Dancing Around the World ~
Africa, Latin America and Asia
What is dance?
Dance is a genre of Humanities that is old as time itself. Cave paintings provide evidence that dance has been an integral part of human society since the very beginning. It has provided communities with ways to express themselves and even communicate. Being a genre of Humanities, dance serves the same purposes as visual art, music, and theater: artistic expression; ceremonial; narrative; persuasive; functional; and recreational.
Africa, Latin America and Asia
What is dance?
Dance is a genre of Humanities that is old as time itself. Cave paintings provide evidence that dance has been an integral part of human society since the very beginning. It has provided communities with ways to express themselves and even communicate. Being a genre of Humanities, dance serves the same purposes as visual art, music, and theater: artistic expression; ceremonial; narrative; persuasive; functional; and recreational.
African Dance
The video below gives a brief summary of the history of African Dance.
The video below gives a brief summary of the history of African Dance.
The two videos below highlight traditional dance from around Africa. The first video is a rehearsed, yet still traditional, dance performance. The second video is a village celebration where the villagers authentically came together and performed, not for a camera, but for themselves.
Latin American Dance
The video below gives a brief summary of the history of Latin American Dance.
The video below gives a brief summary of the history of Latin American Dance.
The first videos below highlight Mexican Folklorico dance performances. Notice the importance of the feet and/or arms. Also pay attention to the relationship of the arms to the torso.
Asian Dance
The video below gives a breif history of Asian dance.
The video below gives a breif history of Asian dance.
The videos below shows two very famous dances from China. In the first video one of the premier dancers of China, Yang Li-ping, choreographed (and performs below) the Chinese Peacock dance by layering a traditional emphasis on isolation while combining a modern sense of style. Click HERE to read an article from the New York Times that highlights Ms. Yang.
The second video shows a beautifully choreographed performance of the Thousand Hand Bodhisattva performed by a Chinese Hearing Impaired Dance troupe.
The second video shows a beautifully choreographed performance of the Thousand Hand Bodhisattva performed by a Chinese Hearing Impaired Dance troupe.
FYI, the Thousand Hand Bodhisattva, known by many names, is portrayed with 1000 hands and 1000 eyes to show that she/he sees the suffering of her/his people and then helps them through their suffering.
Shen Yun
This Chinese performance troupe is being hailed as one of the best in the world right now. They have travelled through Louisville for the past three years. They will be at the KY Center for the Performing Arts in February 9-10. Check out the videos below to learn about the performances of Shen Yun.
Click HERE to learn about Shen Yun.
Click HERE to learn about the daily life of a Shen Yun dancer.
This Chinese performance troupe is being hailed as one of the best in the world right now. They have travelled through Louisville for the past three years. They will be at the KY Center for the Performing Arts in February 9-10. Check out the videos below to learn about the performances of Shen Yun.
Click HERE to learn about Shen Yun.
Click HERE to learn about the daily life of a Shen Yun dancer.
In another part of Asia, the Middle East, a different dance form has emerged. Dancers in this region still focus on intricate hand and arm movements but also include individual movement of the torso. The first of the videos below talks about the importance of isolation. The subsequent videos provide instruction for the isolation of various body parts.
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In yet another part of Asia, India, we see traditional dance forms combine both the traditional precise movements of the Chinese with the isolation of the Middle East.