The Asante Dance

Java is the fourth largest island on the nation of Indonesia. Due to the dynamic split of the eighteenth century, the royal courts of Yogyakarta and Surakarta were established and each of the courts had created its own versions of the classical Javanese court dance bedoyo. The empire of the Asante stretched from central Ghana to present day Togo and the ivory coast of Africa region. The Asante’s region is said to be filled with highly disciplined and militaristic people. On many of the occasions, dancing was said to be a central display of power. Dancing at the courts was all over and it was “deliberate, dignified, measured, and hierarchical” (Jones 72). The Asantehene’s court in Ghana and the royal courts of central java have both undergone …show more content…
The largest and most impressive drums are called the fontonfroms drums. These drums are actually the perquisites of chieftaincy. The fontonfroms are a symbol of power for the Asante people, and through these drums there is a language understood by all the people who participate in the Asante culture. By rhythmic and tonal mimicry the drummer can carry on an elaborate dialogue with the dancer. The drums are also used as a method of communication and something that I found very interesting was that depending on the style and sound of the drum, it can be determined whether it was male or female. The Asante had many interesting and fascinating ways of living life and continued to project one of many powerful dances to convey historic times. The king of Asante was expected to dance for his people to display his royal virtues and honor his ancestors. The king was always to be majestic, moving slowly and elegantly. The Asante dance demonstrated the construct principles of status and power. Chiefs were covered with umbrellas and the closer the courtier was to the king, the more status he was said to have. The entire hierarchy of chiefs, sub chiefs, elders, and court functionaries gathered in kumises to ratify the ties of political and religious authority that held the community together. Through this web of mutual obligations manifest was made through the exchange of gifts …show more content…
The Asante dance incorporates the drums as a very large aspect of their culture and dance as well. I thought it was really interesting that in one of the video when the journalist is being introduced to the drums and the drummer drums his name. The journalist is then shocked to find out that the drummer has just said his name by the two beats, he even slows it down for him so he can fully hear the rhythm and sound. I thought that was such an amazing aspect of their culture and how the drums are created is incredible as well. The java dance was interesting to me because the woman are all trying to symbolize the unity between the dancers and its culture. It was also interesting to know that they show no facial expressions so the dace is solemnly based on the special movements of the dancers. Both dances share the idea of higher power between their cultural histories. The Javanese display royalty and divinity; the Asante display royal virtues and honor their ancestors. The cultures both use style, technique, music, movements and many other aspects as a part of portraying their historical culture. They both require an excessive amount of dedication, time and effort and are both beautifully performed for people of passion and interest in the unique culture.
The Asante dance is a dance of display of strength of virility. The dance The king of Asante was expected to dance for his people to display his royal