African Dance -Sunset HS

The term "African dance" is used to describe movements created in sub-saharan Africa that connect with similar African musical traditions and rhythms and use:

• Hands and feet

• Torso and head

• The whole body

• Fingers and toes

African people brought their rich traditions of rhythm, dance, song and story traditions to the America's through the (unfortunate) event of the slave trade.

• True

• False

People in West African cultures dance under many circumstances. Common dances celebrate events such as:

(Check ALL that apply).

• celebration of birth

• coming of age/"rite of passage"

• marriages

• death

Which dance (that we learned about in class) is a celebration dance and an example of a rite of passage?

• "Mohobelo" of Sotho

• "Indlamu" of Southern Natal

• "Agahu" of Ketonu

• “Sinte“ of Guinea

The most common instrument used West African Dance is:

• Dundun

• Djembe

• Bougarabou

• Bata

Sometimes do the drummers adjust their music to what the dancer(s) is/are performing.

• True

• False

Check all that are true:

Polyrhythm is...

• Two or more rhythms played simultaneously

• Two or more rhythms danced simultaneously

• Multiple rhythms at the same tempo

• Is NOT an important component of West African dance

The signal given by the lead drummer to the other dancers and drummers that dancing will begin, end or change movement is called:

• "Back Beat"

• "Griot"

• "Kan"

• "Drum Break"

A body isolation is a movement of a body part independent from the rest of the body, bringing emphasis to that portion of the movement.

• True

• False

Check all correct answers.

African ethnic/cultural groups are numerous and diverse. Each group has its own:

• musical rhythms

• movements

• stories

• languages

• cultural characteristics