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Meanings of dance across cultures
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Dance has many different meanings for each country and every person. Some people believe that dance is a cultural ritual, others believe it is just a way of expressing our feelings. While some differences between Haitians voodoo dance and Americans dance. Both countries are compelling in different ways, they hold more similarities than you may realize. First, Haitian voodoo dance is the primary culture in Haiti, also has a strong elements from peoples of Africa and Nigeria. Almost 100% of Haitians know how to dance it, it is leading by a priesthood. The dance can do as single or in group without shoes. America grew up with dance, and dance continues to be a barometer of life in America. From the street to the stage, dance in America captures
Although the thought of being involved in such rituals is scary, I developed a deeper understanding and appreciation for the practices that Haitian voodoo participants, if it is appropriate to refer to such people as, engage in. The most impressive bit of information that I will keep with me is to be less judgmental of others; “people who practice voodoo believe in the same God as Christianity, but they also believe in communicating with other spirits, who serve various roles in healing, casting spells, and more” (Boudreaux, 2015a, p. 110). As a golden rule, I know that I should not be judgmental of others anyway, but I am human and am prone to quickly create stereotypes in my mind. I don’t always share those thoughts, but thinking makes me just as guilty as doing or saying. I am thankful for the reminder that all people are children of God, and I should research and learn about different beliefs before I make a judgmental decision, if I make that judgment at
Popular dances like “crank that Soulja Boy” and “teach me how to dougie” wouldn’t exist today if it weren’t for the dance styles of the 1920’s. The 1920’s breathed new life into dancing due to prohibition and the rise of jazz in popularity. Before the 1920’s, dancing was seen as a formal event with but because of movies, dancing became more casual and gone were the restrictions of the early 1900’s. The dances in the 1920’s brought new styles and new rhythms to a variety of dance floors.
Gervel, David. "Island Magazine Discover the Creole Culture around the World : Louisiana Creole Culture & Voodoo Tradition." Island Magazine Discover the Creole Culture around the World : Louisiana Creole Culture & Voodoo Tradition. N.p., 26 Aug. 2012. 30 Apr. 2014. Web.
At the University of Chicago, Dunham decided to study anthropology with a focus on African and Caribbean ritual dances. Here, she studied under many of the best anthropologists of the time, and in 1935, she was awarded a grant from the Julius Rosenwald Fund to study dance in any way she wished. So, she decided to use this money to travel to the islands of the West Indies and document the ritual dances of the people. She visited such islands as Jamaica, Trinidad, Martinique and Haiti; however, she found a special connection with the people of Haiti and the dances they performed, particularly in their Vodoun rituals. In 1936, Dunham received a bachelor of philosophy from the University of Chicago, and after gathering her research and materials from her work in the Caribbean, she submitted her thesis, Dances of Haiti: Their Social Organization, Classification, Form, and Function,” to the University of Chicago in 1938.
Voodoo or how its grammatically pronounced Vodou originates from African slaves who colonized in the city of Haiti (Shedding Light on Voodoo Rituals in Haiti) . It is a hybrid of western Christianity and African Indigenous tribal religions (Vodou). While it accepts the Christian God it also promotes the concept of a invisible world all around us that we cannot see (Vodou). This invisible world is better defined as a realm of spirits that influence all aspects of life. It is entirely possible to be both Voodoo and Christian because they believe that it was the Christian God that created the physical universe and the metaphysical universe (Vodou). Both universes live in union with one another serving different purposes. Voodoo could be defined as the act of servitude towards the spirit world through rituals and other various religious tasks (Charles). Then in return the various sprits depending on the ritual will respond with good health, monetary gain, or a number of other ways (Charles). Over the years the religion has managed to survive through oral tradition (Vodou). Societies who practice Voodoo typically have priests or priestess that act as a spiritual guide. A small percentage of the world's population practices Voodoo beliefs but many of the few that do exist practic...
Distinctive nations have diverse sorts of thoughtful enchantment that individuals utilize. One of those nations I will talk about in my paper is Haiti. Prominent known thoughtful enchantment would be the Voodoo Dolls in Haiti. Voodoo Dolls were dependably normally used to hurt other or for embarrassment. I will talk about the root of the Voodoo Dolls and how individuals would utilize this kind of enchantment. Voodoo Dolls are a prime factor in Haiti's enchantment culture and religion is as yet being talked about in the present society.
Dance is just as important and music in Afro-Cuban Culture. The music is made to be danced to, and most of the popular Cuban dances that exist today are of African decent. The most popular are the rumba, danzon, and son. Especially among the working class poor, dancing and music was simply a way to blow off steam and have a good time.
All around the world, there are thousands of cultures. Although they are different, every culture partakes in dance. Dancing is something known worldwide. Every culture has traditional cultural dancing they partake in. Mexico has many cultural dances. La danza del venado is one traditional dance from Northern Mexico. La danza del venado, is known as the deer dance.
The word Voodoo is an intimidating word to many because of the images it brings to the mind of black magic, evil, and death that are associated with it. Voodoo is a religion that is very unique and interesting to examine. The roots of Voodoo are traced back to West Africa, continues on to Haiti and other islands via the slaves and then brought to New Orleans also through slavery. There is a difference in the Voodoo of each of these locations due to peoples' influence on it and according to its need at each location. In West Africa, the people took the view that all things lived and died but when something did die its spirit would linger close to the loved ones to help them in this world. They believed in a spirit world that was ruled by a supreme God just as Catholicism believes in God and Heaven. The Voodoo culture took the view that the supreme God was busy doing the most important work and this resulted in the followers asking sub-deities (loas) to carry their message to God for them. Loas, similar to saints or angels, had unique powers but they also were associated with specific physical traits, favorite ...
They eat a lot of beans and rice, usually mixed with some sort of meat. Such as pork, goat, lamb, and other meats. On the French side, they eat a lot of spaghetti, they eat spaghetti for breakfast, and make shakes out of it. One of the drinks they make is Haitian hot chocolate. It has Haitian cocoa, star anise, (which is a spice) cinnamon, and vanilla. They eat a lot of mushrooms, and other fresh foods. Haiti also has some customs and traditions. Greetings are very important, men usually shake hands, and women throw kisses. Everyone else kiss on the cheek. They also have a lot of other traditions, such as participating in Carnival, it is very close to New Orlean’s Mardi Gra celebration. Sadly many people also participate in voodoo ceremonies, they have voodoo priests, and priestesses. Other occasions they celebrate are baptisms, first communions, and other catholic traditions. The best thing is that they all believe that children are a gift from
This essay presents the author’s personal beliefs on how dance has influenced and empowered her as a black woman. The essay explains how the author’s dance company sole focus is to present a venue to engage dance that speaks to social justice issues and the personal experience of being Black in America. In addition, the essay speaks on the historical application of African dances compared to African American dances as a social movement.
Voodoo by definition is a religion that is derived from African polytheism and ancestor worship and is practiced chiefly in Haiti. Or a person who deals in spells and necromancy. Every person I talked to said they think it's all about the evil things. Zombies or Wanga dolls. Its not. Voodoo is used to help people connect to themselves or others. It is used to tell fortunes and make people feel better in mentally and physically.
Dancing has been around for centuries. It all started with ritualistic, symbolic dances in the early tribal societies. Early tribes used these dancers to tell stories, old folks tales, and were used to worship or communicate to their gods. An example of these types of dances is called a rain dance to worship a certain. “ The dance designed to excite the emotions, such as the war dance; the dance purporting to communicate with the gods, such as the rain dance.” (Fegurson1). Many would gather to worship and dance to their rain god, believing this would bring water and prosperity to their land. These types of dancing later evolve into dancing in the renaissance era in the 17th and century and modern day era. Ballet, another form of dance, was originally created in Italy and France in the 15th centuries. Dance during this time was used for celebration. Therefore early Italian ballet choreographers combined many dif...
“Dance, the art of precise, expressive, and graceful human movement, traditionally, but not necessarily, performed in accord with musical accompaniment. Dancing developed as a natural expression of united feeling and action.”
Cass, Joan. The Dance: A Handbook for the Appreciation of the Choreographic Experience. North Carolina: McFarlan, 1999.