Chapter 5 Section 1

Quote “The truest expression of a people is in its dance and in its music. Bodies never lie.” -Agnes de Mille American Choreographer (1903-93)

Quote What do you think she means when she states that “bodies never lie?” Write a short paragraph describing dances from another culture with which you are familiar with? What do you think the dances reflect about that culture?

Aborigines Who Are Aborigines? Aborigines are Australia's indigenous people. Recent government statistics counted approximately 400,000 aboriginal people, or about 2% of Australia's total population. Australian Aborigines migrated from somewhere in Asia at least 30,000 years ago. Though they comprise 500–600 distinct groups, aboriginal people possess some unifying links. Among these are strong spiritual beliefs that tie them to the land; a tribal culture of storytelling and art; and, like other indigenous populations, a difficult colonial history. "The Dreamtime" Aboriginal spirituality entails a close relationship between humans and the land. Aborigines call the beginning of the world the "Dreaming," or "Dreamtime." In the "Dreamtime," aboriginal "Ancestors" rose from below the earth to form various parts of nature including animal species, bodies of water, and the sky. The name "aborigine" derives from the Latin, meaning "original inhabitants." There are approx. 400,000 aborigines living in Australia. Unlike other religions, however, aboriginal belief does not place the human species apart from or on a higher level than nature. Aborigines believe some of the Ancestors metamorphosed into nature (as in rock formations or rivers), where they remain spiritually alive.

Aborigines

Extra Credit Opportunity If you want extra credit, this is worth 50 points. You have to look up a culture (not in America) that you don’t know about. Write a 1 page typed paper about this cultures music, dance, and anything else. Make sure to involve how they use music in what they do. DUE: MONDAY OCTOBER 10, 2011

Dance Traditions in America Like most music that accompanies it, dance explodes with energy. Music generally serves as the springboard to dance, giving it music of its expressive power. Rhythm provides an important part of this energy.

American Dance Dance is both popular social diversion and creative athletic art form. Native Americans developed a rich tradition of dance. Dances served social, ceremonial, and spiritual purposes. During the colonial era, other dance traditions were established. Many of these owe their development to European and African roots.

Clips for American Music

Bell Ringer Name the popular group from Ireland that dances. They had a couple dancing in front of the group.

European Influences Many world cultures have influenced the American traditions of dance. This has ranged from the Irish step dances to the South American Tango.

Irish Roots Early Irish settlers brought with them colorful songs that became part of the American Folk Music. Native Irish dances including the jig and reels, became popular with social events and theatre.

Reel The Irish Reel means “A weaving motion.” These are dances to quick music in 2/4 (duple) meter. Reels are group dances for two to 16 dancers. They are one of the forerunners for the American Square dancing.

Irish Jig Jig refers to the dancers’ vigorous up-and-down body movements. The jig is a celtic dance which takes its name from the type of music to which it is danced, also called a 'jig.' The music takes its name from the French word 'gigue,' which is an older word for a fiddle. Therefore, an Irish jig is one of many cultural dances that is done to fiddle music, specifically, Celtic fiddle music. There are Irish and Scottish variants of jig music, but the most well known of the jigs is the Irish jig.

Instruments of Ireland Concertina Fiddle Irish Flute Bodrhan

Listening Listen to the 2 songs that are similar to those of Riverdance. “The Wild Swans at Coole” “The Flock of Wild Geese” Try to determine which is a jig and which is a reel. Remember: (Reel is duple 2/4 & Jig is in compound duple) Compound duple- where the beat is divided into three equal parts

Conjunto Dances Although dance can be found in almost all culture, performance varies widely. Conjunto – music created by Mexicans in Texas Influenced by new European neighbors, tejano (Tex-Mex) music was created based on the steady duple polka rhythm. Traditional conjunto music features the button accordion. This is accompanied by the 12 string Mexican guitar called “bajo sexto,” electric bass guitar, and drum set.

Listening Listen to “Ay te djo en San Antonio.” The text of the refrain “Te gusta mucho el baile, y bailas al compas, te vas hasta Laredo, y quieres mas y mas.” Translation: “You like dancing a lot, and you dance with the beat you go over to Laredo, and you want more and more.” See if you can identify the 4 instruments.

Conjunto Watch the documentary about Conjunto and how it affected the culture of the Texas and Mexican people.

Bell Ringer What is the difference a reel and a jig?

Quiz Get your notes out and number your paper 1-5. *Make sure your name and date is at the top*

Hula Beginning in the 1930s, the entertainment industry grew in Hawaii. Was Hawaii a state then?

Hula Hawaii was not a state; it became the 49th state in 1959.(Tell this to your History teacher) A dance style known as hula captured the attention of tourists and Hollywood film audiences. Movie audiences were entertained with exotic Hawaiian dances accompanied by the ukulele. This is a four stringed guitar like instrument.

Hula The term hula literally refers to movement and gestures. The traditional concept of hula kahiko (ancient hula) was developed thousands of years ago by Hawaii’s original Polynesian settlers. It is the expression of mele, or poetry, in physical form.

Pictures of Hula

Hula Traditionally, body movements and gestures, whether performed in a standing or seated position, were the means by which indigenous Hawaiians interpreted mele. This poetry told life stories, recounted family history, and narrated history from generation to generation.

Hula One of these mele, “He Mele Kaua No Kamehameha,” depicts the last battle of King Kamehameha the Great. This uses an olapa (those who execute movements) and ho’opa’a (chanters and instrumentalists). Movements are executed by a group of hula kane (male dancers). The ho’opa’a are playing ipu heke (a Hawaiian idiophone made of two gourds.)

Ipu Heke

Movie Clip Watch the “He Mele Kaua No Kamehameha.” How does this show why it’s called the “Warrior Dance?”