“Pop Star Psychology” by Sandra Czaja Scientific American Mind July/August 2011 Sean Copeland September 7,2011 Article 1…
This is where "la religion" and "el folklore" boundaries overlap and at times become blurred. Even though the movements in the traditional dances might not be as grand or as perfect, the both folkloric and religious dances are using the body to communicate to the orishas and the body is sacred (Hagedorn 77). In the videos you see similarities in the movements for each of the orishas in both types of dances; as well as in the gestures, rhythms, chants and colors. One example can be seen in the dance for Ogun. The professional dancer executed the steps that are representative of Ogun; the dancer was acting as Ogun. In the video of the traditional dance, the man dancing was worshiping this orisha then looks to be taken over by Ogun, aided by the bata drum and the religious ceremony, and now he dances as Ogun. The professional dancer was also dressed in a great costume that represented Ogun, while the man wore his regular clothes (jeans and a white tank top). There is an emotional element to the ritual gatherings and ceremonies that can not be replicated in the formal dances.The dance companies are solely showing the visual aspect of La Regla de Ocha and the rituals are encompassing the entire…
In 1973, Christopher Bruce heard about the murders going on in the small villages and towns of Chile on the orders of the government; just to show off their power, and how they were not afraid to use it. Bruce found out as a result of a letter received from a widow of a Chilean folk singer who had been murdered. He was asked to do work for the Chilean Human Rights Committee. The dance first premiered in 1988, the costume designer being Belinda Scarlett and the music being by Incantation, playing the song ‘Ojos Azules’ which is Spanish for ‘Blue Eyes’.…
Bachata dance alike the music is originally from the slums and barrios of the Dominican Republic, where it was created by the servants who were also the first to accept and embrace this new style of movement. Bachata emerged in the early 1960s, and is danced to the music of the same name. It is one of the rare forms of dance and music that emerged From the Dominican neighborhoods, but over the past few decades it has begun to take shape and establish its presence in everyday life.…
When Africans arrived to Cuba during the 1770’s they didn’t forget their traditional music. They brought their instrument and style of music and dance with them. Because Africans came from different region of Africa to Cuba they could mixed their different style to create the beginning of salsa. “African drums from far off places like Nigeria, Dahomey, and Ghana married the Spanish guitar to bring us clave. The seeds were planted in the Caribbean and now…
Puerto Rican history has a lot of dance and music styles that stand out. They are all little different in their own way. Out of all the dance and music styles I chose to write about the bomba. The bomba is a dance and music style that allows individuals to release their anger and stress. Further in the essay you will read more about the bomba being originated from African American slaves who worked on sugar plantations. The bomba was their safe place, where there was no stress – just dance. Another reason why I chose the bomba is because it looks like an extremely fun and energetic dance. I have danced for 13 years when I was younger and learning the salsa was my favorite and the bomba reminded me of that style of dance. Learning about the…
-What did the dancers have done to them and what was the result during the dance?…
The first form of step dance was born in South Africa by gold miners in the late 19th century. These gold miners were taken from their homes and forced to work. They were gathered from nearby countries: Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana and Malawi. Not one of them would see home again. They were imprisoned and would be chained to their work stations with shackles and would go for months at a time working in near total darkness down in the mines.…
With the flourishing development of flamenco music emerged the equally rapid evolution of flamenco dance, which first appeared recognizeably as a structured dance in the 18th century. While flamenco's design in its origin revolves around the hearty voice of the singer, the impassioned flamenco dancers stunned audiences in special music cafés - called cafés cantantes - and quickly began stealing the show. Centuries of cultural melding later, what ironically began in caves as a form of…
Colombian dance originates from lots of places, but Panama is most dominate. It was created by the Natives and Africans, mixing their rhymes. It is based off experiences off the slaves. It's a modern way of embodying the abstract qualities and the spirit of history in a dance. Also, the dance embodies the qualities of the male and female relationship, by having the male dancing toward his female dance partner, and having one hand behind his back, and one on his hat. While she turns and spins around the male partner, she holds her dress high in the air. In some…
The merengue was first only accepted as a ballroom dance in the 1920s. Merengue’s rural identity can still be known and found under the name of perico ripiao and is considered the prototypic manifestation representing a dance form of the Dominican peasantry. The name is derived from the fact that the merengue was first danced amongst the popular social classes. During Trujillo’s dictatorship in the 1930s, merengue was then broadcasted via radio and television and promoted as a symbol of national…
Given the essentially physical nature of dance, it is not surprising that throughout Mesoamerica it relates to somatic sensations. For example, the Dominican friar Diego Duran disapprovingly describes the Aztec Tickling Dance as "so roughish as to be compared to our own Spanish dance called the saraband, with all its wriggling and grimacing and immodest mimicry." Duran also mentions that the term for this dance, cuecuechcuicatl, can also mean "dance of the itch," a connotation very similar to conceptions of dance among the ancient Mixtec of Oaxaca. Thus there is the Mixtec town called Zahuatlan, which means "place of itching" in Nahuatl. The original Mixtec term for this community is Yucu Cata, meaning "mountain of itching," but in Mixtec,…
There are many different types of dances that Hispanic culture has produced. Dances such as, the salsa. The salsa originated in the Caribbean more specifically Cuba although other Hispanic countries have added different variations to better fit their culture. The salsa is similar to a different Hispanic dance that dance is called the mambo both the…
In most dance forms and styles, references are made from historical dances that people may not even be aware of. Dancing is influenced from all sorts of cultures, based on historical events or the region these countries belong to. Through slavery American dance was influenced by African dance, and in turn the African slaves were influenced by the dances already performed in this country. This can be seen in many dance forms created and altered in the United States. One company in particular that draws many references to the African esthetics of dance, as well as historical events is The Dance Theatre of Harlem.…
The original style of Bachata was developed with the music in the 1950s and 1960s. This dance was well known in the countryside and rural neighborhoods. The creation of the Bachata is given credit to the servants of large households who were the first ones to use the movements and steps. Musicians would use everyday items like trash cans and fences to create music. The term Bachata is said to mean trash, however, other believe it is actually a word for party. For a time the Bachate was only affiliated with the poorer parts of Dominican society forcing these styles of dance only to be performed in the rougher parts of town like brothels and bars, which only further tarnished its name. Nevertheless, the increased popularity of the music eventually caused Bachata to be accepted by the upper classes of Dominican society. There also are some skeptics that believe that the dance was brought over from Italy from an Italian Ballata. Bachata is known to be connect the emotions of romance and heart ache.…