Abstract: The signs of dance originate from the rhythmic movements of the human body and become an important form of “pre-linguistic” semiosis that further develops into the artistic sign processes of human perception and meaning. Unlike other art forms such as painting, music and architecture, dance takes the human body as its sign vehicle and uses physical bodily movements to embody mental “forces”. It displays the nature of art itself, showcasing its poetry and power. The signs of dance are “kinesthetic”, and are closely related to the trait of novelty-seeking in human cognition and to changes in cultural markedness.
Key words: Semiotics, dance, kinesthetic, pre-linguistic sign
