Research a traditional African Dance. Where does it originate? Do the moves have any meanings? Can you dance like this?
TASKS
DANCERS LIKE YOU
Are there any African Dance groups in your town or city? Could you meet them, or attend a performance? What do they have to say about African Dance, and how does it compare to other dance forms? Can you see the roots of traditional African Dance in any modern dance styles? Prepare a short report, or maybe a film or photo montage that illustrates your findings. Can you find any online content for example on YouTube that can illustrate your research?
COSTUME
What role does costume play in dancing, of any kind? What costumes are specific to African Dance? You could research images online or visit your local library. If possible find a local dance group that can show you their costumes and ask them about how they were created. Present your work with images or better still make a costume of your own.
IF I WERE AN AFRICAN INSTRUMENT WHAT WOULD I BE?
Research some African instruments. What kind of sounds do they make? Which is your favourite? If you were an instrument, what sound would you make? Write a poem or create a picture that helps you answer this question.
MAKE AN INSTRUMENT
Many African instruments are made from natural materials. Can you use scrap material to make a percussion instrument or a string or wind instrument? Ask your teacher to help you find materials and think about different sounds. If you’re working in a group can you play your instruments together to perform some music to your class? Record this if you can.
DANCE AND MUSIC
Can you work as a group and create a piece of music based on your research of African music and instruments? Can you work as a group to choreograph an African dance? You could do this to music you have created yourself or to African music you have found. Could you find a local dance teacher to give you help and advice? Present your work as a performance to your class or film the results if you have access to camera equipment.
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