In cultures past and present, dance has been a means of expressing emotions, ideas, and customs that have significance in the daily lives and history of people. The dances expressed themes such as work and conflict. They were, and in some cases still are, closely related to a people's religion, ceremonies, spirituality, rituals, and celebrations. The study of these dances affords a glimpse into a people and their values, beliefs, and way of life. Studying social and cultural dances should not be only an historical investigation.
Dances still exist today as valid expressions of a people.
In fact, though altered through time, many of the current dances retain vestiges of the past. Students should learn about social and cultural dances by studying the historical and present day aspects of the culture or society, and by experiencing the dances themselves. As students actively participate in exploring the culture or society, they gain new insights and come to appreciate the significance of the dances in an authentic manner. Teachers may wish to use steps of the dance as the basis of the warm-up activities. In this way, the students can develop the skills they will be using later in the dance lesson.