Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A studio course devoted to the development of movement skills through specific styles of dance. The content of the course changes every term including techniques in Bhangra, Afro-Caribbian, Hip Hop and Contemporary. May repeat for credit. May be of particular interest to students in other departments.

COURSE DETAILS:

Dance emanates from culture as a primary form of communication. Every culture has a language. This course explores the language of Afro-centric dance through the story of Afro-Brazilians at a 1st year level.

The West African Yoruba and South/Central Congo-Angolan people made up Brazil’s slave population from the 16th through to the 19th centuries. The West African Yoruba gods and goddesses, their dances and symbolism made their way to Brazil (via the trans-Atlantic slave strade) and remained intact, uniting with Catholicism and its Saints. This performative religious identity is one of the most realized African cultures in the diaspora and the characteristic dances in the round (the batuque) originally performed in the senzalas (slave quarters) are the birthplace of Brazil’s national dance, the Samba. The themes of the Schools Samba, as they compete during Carnival, is the story of Afro-Brazilians class transcendence through artistic expression.

“The carnival is a time in which routines are transformed into moments of high creativity – a time to be lived intensively, throughout songs, dances, laughs, plays and corporal contacts.” Mariani. P.81

Capoeira is both a dance and a fight, developed by African slaves who were brought to Brazil over 500 years ago. The fighting aspect was often concealed as a dance (in front of slave masters) to hide the technique and intent, so Samba dance is integrated with Capoeira.
Capoeira has been used variously by Afro-Brazilians; to fight their slave masters, to protect themselves against violence from the Brazilian police, and, most notably as a martial arts practice with intrinsic cultural value. Capoeira is both a physical and mental game, whose ultimate goal is freedom.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Dance/Marion Landers/Tues: Participation 40%, Group Performance 10% = 50%

West African dance vernacular, students will work to develop expression, sequencing and identify the various occasions for West African dance.

Rhythms and Movements of Central Africa, by Zab Maboungou), provides formal, technical training for dividing of the body, body segmentation and grounding for African dance – embedded in the Lo Ke To.

The Samba, Brazil’s national dance is thought to have roots in the West African Semba and other batuque dances (in the round) and is considered a Latin dance.

Afoxé, a secular form of the religious dances of the religion Candomblé. Afoxé music became synonymous with the Afro-Brazilian black power movement of the 1970’s, made famous by the band Filhos de Ghandi at Carnival.

gods/goddesses of the Candomblé religion, brought to Brazil by the Yoruba people of West Africa, they embody qualities, have special powers and signature colours.

*Students will work towards establishing rhythm, grounding, body segmentation and a strong relationship with the music provided.

Capoeira/Julio Monteiro/Thurs: Participation 40%, Group Performance 10% = 50%

Students will develop strength, flexibility and coordination by learning the basic movements of Capoeira, including kicks, escapes and sequences – and their names in Portuguese.

Students will be instructed on the instruments that accompany Capoeira, including the berimbau, drums, tambourine and shakers.
The plantation dance, Maculélé, in which a number of people gather in a circle and rhythmically strike sticks together accompanied by singing, will be taught.

Grading

Materials

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