When looking for literature by or about a specific african or caribbean author, check the library catalog under the authors name to find the librarys holdings. African and africanamerican dance is a broad term referring to the many. This book offers an indepth look into the history of africanamerican dance. Other articles where afrocaribbean dance is discussed. Afrocaribbean or africancaribbean history is the portion of caribbean history that specifically discusses the afrocaribbean or black racial or ethnic populations of the caribbean region. Old and hard to find but has some good information in it. In new york the district of harlem became home to black people from different cultural. Inherently focused on african and caribbean dance, she sought to infuse and explore a culture of black dance and ballet, challenging the perception. List of books and articles about african american dance. Africanamerican dance dates back to the 17th century. In celebration of black history month and african american history as a whole. Dance caribbean collective began as an idea by founding executive director, candace thompson, in late 2014. Forthcoming books for 2015 by authors of african descent 78 books 50 voters. Chapters address the literature itself, the practices and conditions of its composition, and its complex relationship with.
The book is a good introduction to the history of the african and caribbean communities in britain. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. African dance is text and, as such, it is a document that can be used for historical, philosophical and aesthetic information. Caribbean traditions in modern choreographies usf scholar. I really enjoyed learning about how society, slavery, and the african heritage shaped the african american dance form. Katherine dunham 1909 2006, a leading dancer, choreographer, anthropologist, and activist, produced a style and a voice that traveled the world for several decades. List of books and articles about african american dance online. The fascinating elements of african life manifested themselves richly in the new world, and among the most lasting and influential of these was the art of african dance.
It is used to commemorate many annual ceremonies and activities, such as rites of passage and the harvest, and it is also an important form of recreation, religious expression, and storytelling. Aug 29, 2010 caribbean dance is a broad category that can include everything from nightclubs to sacred ritual. Performing arts in education modesto amegago food crop production, hunger, and rural poverty in nigerias benue area, 19201995 mike odugbo odey pioneer, patriot, and nigerian nationalist. Traditional congolese dance ballet arumbaya ndendeli.
Books on middle eastern dance the oldest dance zarifa aradoon also mentioned on the med dance list. Forthcoming books for 2015 by authors of african descent. Leading adult dance lessons in london 0207 700 7722 let your feet feel the rhythm and let the rhythm express the artist inside you. Caribbean dance is fun, energetic, sensual, relaxing and often times breathtaking in its beauty and grace. Dancing many drums explores that influence through a groundbreaking collection of essays on african american dance history, theory, and practice. Front cover of the sketch showing josephine baker, 1931. The origins of afrocaribbean dance essaysthe origins of afrocaribbean dance all forms of afrocaribbean dance have their roots in africa. To what extent there was contact and sharing of culture can only be guessed at. Caribbean dance is a broad category that can include everything from nightclubs to sacred ritual. There may be myriad dances special to each tribe, and it is the purpose of the dance master to ensure that everyone knows the proper movements without question. Africanamerican dance has developed within black american communities in everyday spaces, rather than in studios, schools or companies. The african caribbean dance theatre acdt is a nonprofit youth and adult cultural education organization based in tallahassee. Caribbean will be focussing on the kumina and dinkieminie. Aparicio not only wrote on the music, but the how the migration of puerto rico helped shaped the music and how the music was an outlet and form of expre.
They are an experienced organization who do a good job and have done much to promote an awareness of afrocuban culture. Its mission is to provide participants a program that ensures a high level of selfrespect, selfesteem, selfconfidence, discipline, community and cultural pride through african dance and drumming traditions. Sep 27, 2014 the history of west african dance west african dance is an essential component of west african culture. Dance styles and history dance resources library guides at.
I dont much more about it such as whether its still in print or not, but it doesnt sound like it. The culture of the caribbean is a blend of african, indigenous and european influences. Through the slave trade, and through national production of traditional dance forms, west african dance has found its way around the globe. Forthcoming books for 2018 by authors of african descent 76 books 58 voters there is sweetness in bitterleaf, at the end.
The two styles of dance from african that will be discussed are muchongoyo and kinka. Feb, 2016 traditional congolese dance ballet arumbaya ndendeli. After the american civil war a surge of people from the caribbean and deep south migrated into north american cities. Placing great value on improvisation, these dances are characterized.
African music and dance, therefore, are cultivated largely by societies in subsaharan africa all subsaharan traditions emphasize singing, because song is used as an avenue of communication. Caribbean dances run the gamut, from ballroom and ballet, to steps created for dancing in the streets. The organisation of the chapters charts the histories and journeys of our african ancestors to britain even before the roman conquest of ad 43 page 5. In addition to being a dance scholar, she was a performer and choreographer. In zimbabwe, the mbira was an allpurpose performance, danced by the shona people to summon ancestors, beseech the tribal guardians, temper droughts and floods, honor death anniversaries, seek guidance in tribal and family disputes, and even install a new chief. European colonization and the african slave trade influenced caribbean music and dance forms. Caribbean music and the influence it has on the caribbean. Dance is a part of caribbean life, and this art form evolves on stage and in the streets. The spiritual infuses every aspect of traditional african life. The traditional african dance is gradually making way for more modern dance moves. The many afrocaribbean dance forms are usually considered to constitute a distinct ethnic form because they share certain characteristic movements. Every form of african american dance or music, whether it is jazz, rock, reggae, soul, rhythm and blues, or gospel, contains polyrhythms. Jun 18, 2000 caribbean music and dance ceased operations in the fall of 2000.
In postulating a national theatrical aesthetics for the west indian theatre, errol hill one of the major playwrights of the caribbean, acknowledges history, myth and culture as the foundation of caribbean theatre aesthetics. Acdt, a tallahasseebased cultural education organization, has for the past 23 years wowed audiences with its pulsating and energizing performances at inaugural events, festivals, concerts, weddings and other special occasions throughout the southeast. The polyrhythmic nature of both african and africanamerican dance conveyed by the dancers, who use different parts of their body to move to teh various beats. Afro caribbean or african caribbean history is the portion of caribbean history that specifically discusses the afro caribbean or black racial or ethnic populations of the caribbean region. In certain islands the african influence is more prominent, while in others the european influence is more pronounced. African music, dance, art and oral traditions are the concrete, tangible expression of this culture. She conducted anthropological research in the caribbean islands, most prominently in haiti and jamaica. The slaves used dance as a way to reconnect with their homeland and culture most african villages had a dance master, who taught various dances to the people of the tribe at a young age african dances have influenced many western dance styles, such as the charleston, tap dancing, the lindi hop, the jitterbug, the twist, jazz dance, hiphop, etc. The book concludes with a discussion of african dance at the end of the twentieth century and its important role in the flowering of african american. This generously illustrated history follows the dynamics of african dance forms throughout each generation. For many, african dance loosely refers to dances from the continent of africa but it is much more complex than one would think. It provides the general coverage and specific information expected of a major history.
We know that in a census taken in 18, there were,980 people from six or seven areas of west and central africa and mozambique, and 11,629 creole. The torso and back are also very mobile, executing. Every form of africanamerican dance or music, whether it is jazz, rock, reggae, soul, rhythm and blues, or gospel, contains polyrhythms. Dance, in general, is the art of expression with coordinated body movement which aims to serve the purpose of communication. African, brazilian, caribbean and african american scholars each focus on some aspect of african dance which provide the patterns that connect. She returned to the united states and formed her own dance company, which recreated caribbean folk dances and blended modern dance, caribbean dance and classical ballet.
Making caribbean dance connects the dance of the islands with their rich multicultural histories and complex identities. The oldest record of flamenco dates to 1774 in the book las cartas. Latin america is known for its spicy dances such as the tango and the salsa, but the caribbean is home to a rich tradition of dance as well. The serpent and the sphinx wendy buonaventura london. Because many african languages are tone languages, in which pitch level determines meaning, the melodies and rhythms of songs generally follow the. In the 15th to 18th century when the slaves were being brought over to america from africa, they were mostly gathered from the western coast of north senegal. Gender, latin popular music, and puerto rican culture. History of african dance many tribes have a dedicated authority whose sole purpose is to pass along the tribes traditional dances. This history offers new perspectives on african and caribbean literature. Books for black dance legacy international association of blacks. Chapters address the literature itself, the practices and conditions of its composition, and its complex relationship with african social and geopolitical history. Accompaniment is provided african origin areas bamboo basic movement basic step batonniere beat bele body boys calypso carnival dance castillian chants chipping circle coloured cloth costume is worn dance is performed dancer moves decorated with beads dholak dress drummers drumming and singing feet fenner festival folk dances foolay foot foot. Over time, traditional dances incorporated new moves, rhythms and ideas.
In various parts of the globe, such transformation seems to be the order. It also consolidates those histories for nonbeginners. Remaining chapters outline ten major characteristics that have consistently marked african american dance, and describe the various styles of black vernacular dance that became popular in america. According to carty, kumina practitioners believe there are three ranks of spirits, this dance calls to the the ancestral rank. African dance, performing art deeply woven into the social fabric of africa and generally involving aspects of music and theatre as well as rhythmic bodily movement. You may also look under such subject headings as african literature, caribbean literature or west indian literature.
Opara, 19151965 felix ekechi the tiv and their southern neighbours. The ancient tradition of african dance has influenced dance styles all over the world. Discover librarianselected research resources on african american dance from the. As in indian dance, the legs are frequently bent, with the feet stamping out rhythms against the ground. Originating from congo in west africa is the traditional ritual, kumina.
African music, dance, music and musical instruments. The origins of afro caribbean dance essaysthe origins of afro caribbean dance all forms of afro caribbean dance have their roots in africa. Acdt is your premier source for african cultural activities in florida. These new enterprises were worked by millions of enslaved africans hauled from diverse west african societies from presentday senegal all the way down to angola. The history of west african dance petite girls guide.
The polyrhythmic nature of both african and african american dance conveyed by the dancers, who use different parts of their body to move to teh various beats. In african societies, dance serves a complex diversity of social purposes. The slaves remembered the songs and dances of their native africa, and taught them to their children and grandchildren. This book is a compilation of essays by distinguished writers, critics and artists in the field of dance and african american studies who address several areas. This book offers an indepth look into the history of african american dance.
History of dance for black people begins in thompsons book where she talks about slave masters forcing slaves to sing and dance as a. Barbara s glass this pictorial history of african american dance traces its roots back to. She was the founder of the dunham dance company and the dunham techniques. Delving deep into the many forms of ritual, social, carnival, staged, experimental, and performance dance, the book explores. Amongst slaves in the west indies the retention of certain key facets of their traditional culture, in conjunction with the creation of unique cultural forms out of their new environment, was a crucial element in the selfpreservation of the. This book is a compilation of essays by distinguished writers, critics and artists in the field of dance and african american studies who address several areas and disciplines of african dance both on the continent and in the diaspora. African, brazilian, caribbean, and african american scholars each focus on some aspect of african dance which provide the patterns that connect. Most afrocaribbeans are the descendants of captive africans held in the caribbean from 1502 to 1886 during the era of the atlantic slave trade. It comes from islands in the caribbean sea between the gulf of mexico, southern united states, and northern coast of south america. The very time i thought i was lost, my dungeon shook and my chains fell off. The cambridge history of african and caribbean literature. It was lifted off the ground with help from shola roberts and ricarrdo valentine that then prompted a public meeting in april 2015 held with various caribbean dance artists.
African, brazilian, caribbean and african american scholars each focus on some aspect of african dance that provide the connecting patterns. There are 53 independent countries within the continent of africa with diverse people, culture, and traditions understanding africa. In the 1800s, these were in trinidad a mixture of creole that is, born in the caribbean slaves and african slaves. African dance has transformed over the years with african music. Books on middle eastern dance the oldest dance zarifa aradoon also mentioned on the meddance list. At that time, the roots of african slavery were implanted deep in the soil of western culture. This source provided information on the evolution of plena to salsa. Most of the material is on the 3rd floor, except for fiction located on the 1st floor. Highly recommended for those looking to learn more about african american culture and dance. Black culture had a real influence on dance and other art forms in the 20th century. The history of west african dance west african dance is an essential component of west african culture. Besides sir rex nettleford, other contributors to this book include pearl primus, maware opoku, katrina hazzardgordon, myriam evelyse mariani, cynthia sthembile west and omofolabo soyinka ajayi.
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