Traditional African dance depicts life's rhythms through movement and tells stories of history, culture, and spirituality. Dances vary by region but commonly include war dances like Adzohu which depicted bravery through witty movements and Agbekor which mimicked battle tactics. Social dances like Togo Atsia expressed women's views through horsetail movements. Drums are integral to dance as their rhythms and intensities convey specific meanings and allow dancers to respond. Modern companies like Hayor Bibimma and Kankouran preserve and personalize traditional African dance styles.

1. TRADITIONAL AFRICAN
DANCE
Eleanor Crowley, Marissa Sheffer, and Heather
Towery

2. Basic Facts
 African dance depicts life’s rhythms and
cycles, labors, values, aspirations, history,
economic conditions and religious realities
 The act of African dance is often linked to
the relationship between spirits and a
community.
 The steps and movement patterns vary
from culture, due to geographic and social

3. Traditional Styles of African
Dance

4. Major Historical Styles
Adzohu Agbekor
 Function was to  Performed at
spiritually prepare social/cultural
for war. events and funerals.
 Movements  Mimics battlefield
tactics such as
depicted battlefield reconnaissance,
scenes, featuring wit surprise attack and
and bravery. hand to hand
combat.

5. Social & Cultural Styles of
Dance
Togo Atsia Kopanlogo
 Women’s dance  Fairly recent form of
from the Ewes of African dance,
Togo. created in the
 Used to present 1950s.
women’s view on  The dancing is high-
social issues. spirited and often
 Dancers use performed by
horsetails in most children.
movements.

6. Traditional Togo Atsia Dance
http://youtu.be/pwrdg9fk9Ok

7. Traditional Kpanlogo Dance
http://youtu.be/3Bh9UiEpcf8

8. Other Traditional Styles:
 Anyako Atsia, dance of morality and character
 NanDom Bawa, a harvest celebration dance
 Gahu, a dance created to poke fun a
Europeans
 Tokoe, a coming of age dance for girls
 Kinka, a political dance with religious
overtones
 Agbadza, a social dance
 Ahazevu Vulolo, a dance created for fellowship
 Brekete, a social dance

9. Importance of Drums
 The dancers respond
and express to the beats
of the drums
 The message of the
dancing is clearly
expressed through the
intensity of the beat.
 Ex.In war dances, the
strong beats of the drum
represents the enemy.

10. Modern African Dance
Companies
 Hayor Bibimma African Dance Company
 They uphold the messages of traditional African
dance, and want to preserve the complexity.
 Stationed in Minneapolis, Minnesota
 KanKouran West African Dance Company
 Use traditional styles, but personalize to their
company
 Stationed in Washington D.C.

11. Hayor Bibimma African Dance Company
http://youtu.be/3YM3XQ2Hbb0

12. Bibliography
 www.dancedirectory.co.za/content/
 www.buzzle.com/articles/african-dance-types.html
 www.alokli.com/site/dances/dances.html
 http://www.hayorbibimmadance.org/media.html
 http://www.kankouran.org/cms/