African Dance

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Oral Tradition

Back 1

fundamental principle. Serves as entertainment and historical recorder

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African Dance

Back 2

Varies greatly, but none the less important in every tribe, dances are more important than their creators

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Four classifications: Harmonious

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group need or celebration (wedding, funeral)

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Four Classifications: Ecstatic/Trance

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possession and requires deep passion and faith of dancer

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Four Classifications: Mimetic/Image

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dances imitate an animal, person, or spirit

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Four Classifications: Imageless

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dancer is him or herself (fertility, war, medicine)

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Drum

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most important instrument in African dance

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Drum Language

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drum acts as guide for the dancer

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"Talking Drums"

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drum language, tones and stresses of a particular drum language, West African

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Circles

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connects the group as equals or highlights a specific person in the center

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Serpentine

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"S" shape dances are used to cover ground and move through an area to purify or honor it

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Funeral Dances

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can take weeks to complete, time of transfer from life to spirit world is a precarious time for tribe left behind

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Griots

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masters of world and music, "Keepers of History", profession is inherited

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Symbol of Earth

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decorative element or symbol of pride, creates atmosphere, includes audience in dance

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Yoruba People of Nigeria

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refers to culture and language, Candomble dances come from them

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Orishas

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Orishas need the Yorubas and the Yorubas need the Orishas

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Egungun Festival

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spirits of ancestors posses the dancers, long strips of cloth, wears ornaments of the deceased

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Festival for Osun

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Orisha of the river, protector of children. A member of the community goes with the dancer to the river and puts offerings in the river to protect the community

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Asante People of Ghana: Ashantehene

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figurehead that leads many small tribes under a democratic government, owner and protector of Asante culture

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Big Ade

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Ritual Day, held in Kumase

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Court Dance of the Asante

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only the best dancers dance before the king.

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Drum Censorship

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if the dance is inappropriate, the drums will stop and so will the dancer

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Asante History

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long history of Imperialism, success based in arms trade with Europe, they dominate

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Fontofrum Drums

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Talking drums

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Kente cloth

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Asante is known for this cloth

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Asante costumes

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The dancer's costume is the most beautiful piece of clothing the dancer owns. The color and patterns represent a clan or family. Women and men alike wear cloths draped around them

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African Mask Dances

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Burkina Faso: Mossi, Bwa, Bobo, Nuna, Winiama

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Definition of Dance

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Animal reverence and reverence to ancestors

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Nuna

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animal masks are created with care to represent a specific animal

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Winiama

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abstract representation of spirits

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Bwa

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famous for big plank masks

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Mossi

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faceplates, planks with grass

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Bobo

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masks honor Wuro, creator of the universe

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Dan People of the Ivory Coast

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Stilt Dances, originally used to encourage crop growth, now used in celebrations as well

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Guro People of the Ivory Coast

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Snake Dance, originally used to ward off snake bites, now is used as a child's rite of passage

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Djaya People of Chad

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Highly choreographed, one sex encircles the other, full of rhythm, youth oriented for social gatherings

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San People of Botswana

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Trance dance for healing-tactile purification. Women and children are essential, elder men encircle them for protection

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Pan-African Dance

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Active preservation of African heritage, culture, and tradition through dance

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Donald "Eno" Washington

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Created Pan-African dance, American performing artist, Fullbright scholar, connected African dances with African American customs

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Chareslton and Mashed Potato

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directly associated with Gambian warrior dances

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Pearl Primus

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dance major that blended African and American styles of dance. Appeared on Broadway

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Katherine Dunham

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dancer, anthropologist, choreographer, mixed African dance with jazz and modern dance, was in "Stormy Weather"

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Gawain Garth Fagan

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Jamaican modern dance choreographer, founder of his dance company, choreographed The Lion King on Broadway

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Labanation

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Recording of dances with a graph, Rudolph Laban