AFRICAN DANCE

Africa Day 2013

Dancing in Africa

“African dance has traditionally played an essential role in the culture of the tribes. Much more than entertainment, dances communicate emotions, celebrate rites of passage, and help strengthen the bonds between members of the tribe as a whole.”

http://dance.lovetoknow.com/History_of_African_Dance

African Dancing

Polycentric What do you think it means that African dance is

POLYCENTRIC? “African dance is polycentric, which sets it apart

from most other dance traditions in the world. As explained by the National Museum of African Art, this means that the dancer's body is segmented into separate areas of movement, with each area being able to move to different rhythms within the music. Known as "isolations" in choreographic terms, these moves are quite complex and difficult to master.”

http://dance.lovetoknow.com/History_of_African_Dance

History

“Most African villages had a "dance master" who taught the members of the tribe from a very young age how to perform the various dances. It was very important that these dances be performed exactly as taught, with no room for improvisation or ornamentation until complete mastery of the form was achieved…The Masai are known for leaping high in the air, for example, while the Kalabari emphasize hip motions. In all cases, the movements are very precise, and the same dances you see today have most likely been danced the same way for centuries.”

http://dance.lovetoknow.com/History_of_African_Dance

Instruments/Music

The Importance of Music in African Dance “In African dance, the drum is one way to set the

mood and brings everyone together as a community. However, many other instruments are used as well, such as gourds strung with beads. Clapping, stamping feet, and most of all singing also create rhythmic music for African dance. As dancers move in an expression of their inner feelings, their movements are generally in rhythm to the music. It is the sound of the music and the rhythms that are played that provide the heartbeat of the dance. The music and dance are considered inseparable, two parts of the same activity.”

http://dance.lovetoknow.com/History_of_African_Dance

Try it out!

1. http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIPEVHGjdP

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2. http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewqq-3xJF

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3. http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3W-YIoW8

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