Dancing Animals

Do you dance? Many kinds of animals seem to—when they leap, strut, flap, or flutter, for instance. It may just be funny moves they make. Or it may be a form of communication.

Here’s more:

Why Do People Dance?

• It’s a great form of exercise and expression. 
• It keeps your mind, as well as your body, fit. 
• It’s fun!

Dancing with a Purpose

• Some Native Americans have performed certain dances--to bring rain or success in battle, for example. 
• There’s a Brazilian martial art that combines dance with fighting techniques. It’s called Capoeira (kah-poo-AY-rah). 
• People have trained horses to perform dance moves for battle. That’s called dressage (druh-SAHZH).

Born to Boogie

Scientists have recently discovered that human babies are born with a sense of rhythm—and show it.  Learn more about the relationship between dance and babies.

Bird with a Beat

• Some birds that can mimic sound also seem to be born dancers.
• A cockatoo named Snowball loves dancing to music. And it’s not just an act: When the music slows down or speeds up, Snowball adjusts his rhythm to keep up.