Dancing was an important part of ancient Egyptian life and culture. Servant girls frequently performed before their wealthy or royal masters, while farmers danced at harvest time and professional dancers performed at festivals, ceremonies, funerals, and other occasions. The only major work on the subject in English, this carefully researched, profusely illustrated book investigates the origins, nature, and role of ancient Egyptian dance. Readers will find here a wealth of pictorial evidence documenting various dance forms - gymnastic, imitative, dramatic, lyrical, and even grotesque in nature - that evolved over the long span of Egyptian history. An informative explanatory text precedes the heart of the book - 80 figure drawings and illustrations adapted from tomb painting, reliefs, and other authentic sources. Dances involving couples, groups, and soldiers are portrayed, as are musical instruments and props; movements of the arms, legs, and trunk; and costumes worn by male and female performers. Since the text and illustrations show how the dances were actually done, this fascinating volume will be of immense interest not only to students of Egyptology, but to choreographers, dancers, and anyone interested in the history of the dance.