Final answer:
Ritual dances are dances related to significant human life events such as birthing, courtship, weddings, and funerals, and they are integral to cultural and ceremonial practices, serving to mark transitions and unite communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dances that relate to the cycle of human life such as birthing, courtship, wedding, and funeral are typically known as ritual dances. These dances play an integral role in the cultural and ceremonial practices of societies around the world. They are marked by their intentional design to signify or celebrate various stages in life, transformation, and community solidarity. Ritual dances are not purely for entertainment but are often steeped in tradition and have a deep symbolic meaning. Such dances may include rites of passage which ease transitions between life stages, or rites of affliction and intensification that serve to unite communities during times of crisis or change.
Ritual dances can be distinguished from other forms, such as folk dances which are more recreational, or ballroom dances and line dances that serve more social or competitive functions. While sometimes ceremonial elements can be seen in these other forms of dance, it is the purpose and significance of the dance in relation to life events and communal solidarity that categorize a dance as ritualistic.