Music leaves a sort of empty hole that we need to refill through the movement of our bodies. This is why we dance, fulfilling the external inputs that arise from melodic sounds.

From tribal dances in the Greek and Roman epochs to baroque music and its choreographic dances, and from pop to contemporary music, the act of dance has always been with us in one way or another. But how has this form of expression been represented in painting?

The act of dance has always been with us in one way or another

Let's start from a unique moment in history in which dance acquired an almost inexplicable dimension. In the 16th century, an extraordinary phenomenon occurred: the dancing plague. This mysterious event lasted for weeks, and theories such as stress, mass hysteria or food poisoning fail to fully explain it. The Belgian painter Pieter Bruegel the Youngest (Brussels, 1564 - Antwerp, 1638) portrayed this case in "Saint John’s Dancers in Molenbeek" in 1592.

Continuing our journey through the history of art and dance, we cannot overlook the Spanish painter Francisco de Goya y Lucientes (Fuendetodos, 1746 - Bordeaux, 1828) and his work "Baile en la ribera del Manzanares", from 1777, belonging to his costumbrista period, in which he portrayed traditional scenes. The painting depicts a group of "majos" dancing "seguidillas" by the river.

Continuing on, there is William Blake (London 1757 - 1827) and his romantic scenes. His work "Oberon, Titania and Puck with Fairies Dancing", is a wonderful watercolor, depicting a mythological scene with elongated and mannerist figures, shaping our collective imaginary of fairies.

The connection between art and dance is further exemplified in the well-known ballet dancers depicted by Édgar Degas (Paris, 1834 - 1917), with paintings full of color and brimming with a great sense of movement, such as "Ballerina swaying" in the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum.

Diving into bohemian Paris, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (Albi, 1864 - Château Malromé, 1901), who lived in a brothel and frequented the Moulin Rouge, immortalized the new Parisian dance scene in the cafés. He captured the vibrant shows starring great dancers such as Jane Avril or Ivette Guilvert. His drawing "Yvette Guilbert" 1893 is particularly remarkable.

Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (Le Chateau Cambrésis, 1869 - Nice, 1954) was another artist who immortalized dance, employing a more synthetic and primitive style, capturing the essence of group dance. In his wonderful "Dance" paintings he achieved a circular composition that emphasized the cyclical movement of group dance.

Reaching beyond traditional media, photographer Ruven Afanador (Bucaramanga, Colombia, 1959 -) embraces these dance-themed operas in the photobook "Ángel Gitano", exploring the world of Spanish flamenco, presenting clean scenes that create a unique setting full of expression and strength.

In tune with Parisian artists, work by South Korean artist Jade Kim (b.1981, Seoul, South Korea) also depicts the dance theme. His ballet pieces present a dream world with manga influences, cultivating an innocent and romantic imagination. Kim captures these fantasy images with childlike figures, fostering a connection with the viewer to evoke sympathy.

Finishing this voyage through art and dance, we would like to make a special mention to Jenya Datsko's (Russian-born painter in 1991 based in Valencia, Spain) "Por la esquina". This unique piece perfectly captures the final moments of a party, when exhaustion and tiredness begin to take over your body. It represents the decision to wait for a friend outside, anticipating the joy of happily going to bed.