomenon in humans (Carroll, 2016). Nuptials are understood to have a clear reproductive function, based on their symbolic content, which is principally focused on reproduction (symbols of virginity, purity, mate quality, commitment to mate, etc.) (Buckle et al., 1996; Burch, 2019). From the perspective of signalling theory, dance is understood as various sequences of actions and movements that may carry different types of information (Johnstone, 1997; Maynard Smith & Harper, 2003; Laidre & Johnstone, 2013). Previous studies propose that a type of information transmitted through dance may be mate quality signalling; display of attributes relevant for strategies of sexual selection (Grammer et al., 2011; Fink & Shackelford, 2017). This connection suggests that dance performed as a part of nuptial ritual may play some role in mate selection. I will demonstrate how ethnographic data (from eHRAF and D-PLACE) may be used to attempt an explanation of why dance is such a common component of nuptial rituals from an evolutionary point of view and show preliminary results of my thesis. I will aim the discussion towards communicative functions of dance that may help assess whether dance signals mate quality. If future research is able to show that nuptial dance functions as a signal of mate quality, it can help elucidate some characteristics of dance in specific socio-ecological conditions. For example, why specific groups (e.g. women) are excluded from dancing or performing dances in public after reaching a certain age or status. |
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