If one were to define African dancing, it would be called a dance with an exciting history behind every move.’ They would probably use these words to explain the form of art better.
Every dance in the world has some rich history behind it, but when we talk about African dancing, there’s more than history.
You will find passion, spirituality that connects the dancers with their ancestors, and tribal knowledge behind every step.
Let’s explore the history of African dance, the types of African dances, what tribe they originate from, and where you can start learning traditional dancing in the US.
When Did African Dance Originate – A Brief History
African dance is among one of the oldest choreographic traditions. When we dive into the history of African dance, the roots of traditional African dance can be associated with spirituality.
Turn back the clock to 1300; African people were associated with many tribes.
Every tribe had a way of communicating with one another, but since there was a language barrier, one thing that helped the tribes connect was dancing.
From dances related to rituals and dances associated with having a good time, it was a more straightforward way for them to communicate within and outside their communities.
It was only after the slave trade in 1500 that black Africans brought their traditional dances to the west, starting a whole new evolution.
The traditional African dance that was once used for enhanced spirituality, when merged with the dance of the west, took an entirely new form and started being known as west African dance.
Nowadays, most people have forgotten about the history associated with traditional African dance and primarily focus on the good that this art form brings to the table.
Western African dance is more about having a good time than performing rituals.
You can get to know more adult dance classes near me here.
What Are The Most Popular African Traditional Dance Types?
Over the years, African dancing has evolved rapidly, but there are still forms of traditional African dancing that are popular amongst the tribes and even in the western world.
Below we have given examples of six popular African dance styles that people are fond of even now and perform when they’re in a good mood or want to connect spiritually with their ancestral heritage.
- Adumu Dance
The adumu dance is a traditional dance performed by the Masaai-Tribe of Kenya and Tanzania. The adumu African dance moves consist of a lot of jumping and are performed mainly by able-bodied village men.
This jumping dance has a deeper meaning that most people don’t understand. The dance indicates that a person is strong, agile, and has the stamina of a warrior.
The dance is associated with a rite of passage and is still popular at weddings or initiations.
The Adumu Dance in tribal areas is also used to proclaim one’s love to another and is also performed by a virile warrior as a sign to mate.
- Agbadza Dance
Agbadza is a popular form of music and dance that originated from the EWE tribe of Ghana. It’s an ancient war dance, often referred to as Atrikpui by the locals.
The Agbadza dance is associated with festive events meaning that it’s usually performed during the time of harvest, as a declaration of love, and when a new life comes into the village.
The ancient dancing style consists of four basic movements accompanied by a musical instrument: Gankougi, Kagan, Sogo, and Atoke.
These movements make the dance more entertaining and harmonious for others.
The Agbadza dance is passed down from generation to generation.
However, if you don’t have an African background and are looking for teachers that can help you understand the history of this dance, then the professionals at Superprof are always here to help.
If you want to learn this African dance online, you can hire a private tutor from Superprof.
- kpirikpi Dance
The Ikpirikpi Dance originated from the Abia State in East Nigeria. The traditional dance was performed by warriors dressed in war attires. The purpose of the Ikpirikpi Ogu dance was to celebrate warriors.
Even today, the dance holds down to its roots firmly, but the fact about it being to celebrate warriors has diminished. The dance is mainly performed during a celebration or when someone has achieved something.
Most natives now perform the Ikpirikpi Ogu dance during graduation ceremonies in different parts of Africa.
- Lamban Dance
Storytelling is one of the oldest African traditions; village elders sit around with infants and pass on their wisdom to the kids in alluring ways.
Even though there are many popular dance traditions in Africa, lamban dance is entirely different from the others; it’s composed of griotics or storytelling dances.
As a mali-tradition dance, Lamban can be performed by an individual or group.
The dance incorporates visual storytelling traits that are portrayed so that everyone in the village, whether a young child or an adult, finds themselves immersed in the moves.
It is believed that Lamba Dance invokes spirits who enhance the ability of a storyteller to portray the stories more vividly and more meticulously.
- Atilogwu Dance
Often referred to as acrobatic dance, Atilogwu is probably the most popular traditional African dance one can partake in since parkour became a hype in early 2015.
The Atilogwu dance seemed to make a comeback, with acrobatic movements and freestyling incorporated into the dance; it’s a favorite among all tribes in Africa.
Originating from the Eastern parts of Nigeria, the Atilogwu Dance is a magical dance performed by able-bodied men due to the vigorous movements involved while resonating with the dance.
Many dance types come into the domain of traditional African dancing; these are only the most popular on the list.
When you search for African dances online, there’d be more to find than we can state in this piece.
If dancing workouts are what you’re passionate about, then there are also types where you would find African dance workouts that are good for your body and mind.
What Are The Characteristics Of African Dance?
Here are some points that will help you understand the characteristics of traditional African dance in more depth:
- The traditional dances are performed to live music, while a west African dance is performed to eclectic music, including jazz and even dub-step
- The dances are based upon a cultural system; they depict a different intellectual design and creativity. Traditional dances are meant to pass on knowledge as well as provide entertainment
- Drums are an essential instrument in every traditional dance
- In traditional African dancing, the dancer has to mobilize every part of their body, which is why most dancers have mobile and able bodies before and even now
- The most distinct characteristic of African dancing is that when one starts to learn it, they don’t only need to know the moves. They must understand the culture, rhythm, and story of every dance tribe and its origins
- Typical African Traditional Dance Characteristics
Aside from distinct characteristics of African dances, there are some common traits that almost every tribal dance consists of, but you might have an idea about that while reading the types of dancing above.
But, to make things clear, we thought of describing these common traits a little more clearly and briefly. So, below you can find the common characteristics of every African traditional dance.
- Polyrhythm
The simultaneous use of two or more rhythms is called polyrhythm. African dance and music are known to be Polyrhythmic.
- Straight And Circular Formations
Most African dances are performed in a circular motion or straight line.
There isn’t any mention of couple dances in the history of African dances, so most couple dances are western influences over the traditional dance form.
- Entire Body Movement
In every African tribal dance, you will find one common characteristic, an essential factor being that all dancers must use their whole body to perform dance rituals.
The head and the hip are vital aspects of African dance, but the overall mobility of your body is always common among all tribal dances.
- A Strong Spiritual Connection
To truly master the art of traditional African dancing, one needs to be connected with their ancestors, and the only way to do that is by learning the history of their tribes.
A solid spiritual influence is one of the most common things you would find among all great African dancers.
Which American Schools Offer The Best African Dance Programs?
Below is a table showing the name of schools in the US offering African dance lessons. If you’re looking for a place to start learning, you can scroll below and find the one nearest to your residence.
| School Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Berklee College of music | Boston, MA |
| Columbia University | New York, NY |
| Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD |
| Brown University | Providence, RI |
| Franklin & Marshal College | Lancaster, PA |
| Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley, MA |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT |
| Laney College | Oakland, CA |
These are only a few popular places where you can learn traditional African dancing in the US; you can find more similar places by looking up African Dance classes near me online.
Want To Learn The Basics Of African Dancing With Superprof
African dancing has strong roots; it’s a great form of art that helps one express themselves openly and is also a unique style that allows dancers to stay fit and agile.
If African dancing is what seems to tingle your buds, and you want to start mastering this form of art, then visit Superprof today!
Superprof connects you with professionals that have mastery in the art of African dancing. You can either book a face-to-face lesson with your teacher or opt for group lessons or online classes.
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