Dance (african-american Arts)
by Angela/Michael Medearis /
1997 / English / PDF
4.8 MB Download
Explores the dance traditions of African Americans, and the expressive dances that the slaves brought from AfricIn the West African country of Burkina Faso, a dancer moves his long mask through the air. Fluttering his arms like the wings of a butterfly, he swoops up, then down. He dances a ritual drama about the first heavy rains of the season called the Butterfly Dance.
Every festival celebrated in Africa has its own ritual of dance, music, and song. The ceremonies provide a sense of togetherness and shared values within the village. Each dance is a drama that sometimes starts in a closely knit circle. All attention is on the dancers, who wear elaborately painted masks or body paint. Their story unfolds with intricate steps and spontaneous movements. Their arms spiral and their legs and torsos move freely in a style that is called multiunit.
In West Africa, dance is used in symbolic rituals of everyday life. Dances are performed as part of celebrations, initiation rites for the young boys and girls of the tribe, special tribal festivals, and some religious rituals. A dance may celebrate a birth or honor a death.
