History
Ancient Greek dance in classical antiquity was originally held to have educational value, as Plato's dialogues on this point evidence in The Laws. However, as Greek culture gradually conquered Rome, dancing had less educational value and was more for entertainment purposes. At this time dancers were given a lower social status than other artists.
The influence of Christianity brought change too, first as the Eastern Roman Empire sought to ban dance and condemned it for its pagan origins. However, as Eastern Orthodox Church gradually began to grant concessions to the vast number of Greeks who had converted to Christianity, rendering dance acceptable by refining and spiritualizing it. This was similar to Christian reinterpretations of pre-Christian holidays, legends, and symbols.
There are also similarities between Byzantine dance and modern Greek dance.
Read more about this topic: Byzantine Dance
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