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"My name is Tamika Johnson. I
am 9 years old and live in Carenage, Trinidad. I am an African Dancer. I
belong to the Culture Kids dance ensemble,I learned to dance African style
from my Mummy who is a dancer."
Please tell us about African
Dance.
All African dances have a purpose, they tell stories and
relate history. African dance is not improvisation; it is part of the
African Culture. African music and dance in its essence communicates
concepts of life on an elevated level; dance to the African is a universal
language.
African music is fundamentally a collective art. Man has
always expressed his feelings through movements; music and dancing are two
of his oldest forms of expression. People throughout the continent of
Africa achieve direct communication between themselves and their gods
though music and many ritual dances
Music drives the dance routine,
and this African Dance Class bases it's beat on a tribal drum. Steeped in
cultural tradition, this class explores african heritage.
"The dance
is like a conversation between you and the drums." Finally, they pay their
respects to the drummer .
"The sound of a beating drum may simply
be music to some, but to others, it is a way to express their heritage,it
is important to know and understand your heritage,Without knowing history,
you have no future," "This is what it is all about, remembering and
understanding your roots.
How did African dancing come to the
Caribbean?
"African Dance and other aspects of African culture were
brought to the Caribbean through the slave trade.
Is it difficult
to learn to African Dance?
Unlike a ballet or aerobics class, there
are no set rules. The class is encouraged to have a good time and not feel
they have to stick to a particular form.
"At first your feet hurt
and you get tired. But when you work hard at it, it won't hurt anymore. It
builds my confidence up, like when I'm learning a difficult rhythm and
then finally I work hard at it and get it. It makes me feel real good." ."
"The thing I love about dancing is the excitement. And it's a lot
of fun. It's just important that I'm doing something positive.Through
dance we share history, culture, peace & happiness, as well as
entertain." |
