WORKSHOPS
INTRO
WHAT IS AFRICAN DANCE?
There are different reasons for Africans to dance and each reason has a different dance. We celebrate every occasion in life such as nature and healing with music and dance. Stories are even told through dance and music. This has been a way of life of many African people. People say Africans are possessed by the spirit of dance. African dance is cultural and spiritual expression of divinity. By using movement of nature, animals, and everyday life to express ourselves. African people also develop specific dances to summon their great ancestral spirit to invoke the energy of the ancient force within oneself for connection and healing. In my town Calabar, the Efik people dance to appease their gods and goddesses to fulfill their most fervent wishes. This dance is known as "Ekombi". The Efiks derived their hypnotic dance movement from the waves of the ocean and the creatures of the sea giving a strong connection with the great Water spirit (NDEM EFIK IBOKU).
African dance is freedom. When we dance at home we do not limit our self-expression. There are no limitations in body size or shape to do the dance. We submit our total being to the sounds of the drums and the energy force that rises from our feet through our entire body. During this time we release through our voices when we have reach the peak of our experience. That is why tradition does not allow us to wear shoes to dance
African dance is unity. When it is time to dance, the whole village comes together. Adults, elders, and children alike take part.
At home we say "If you can talk you can sing. If you can walk you can dance". Anything is possible in life. |
