The GMU Dance Company Fall Concert and The Drummers of West Africa were two significantly diverse performances, however, they were equally entertaining. ... Within the two performances, I focused on "Roots and Wings" of the Dance Company, and "Baifall" of The Drummers of West Africa. ... Although, African dance changes with time, I do not notice any similarities between this work and the movement that we do in class. The African dance movements that we execute in class are focused on the middle part of the body rather than the ground and do not acquire much space. ... The movements in my A...

• Word Count: 1169
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In modern dance, dancers may make patterns with their bodies to form interesting pictures. ... Popular dancing is the kind of dancing people do for fun. ... The knowledge and ability needed to become a good tap dancer lead the dance world. ... When Africans were brought to the new world, they packed on slave ships. ... Dancing back in Africa was associated with religion, farming, births, deaths, weddings, and other ceremonies. ...

• Word Count: 911
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• Grade Level: High School

Masks of Africa: Since the earliest times masks have played an important role in the culture of Africa. ... The mask has been used by the Africans mainly to solve major human and social problems. ... The mask depicted is a royal mask called the "bwoom", usually danced alone at important festivals. ... The other two categories are initiation masks and dance masks. The mask depicted is a dance mask, one of the few female masks produced. ...

• Word Count: 926
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• Grade Level: High School

AFRICA ART Since the beginning Africa Art has played in integral part in American history. ... Meanwhile, masks were used as a symbol during celebrations, initiations, war preparation, peace and trouble times, and masks are worn by a chosen or initiated dancer. ... The dancer wearer the mask go into deep trance, and during this state of mind he "communicate" with his ancestors. ... The dancer brings forth messages of wisdom from his ancestors. ... Rituals are always accompanied with song, dance and music, played with traditional African musical instruments. ...

• Word Count: 1298
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Vocal music is very traditional to South Africa and it was common, it also had dances involved and social gathers and had complex call-and-response patterns. The film also documented instrumental music where you can see the drum or the flute; It also featured mbaqanga which is a famous South African dance combined with traditional elements of chanting and drumming and the film also featured a lot of maskanda also known as Zulu folk music. ... The film also explored how the music industry works in South Africa and it revealed how Zulu workers practiced their secret war dance rituals against whi...

• Word Count: 834
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Kimberly Murray 01134854 African Art The traditional art of Africa plays a major part in the African society. Most ceremonies and activities (such as singing, dancing, storytelling, etc.) can not function without visual art. ... It is found in many parts of Africa but mainly in western and central Africa. ... There are three basic themes of African art. ... Without art, there would be no African culture....

• Word Count: 421
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• Grade Level: High School

The Drummers of West Africa On Tuesday night I watched The Drummers of West Africa perform at the Irvin L. ... The Drummers of West Africa originated out of Senegal, West Africa and Mr. ... Each male member danced in a non-exotic dance that consisted of two steps forward and two steps back, repeat. ... That could be how they dance in Africa and that's perfectly fine and very unique. ... Each female dancer fought over the spotlight and took turns dancing. ...

• Word Count: 1066
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• Grade Level: High School

The Bangarra Dance Theater is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organization founded in 1989 by African American arts administrator, Carole Johnson and is based at Walsh Bay in Sydney. The company is nationally applauded for its impressive and compelling dances. ... Stephan was chosen to be Artistic Director of Bangarra in 1991 and ever since then he has built a powerful reputation for the company touring nationally and internationally, some of his most recognized works are; Skin ( 'Best New Australian Work' and 'Best Dance Work', 2001 Helpmann Awards), Bush ( ...

• Word Count: 617
• Approx Pages: 2
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Graduate

Some villages make masks with full costumes and use them with music to dance in ritual performances. ... Africans have dances for many reasons. ... All dances have a purpose. ... Africans achieve direct communication between each other through ritual dances. Dance is the universal language of Africans (African Individuality). ...

• Word Count: 1186
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• Grade Level: High School

Many rivers run through the Zulu tribe of South Africa. ... They created dances that were highly creative and religious. ... The main arts that they have are dances. They also have many dance competitions. ... For arts they had similar things such as the beading of jewelry and dancing. ...

• Word Count: 762
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• Grade Level: High School

Interpretation of "The Harlem Dancer" The poet, Claude McKay, was an African American who was born in Jamaica. ... One poem in particular, "The Harlem Dancer", reflects his anger towards the the perjudice that the black people received, and many other African Americans looked to him for inspiration. ... This signifies that the African Americans at this time had no voice in society. ... McKay explains that the dancer is not proud of her "accomplishments" as a dancer. ... The symbols used within the poem vary from the physical appearance of the dancer to the way she dances. ...

• Word Count: 1662
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

Interpretation of "The Harlem Dancer" The poet, Claude McKay, was an African American who was born in Jamaica. ... One poem in particular, "The Harlem Dancer", reflects his anger towards the the perjudice that the black people received, and many other African Americans looked to him for inspiration. ... This signifies that the African Americans at this time had no voice in society. ... McKay explains that the dancer is not proud of her "accomplishments" as a dancer. ... The symbols used within the poem vary from the physical appearance of the dancer to the way she dances. ...

• Word Count: 1634
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Being an African-American and just thinking about what Africa is to Americans, it is easy to think of Africa being a giant desert or jungle. ... To be an African does not mean to have black skin, to be African is to have roots in Africa. ... When girls see a famous music artist doing a new dance, they admire the attention that artist is getting and they copy it. ... I've never seen a girl from Africa twerking on a social networking site nor have I seen Africans fighting each other just because they disagree on something, but I see American girls dancing inappropriately and fighting all th...

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The Functions of Witchcraft in African Societies. ... At this point the dancers reach !... Kia dance In examining the functions of the !Kia dance I have tried to understand what functions the dance can perform even if I no supernatural activity like the presence of/gangwasi is existent. ... African Witchcraft beliefs Witchcraft belief is writhe in Africa; it comes in many different forms and evolves...

• Word Count: 2669
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

Sara does know how to dance, but her form of expression is ballet, a dance normally associated with upper and middle class whites. ... While the difference between Sara and Derek is based mostly on race rather than class, it is still both whites and African-Americans that are uncomfortable with the couple. ... In Dirty Dancing, Baby is helping Johnny and her learning to dance only serves him. ... To Sara to dance is a life- long dream. ... Both Dirty Dancing and Save the Last Dance feature young women finding and exploring their sexuality. ...

• Word Count: 2813
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

Africa is large, complex, and diverse. ... Today, almost all of Africa is ruled by Africans. Large numbers of Africans live in modern cities. ... The other two groups are found in other parts of Africa. ... Between the ages of 18 and 21, they are usually named officially by the village Elders during public ceremonies, which may involve sacrifices and dances to the gods and ancestors, as well as feasting and wrestling. ...

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The Africans were captured in West Africa and forced to board ships, stripped naked with no belongings from their previous life. ... The most important areas of this cultural legacy are those of art, medicine, music/dance, religion, beliefs, folktales and language. ... European instruments were then integrated in the music and dance such as the violin and mandolin. ... This was the suppression of the African culture. However, the slaves continued singing and dancing, the Kumina dance in particular was popular and has been preserved. ...

• Word Count: 2280
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Just to name a few, the parents are similar to the white people who did not like the African Americans and the teenagers dancing represented the African Americans who wanted equal rights. ... The teenagers' dancing represents the African Americans having to sit in the back of the bus. It was illegal for the teenagers to dance. ... Sitting in the front of the bus was something that African Americans wish they could do; just as dancing is something the teenagers wish they could do. Ren could not believe that dancing was illegal and he fought for the right for the teenagers to be allowed to...

• Word Count: 1310
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• Grade Level: High School

In the 16th century, a "Rumba influence" was given by the African slaves and the middle and high class of the Cubans. ... Jive originated in the South Eastern part in the United States, which the African Americans performed competitively. ... Jive is usually performed by African Americans but had a part of Latin American vibe and soul. ... Cha Cha's origin was this religious ritual dance of Wets Africa. ... For example, African-Americans, the indigenous Lundu, high society members in Rio, and Brazilian dancers developed Samba, whereas Rumba came from African slaves and the middle and ...

• Word Count: 1167
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Storytelling, music, and dance have all played a central role in African culture, because they help preserve history and religious and social customs. Traditional drama in Africa combines storytelling, songs, and dances with costumes, masks, mimes, traveling entertainers, and persons called griots. ... Their drumming and dancing clearly followed African patterns; whites marveled at them. ... Ring Shouts - Involved dancing as well. ... They are also linked with the ring-shout, an ecstatic dance of African origin. ...

• Word Count: 2002
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Masks of Africa: Since the earliest times masks have played an important role in the culture of Africa. ... The mask has been used by the Africans mainly to solve major human and social problems. ... The mask depicted is a royal mask called the "bwoom", usually danced alone at important festivals. ... The other two categories are initiation masks and dance masks. The mask depicted is a dance mask, one of the few female masks produced. ...

• Word Count: 926
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

By doing this, European colonists "messed up- the traditional African lifestyle. ... The Europeans, hiding under the flag of Christianity humanitarianism and liberalism, occupied Africa and enforced hard labour to the men and women of Africa. ... The French that had come to Africa had no appreciation for the mystical culture of the Africans. ... The colonization of Africa simply weakened Africa to its roots at the time of the colonization. ... The building filled with women was also corrupted, women were " to dance to Raphael's tune if they were to avoid suffering - (173). ...

• Word Count: 999
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• Grade Level: High School

Masks are used almost in every African tribe. ... Each mask has a special song and each dancer makes a solo. ... The spirits in the masks bless the families that dance in public. ... The main dancers wear a helmet mask and mashamwooy mask. ... Masks are an important part of African cultures. ...

• Word Count: 1324
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School