More modern jazz dance is based on afro caribbean dance, with a theatrical flair. Africanamerican modern dance employs various aspects of modern dance while infusing elements of african and caribbean movements into choreography. Pacific ballroom dance gets us movinand groovinwith fox trot and cha cha pieces. These dances must be viewed in close connection with subsaharan african music traditions and bantu cultivation of rhythm. Article information, pdf download for teaching african dances in the caribbean. African american dance, a brief history african american. The bele dance formed from a combination of traditional african moves and a caribbean traits due to the changed landscape, musical instruments, and tumultuous lifestyle. African caribbean dance theater tallahassee live at leon county schools. Katherine dunhamand pearl primus each surrounded her artistic. African dance has transformed over the years with african music. The jamaican case abstract the caribbean is a region whose very name reverberates from the early effects of globalisation then called colonialism. Jan 30, 2019 femi lewis is a writer and educator who specializes in africanamerican history topics, including slavery, abolitionism, and the harlem renaissance. There may be myriad dances special to each tribe, and it is the purpose of the dance master to ensure that everyone knows the proper movements without question. Register for tuition in caribbean dance styles and rhythms.
This article examines how pedagogy of african dances can act as a site where. This course will concentrate on the music and dance traditions indigenous to the cultures found in africa and in. Dance styles and history dance resources library guides at. Caribbean arts and popular culture in the region and its diaspora 54. Femi lewis is a writer and educator who specializes in africanamerican history topics, including slavery, abolitionism, and the harlem renaissance.
Bele a traditional folk dance in the caribbean that was influenced by our french colonial settlers. The culture of the caribbean has grown and taken shape because of the people whose voices have been heard throughout generations. European colonization and the african slave trade influenced caribbean music and dance forms. Dance, literature, music, theater and visual art from slavery through the harlem renaissance iola thompson, ed. This type of dance emphasized individual expression over set patterns, and featured extremely relaxed body movements.
In various parts of the globe, such transformation seems to be the order. How movement shapes identity, edited by suzana sloat 2002. Afrocaribbean or africancaribbean history is the portion of caribbean history that specifically discusses the afrocaribbean or black racial or ethnic populations of the caribbean region. It comes from islands in the caribbean sea between the gulf of mexico, southern united states, and northern coast of south america. This derivative of africanamerican dance reached its peak during the era of swing music. Almost everywhere, dance provides festive relaxation and connects movement and music making to. Oct, 2016 bele a traditional folk dance in the caribbean that was influenced by our french colonial settlers. Still practiced today, it involves rhythmic body movements combined with music and sometimes. Dance, in general, is the art of expression with coordinated body movement which aims to serve the purpose of communication. African dance, like music, is polyrhythmic and may use all the body parts to varying rhythms. History of african dance many tribes have a dedicated authority whose sole purpose is to pass along the tribes traditional dances. Since migrating from the caribbean in 1991, he has pioneered the use of eclectic dancemovements within the crosscultural psychotherapeutic relationship, to facilitate health and healing in the united kingdom, and more recently in kazakhstan, as. African dance refers to a form of performing art found among most cultures of subsaharan africa.
According to katrina hazzardgordon, this blending and creation of an africanamerican culture came about because of homogenization of slave life. African dance refers mainly to the dance of subsaharan africa, and more appropriately african dances because of the many cultural differences in musical and movement styles. Fused with both rugged african movement and the graceful mannerisms of the french the dance is. Pdf historically, during the first wave of globalization, then known as. Dance in the african diaspora is defined most often within its relationship to music. The lamba or lamban was danced only by the tribes djeli or griot. Patting juba was not linked exclusively to the song juba, but these dance movements were used to a variety of songs. Assess the role of one of the following in the formation of caribbean identity. Globalisation and cultural identity in caribbean society. The art form can be worked with purely modern dance or be blended with african and caribbean influences. Dance based on the movements and rhythms of africa and the caribbean. Caribbean cultural dance styles regular dance classes. Their food and words are the most important and lingering influences on caribbean culture.
Africans brought their dances to north and south america, and the caribbean islands as slave labor starting in the 1500s. Rastafari, religious and political movement, begun in jamaica in the 1930s and adopted by many groups around the globe, that combines protestant christianity, mysticism, and a pan african political consciousness. Caribbean traditions in modern choreographies usf scholar. Afromodern is a development of modern dance contributed by africancaribbean artists. We explored how these musical idioms often reflect the african diaspora. Acdt is your premier source for african cultural activities in florida. African dance leans away from the familiar and safer movements of some other dance forms, and challenges and delights both the student and the audience. African dance is a movement expression that consists of a spectrum of many different dance forms. Afro caribbean or african caribbean history is the portion of caribbean history that specifically discusses the afro caribbean or black racial or ethnic populations of the caribbean region. Garveys redemptive panafricanism finds prominent successors not only in secular african american fashion and politics, but in religious movements like the nation of islam. Afrcna 1555 afro caribbean dance 3 1616 african american women writers 1. African music and dance, therefore, are cultivated largely by societies in subsaharan africa. West african dance 7 west african dance statement dance, known as hooro in minianka, like music, is not just an aesthetic expression.
African american themes in works set to negro spirituals or caribbean religious rituals, placing african american folklore at center stage. Dance has always been an integral part of daily life in africa. Griotic dances are storydances, the oral history of a people set to movement and music. Afrocaribbean from africa to america from africa to america summary. Readersdancers are introduced to a technique that is anchored in classical ballet and modern dance forms, also recognizing the rhythmic, earthy and uninhibited afrocaribbean vocabulary that is. Despite the earthbound physical nature of africanamerican dance, the genre is inspired by the spirit as well, through the medium of gospel. This musical effect played out dramatically in the rise of caribbean nationalism. African dance at the crossroad1 world dance alliance is under.
Caribbean dance styles caribbean dance explosion dancetnt. Readersdancers are introduced to a technique that is anchored in classical ballet and modern dance forms, also recognizing the rhythmic, earthy and uninhibited afro caribbean vocabulary that is pan african in its proclivity of derivation. Two african american women gained unequivocal celebrity status as pioneers of african american modes of concert dance performance. Migratory movements and the establishment of patterns of settlement by different groups within the caribbean from precolumbian times to 1838. Each form defined by its own individual technique, style and cultural reference. African dance utilizes the concept of as well as total body articulation. The africanist aesthetic, as seen in american dance, is not any particular aesthetic of any one group of people from africa, but rather is a blend of common elements across many different groups. In africa, the bele dance had origins in festivals associated with mating and fertility. She developed systems and movements under the umbrella of modern dance that. Today, african dance troupes perform the exuberant, onceexclusive moves. Its african roots go back at least as far as christianitys. Jun 10, 2017 history of african dance many tribes have a dedicated authority whose sole purpose is to pass along the tribes traditional dances. Dance as an aspect of religious worship flourished in the caribbean, where african traditions melded in the.
Ballet, modern dance, and indian classical dance are forms of theatre dance, the dancers usually being highly trained professionals performing for audiences in particular venues and on special occasions. Caribbean dance is a broad category that can include everything from nightclubs to sacred ritual. But what was constant in the caribbean was and in many respects still is the valorization of european culture and whiteness, and the depreciation of african roots and blacknessdespite the fact that the vast majority of caribbean people are of african descent. Tribal and ethnic dance, on the other hand, may be characterized by a number of almost opposite features. Acdt, a tallahasseebased cultural education organization, has for the past 23 years wowed audiences with its pulsating and energizing performances at inaugural events, festivals, concerts, weddings and other special occasions throughout the southeast. Aficionados, cuba amateurs, lovers of the dance, the arts, etc not very professionally trained. These traditions were maintained in subtle ways in the united states, most notably in the. Cornish collegeof the arts, choreographed by deborah wolf, offers a modern dance excerpt from cornish dance theaters spring 2019 concert. Being of afrocaribbean descent, i wanted to focus on a dance form from my cultural.
Its easy to see the many ways in which the taino influenced the early spanish settlers, and therefore life in the caribbean. The result is that the identity of the region and its people has been significantly shaped by two groups of people. In this thesis, i read the caribbean bodily movements and the. Learn more about the rastafari movement in this article. The national archives of trinidad and tobago invites you to follow the various journeys through which people of african descent enslaved, liberated, or free, came to trinidad and. This generously illustrated exploration of african american dance history follows the dynamics of the dance forms throughout each generation. Fused with both rugged african movement and the gracefu. Rastafari, also spelled ras tafari, religious and political movement, begun in jamaica in the 1930s and adopted by many groups around the globe, that combines protestant christianity, mysticism, and a panafrican political consciousness. African dance most often refers to traditional social dance, and to ceremonial. Describe the major effects of slavery or indentureship on caribbean society and culture today. Aspects of black american music selected materials related to university of washington course. Taken by the sound of the music, the dancer enters into another level of reality, both communal and universal.
Delving deep into the many forms of ritual, social, carnival, staged, experimental, and performance dance, the book explores some of the most mysterious and beloved, as well as. More modern jazz dance is based on afrocaribbean dance, with a theatrical flair. From precolonial origins to the present 2012, tony martin emeritus professor of africana studies at wellesley college, massachusetts, presents. Since migrating from the caribbean in 1991, he has pioneered the use of eclectic dance movements within the crosscultural psychotherapeutic relationship, to facilitate health and healing in the united kingdom, and more recently in kazakhstan, as. Louis, youngsters learn a dance from mali, ballet babies explore the stories of. Katherine dunham, whose career spanned the 20th century, researched the anthropology of caribbean dances and their african roots. The african caribbean dance theatre acdt is a nonprofit youth and adult cultural education organization based in tallahassee.
The origins of afrocaribbean dance essaysthe origins of afrocaribbean dance all forms of afrocaribbean dance have their roots in africa. West african dance africa covers about onefifth of the worlds land area and about an eighth of its people. To view pdf files you need adobe acrobat reader installed on your computer its free. Dance repertoire in pdf format 53 kb major historical styles. This course will concentrate on the music and dance traditions indigenous to the cultures found in africa and in the caribbean islands, brazil, the united states, and the large. Like daniel earlier, manual also discusses the importance and popularity of dance in. Making caribbean dance connects the dance of the islands with their rich multicultural histories and complex identities. Clark reminds us that, when the dance steps, music, and other cultural forms. The techniques and shapes of the movements, the flow, the stance, the execution, the vitality and freedom, are unique, deeply earthy and extremely exciting to learn. Africa is a large continent made up of many countries each country having its own unique diverse cultural mix.
African dance as healing modality throughout the diaspora. The culture of the caribbean is a blend of african, indigenous and european influences. Why are both important and enjoyable experiences for young children. Hispanic arts and culture unit comprehensive visual arts, dance and music lesson plan grade level 4th, 5th and 6th grade. Sandri a thesis presented to the folklore program and the graduate school of the university of oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts march 2012. The underlying belief is that in the community, mind and body must be incorporated into ritual systems in order to facilitate healing, as well as transform and empower the individual and the group. Dance and the african diaspora oxford university press, she explores the life and work of katherine dunham 19092006, the pioneering dancer, choreographer, teacher, writer, and activist, who used dance in the struggle for racial justice. Summarily, dunham created performance ethnographies of the caribbean on the. Indigenous african musical and dance expressions that are maintained by oral tradition and that are stylistically distinct from the music and dance of both the arabic cultures of north africa and the western settler populations of southern africa. Dance movements tell stories relating to the samoan culture. The fascinating elements of african life manifested themselves richly in the new world, and among the most lasting and influential of these was the art of african dance. During the brutality of the slave trade, many enslaved africans brought their religious traditions to the united states and the caribbean. This program shows a wide variety of dance and movement activitiesfrom african and appalachian dance to ballet and modern dance. According to katrina hazzardgordon, this blending and creation of an african american culture came about because of homogenization of slave life.
In the 15th to 18th century when the slaves were being brought over to america from africa, they were mostly gathered from the western coast of north senegal. Jun 04, 2012 in this lesson, rujeko teaches how to use a clock to practice dance steps. Performance, politics, and identity in african dance communities in the united states by sarah e. Some important people in jazz dance were katherine dunham and jack cole. African music, dance, music and musical instruments. Rastas, as members of the movement are called, see their past, present, and future in a distinct way.
As such, it adopts a historical approach to explore the beginnings, influences and parallels of hiphop dance in continental african, caribbean, latin american and local us cultures. African american studies afam afam home a to z courses african american studies afam. Most afrocaribbeans are the descendants of captive africans held in the caribbean from 1502 to 1886 during the era of the atlantic slave trade. Traditional african dance is connected to ritualistic and spiritual healing practices, and addresses a range of ailments. African americans convened frequently to celebrate and share movements, compete in dance challenges, and consecrate a common artistic heritage of dance. Its mission is to provide participants a program that ensures a high level of selfrespect, selfesteem, selfconfidence, discipline, community and cultural pride through african dance and drumming traditions. New york city college of technology the city university of. A griot is an african bard, a tribal historian and storyteller. Jazz dance originated in the united states with african american dancers who combined elements of tap and show dancing. The dance styles of hundreds of african ethnic groups merged with european dances, forming the extension of the african aesthetic in the americas. The traditional african dance is gradually making way for more modern dance moves.
A abakua, cuba only surviving masked dance music tradition in cuba from secret societies of calabar region. Explore basic jazz dance movements, and create a cinquain poem inspired by jazz music. Dunham and pearl primus set out to study afrocaribbean and african dance. Africanamerican modern dance choreographers thoughtco. Hispanic arts and culture unit comprehensive visual arts.
707 1625 948 96 1443 1220 133 839 1200 1160 1329 636 864 345 688 15 1101 1547 1301 944 363 1234 688 902 901 960 868 214 461 240 1260