1. Early Writings: The earliest known writings on dance date back to the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, who discussed dance in his work "The Laws" (c. 350 BCE). Other early texts that mention dance include the Bible, Chinese texts from the Han Dynasty (c. 206 BCE - 220 CE), and Indian texts such as the Natyashastra (c. 2nd century BCE - 2nd century CE).
2. Renaissance and Baroque Periods: During the Renaissance and Baroque periods (14th-18th centuries), dance became increasingly popular as a form of entertainment and social activity. This led to the publication of several dance manuals, such as Domenico da Piacenza's "De arte saltandi et choregraphiae" (1455) and Fabritio Caroso's "Il Ballarino" (1581). These manuals described the steps, techniques, and social etiquette associated with various dances of the time.
3. 19th Century: The 19th century saw the development of ballet and modern dance, as well as the rise of dance criticism and scholarship. The French critic Jean-Georges Noverre published his influential treatise "Letters on Dancing and Ballets" (1760), which advocated for the integration of dance with music and drama. In the United States, dance historian John Martin wrote extensively about dance, and his book "The Dance" (1936) is considered a seminal work in the field.
4. 20th Century and Beyond: The 20th century witnessed a surge of interest in dance studies, with the establishment of dance departments in universities, the proliferation of dance journals and publications, and the emergence of new approaches to dance history. Notable figures in the field include dance historians Selma Jeanne Cohen, Doris Humphrey, and Susan Leigh Foster. Dance history continues to evolve, with new research and scholarship emerging all the time, contributing to our understanding of the history and cultural significance of dance.