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History of African Dance

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Summary: The history of African dance is rich in tradition and culture. Learn all about it from our African dance expert in this free video clip.

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By Nkachika, eHow Presenter

Nkachika has been dancing for approximately 16 years. She may be reached at (954) 929-2369. She has studied mainly Sub Saharan West African dance coming from the regions of Guinea,...read more

Series Summary

African dance has been an artistic form of the continent's people for hundreds of years. Although some of the dances and styles have changed and evolved the purpose of dancing has remained the same, to convey a story or feeling. The drum has also remained the primary instrument associated with African dances and the one true thing tying many dancers rhythms together. Since the dancing is usually spontaneous and unpredictable the drum's importance is very high since it ties the raw emotion exuded from one dancer to another. Dances are usually to signify a right of passage or another form of celebration such as a child moving into adulthood, a marriage or to signify love. Whatever the reason it is the basis of music and physical self expression that we have today.

This is a very detailed series of clips that will show you many inside tips and details about African dancing. From jumps, turns, kicks and costumes this expressive and beautiful dance form is covered in detail and will show you tips on how to link your foot movement to the drum beat, how to use side steps, the art of freestyle African dancing and how to put all these tips and more together to form your own expressive dance. Where it's your roots or not one can not argue the beauty and importance of these historic movements, what they meant hundreds of years ago and what they still mean to us today.

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Video Transcript

" In this clip, we're going to discuss today what African dance means. Africa is a mass continent and there are over two thousand different languages and cultures, including rhythms and dances. Usually, the dances go with the rhythms. Today we're going to be focusing on sub-Saharan West Africa, particularly the country of Guinea. And in this country of Guinea there is a rhythm called doom-doom-ba. These rhythms and dances are a, maybe nine hundred to a thousand years old and it's like a living tradition. Almost like a living, breathing museum that's passed down from generation to generation. Luckily, I have been privileged as a teacher, and someone who's a student, to learn from some master drummers and dancers in regards to this wonderful, beautiful culture of West African dance, and particularly Guinea, and that is the style of dance we're going to do. And the dance we're going to be inspired by today is the rhythm doom-doom-ba. Some of it will have some of my own choreography but it is inspired by traditional dances."

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