In Africa the dance can not exist without two main parts. These key components are voice and drums. African drums serve for the conferring of mood and for the evoking keen interest and lively emotions. The dances bear also a collective character and depend on the age and status structures. Usually African tribes form a circle where they can carry out the movements. Men perform more difficult and active motions that come to jumps and leaps. As to women they dance usually in a crooked knee position.
In contrast to dances that originated in the other continents African dance represents a collective event where the number of dancers exceeds the number of spectators and observers. The majority of the words are replaced by the beats of the drums. The collective dances can be performed on different occasions like birth of children, marriages or reverence of Gods, celebrations of the transfer from childhood to adulthood.
There are a great number of African dances. For example:
Dances of Love
These types of dances are imbued with the feelings of happiness and gladness. Weddings and anniversaries may serve as an occasion for the dance performing.
Welcome Dance
African people dance it when they have the possibility to receive guests. In such a way they show their hospitability and benevolence towards visitors. It is a good chance to display one’s talents and skills.
Coming of Age Dance
Coming of age dance is a symbolic one that signifies the transfer of young men and women from childhood to the adulthood. The heroes of occasions are very proud of being congratulated in such a way as they wait for this event with impatience.
Summoning and Possession Dance
This type of dance is performed in several cases either for “calling a spirit” or foreseeing the draught of a war.
It is obvious that the African dances are very meaningful. They reflect the essence of every single tribe and nationality.
