The document discusses elements the author noticed while watching three African dance videos. The percussion in the videos used different drumming techniques than what is practiced in class. The costumes and instruments worn by the dancers allowed for freedom of movement. Certain dances and moves seen in the videos, such as high knees and chest touching knees, resembled those done in class. Overall, the videos demonstrated how music and dance can work together complementarily to create an enjoyable performance.
The document discusses elements the author noticed while watching three African dance videos. The percussion in the videos used different drumming techniques than what is practiced in class. The costumes and instruments worn by the dancers allowed for freedom of movement. Certain dances and moves seen in the videos, such as high knees and chest touching knees, resembled those done in class. Overall, the videos demonstrated how music and dance can work together complementarily to create an enjoyable performance.
The document discusses elements the author noticed while watching three African dance videos. The percussion in the videos used different drumming techniques than what is practiced in class. The costumes and instruments worn by the dancers allowed for freedom of movement. Certain dances and moves seen in the videos, such as high knees and chest touching knees, resembled those done in class. Overall, the videos demonstrated how music and dance can work together complementarily to create an enjoyable performance.
The document discusses elements the author noticed while watching three African dance videos. The percussion in the videos used different drumming techniques than what is practiced in class. The costumes and instruments worn by the dancers allowed for freedom of movement. Certain dances and moves seen in the videos, such as high knees and chest touching knees, resembled those done in class. Overall, the videos demonstrated how music and dance can work together complementarily to create an enjoyable performance.
When watching the three different videos, I noticed certain elements in the percussion, songs and the similarities from class. Within the percussion, I noticed that they had different breaks than what we do in class. I noticed that in “Sunu Diansa” when the break was really fast. They also used a shaker that sort of sounded like a snake. They also wore their instruments on a strap that hung from their necks. This gave them more opportunity to move freely whether it be dancing or walking around the space just like the drummer did in the video. The bands also added different elements to help the music like tempo, dynamics and having a solo after the dancers left the stage. Within the actual songs, I noticed that there are more opportunities when you have multiple musicians to play. Luckily we have Jon to play for us during the entire class but he needs more drummers to give more variety in songs. In the “African Caribbean Dance” I noticed that the drums went along with the dancing. An example of that would be when the music would do three distinctive beats and the dancers would accent them by jumping. It made me realize that dancing and playing an instrument can work separately, but compliment each other if they work together. I also noticed some similarities from what we do in class. “Sunu” and “African Caribbean Dance” were the ones that stood out to me the most. First, they wore long lapas while dancing. They also used the same chant and circled around so one by one someone went in and did a dance move. I also noticed that if the dancers were in the circle then they would be swaying as one. “Sunu” reminded me the most of class because I felt like I recognized most of the dance moves that they were doing. The band also reminded me of Jon and his fellow musicians when they perform because they worked together and wore their traditional clothing. “African Caribbean Dance” featured the dance move that we all struggled with today that had to do with the high kees, chest touching the knees and spinning around. Finally, I picked things out that really stood out to me when I watched all three videos. In “Sunu Diansa” there was a little bit of what I felt was partnering. The women started and then the men joined next to them but did something completely different until they all did the same dance move. The dancers were always present in their form which allowed them to make it their own and have fun with what they were doing. They were relaxed which allowed them to never fully extend their arms, be in their knees and let their chest touch their knees.
