History of African Dance

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African Dance has traditionally played an essential role in the culture of the tribes. "Much more than entertainment, dances communicate emotions, celebrate rites of passage, and help strengthen the bonds between members of the tribe as a whole” (lovetoknow.com).

African dance is polycentric, which sets it apart from most other dance traditions in the world. As a result, the dancer's body is segmented into separate areas of movement, “with each area being able to move to different rhythms within the music” (lovetoknow.com).  In choreographic terms, these moves are known as "Isolations" and are quite complex and difficult to master.     

Most African villages had "Dance Masters" who taught members of the tribe from a very young age how to perform the various dances.  Dances were very important and had to be performed exactly as taught; “with no room for improvisation or ornamentation until complete mastery of the form was achieved” (lovetoknow.com).  All of the dances were polycentric in some way; different areas of Africa had very different dances. For example, the men were known for leaping high in the air, while the women emphasized hip motions. As a result, movements are very precise; the same dances seen today have most likely been danced in the same way for many centuries.

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