Evolution of Dance in Africa

How it All Began

1500

African dance became widely developed through the age of slavery during the 1500s. Africans were stolen from there homes and sold as slaves across Europe and South America. The Africans brought dance with them and they were given more freedom to practice their traditions in these countries. Their dance styles merged with other styles and created for a new evolving state of dance in African culture.

Early Characteristics of African Dance

1500

African dance is very unique to the certain culture of each tribe. Styles vary from where the tribes are geographically to their cultural values. All movements are eccentric to each part of the body and they all have a significance. The drum is very important to African dance as it is the provider of music. Along with clapping and feet stomping. African Dance is very natural and it is comes from the soul.

The Effects of Other Countries on dance during the Age of Slavery

1700

Slavery was the beginning of many dance forms that make up the dance culture in Africa to this day. When African slaves were sold to the Caribbean islands, many of the dance styles collaborated with each other. The Caribbean had a major influence on African dance due to the outpouring of ethnicity and cultures in these countries. Influences also came from colonial French, Dutch, Spain and British.

Evolving Through the Years

1800

Many dance styles were evolved from 1500 when African dance began to present day. These dance styles are; Agahu, Yankadi, Agbekor, Munchongoyo, Kpanlogo,Mohobelo, and Adumu. All of these dance forms consist of unique features that have influence from South American countries and especially the Carribean.

Alvin Ailey - African Dance in the Western World

1958

Alvin Ailey was born in 1931 and soon became a dancer, choreographer and black activist. In 1958, Alvin Ailey created the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City. This company brought African dance to the western world, it is unique because it focuses on the theatrical side of dance and is based off of African techniques. Dancers from all around the world audition to be a part of Ailey because of how unique it is and how it was created to bring out the pure essence of African dance.

African Dance Companies in Canada (Integration)

1990

In order to keep the African dance culture alive, it was important for choreographers of African dance to bring their knowledge to surrounding areas. Ballet Creole is a professional performance company that specializes in African and Caribbean dance. This company not only specializes in dance but it also focuses on educating its dancers on the importance of music in the culture. This company is a great example to prove how integrating cultures within one another is beneficial to society.