Shake It Like It’s 1599: The Origin of Dance and Why We Still Can’t Sit Still

Long before TikTok challenges and dance battles broke out in high school cafeterias, humans were already shaking their groove things. Whether it was a celebration, a seduction, or just a way to distract from the bubonic plague, dance has been a universal form of expression for thousands of years. If language is how we think, then dance is how we vibe—and let’s just say, our ancestors had rhythm in their bones long before iPod commercials told them what to do with it.

The earliest evidence of dance dates back to cave paintings from 9,000 years ago, where prehistoric people were literally busting a move on stone walls. These weren’t just interpretive displays of someone having a seizure—these moves were ritualistic, spiritual, and deeply tied to community life. Births, deaths, weddings, crop seasons, or Tuesdays—any excuse was a good excuse to start dancing. Unlike today’s club scenes, no one had to pay a cover charge or pretend to like EDM to be included.

Fast forward to the 1500s, when dance got fancy. Really fancy. Think powdered wigs, tight corsets, and enough footwork to make your thighs cry. This was the Renaissance—when people were discovering science, art, and the profound beauty of pretending you weren’t out of breath while doing the galliard. The galliard, by the way, was the CrossFit of the 16th century: a lively court dance with jumps, hops, and enough lunges to make a modern Zumba class look like warm-up stretches.

And oh, the dances had names that could be mistaken for cheese varieties or Pokémon evolutions: pavane, volta, branle, and the aforementioned galliard. Each one had a unique flavor. The pavane was slow and regal—perfect for showing off your outfit while avoiding eye contact. The volta, on the other hand, was a scandalous partner dance where men lifted their female partners—yes, actual airborne moments in front of royalty. It was the Renaissance version of Dirty Dancing, minus the “Nobody puts Baby in a corner” line.

These elaborate dances weren’t just for fun—they were social status indicators. If you could perform a double galliard without collapsing or elbowing a duke, you were considered refined. Dancing was a language of flirtation and etiquette, like texting with your eyebrows. You could charm a suitor with a bow, offend them with a misstep, or subtly throw shade with your fan. It was emotional expression disguised in satin shoes.

So why do people still love dance? Because nothing has ever replaced the feeling of letting your body speak for you. Dance gives us permission to be dramatic, joyful, sexy, and downright ridiculous—sometimes all at once. It lets shy people roar, introverts sparkle, and extroverts finally be socially acceptable while flailing their limbs. It’s both ancient and modern, primal and choreographed. And no matter what your style is—twerking, tap, or interpretive krumping—there’s room on the dance floor.

Today, we might be dancing in nightclubs instead of candlelit courts, but the instinct is the same. Whether it’s Beyoncé commanding the Super Bowl stage or your uncle doing the electric slide at every wedding since 1992, dance continues to unite people across generations. It’s a universal language that doesn’t require translation—just a beat, a body, and maybe a little liquid courage.

Next time you bust out a move, remember: you’re not just dancing. You’re participating in a timeless human tradition—one that once made Renaissance nobles sweat through velvet and now makes us sweat in spin class. And if anyone gives you side-eye, just tell them you're doing the volta revival tour. After all, history moves—and so should you.