I am essentially a song performer, thouch I do play the odd tune; and I never dance - not when people are looking anyway. It occured to me that when I perform the songs, I am basically trying to manipulate the listener into my world, to help him/her release feelings, by sharing the song. That is my motivation. When I am singing, I am in sharing-mode.

But what is the motivation for playing tunes? To get others to dance? To affect their feelings? What else?

And I ask the same question of the dancers: Why do you dance? Is there a feeling of showing to others what can be done? Is it the feeling of participating in an activity that has been going on for generations and centuries? Do you dance for yourself, or for the viewer? How important is the "uniform" (dress code for the type of dance) in your enjoyment of the dance?

The character of Zorba the Greek, for example, was definitely dancing for himself, though a little also to try and express feelings through improvisationm, i.e. to communicate. Dress did not matter - he could have danced the same in his pyjamas.

So - what drives you to dance or play or sing? What is your main motivation? Does it vary by culture (I suspect the answer is yes)?