DANCE & SONG
![[photo of dance class]](IMAGES/dancefloor.jpeg)
CLASSES
The goal is to have dance and drum classes that are challenging and comfortable with students of similar skill levels grouped together.
Refer to the guide below when choosing your dance level. Students who believe they are above Level 1 will be evaluated on Sunday, July 26 by the faculty and assigned an appropriate skill level. (Some adjustments in placements may be made to manage enrollment in each level.)
Students who are having difficulty keeping up in an advanced class may be asked to either stop participating and observe or move to a class that is more appropriate to the individual’s skill level.
DANCE
DANCE INSTRUCTORS:
Two folkloric dance classes will be offered each weekday. Instruction will provide a comprehensive study of the traditional Afro-Cuban dance repertoire of the Lucumi, Arara, Bantu, Carabali, Haitiano traditions, rumba, and conga de comparsa with an emphasis on orisha dances. Each class will be accompanied with live drumming.
LEVEL 1 classes will acquaint students with the fundamental Afro-Cuban folkloric dances with an emphasis on the Orisha style. Each particular dance will be broken down slowly.
LEVEL 2 classes will examine the folkloric repertoire with an emphasis on orisha dances. Dances may or may not be broken down, with an emphasis placed on the nuances of each dance.
![[photo of dance class]](IMAGES/dancersclose.jpeg)
RUMBA DANCE: Evening, July 24
RUMBA/CONGA DE COMPARSA DANCE: July 25
SALSA DANCE: Evenings, July 26, 28
SONG
Instructor: Lazaro Galarraga
Six
song classes will be offered through the week. Primary focus on orisha,
with additional instruction drawn from the folkloric repertoire.
SPECIAL CLASSES
VIDEO:
MUSIC AND DANCE FROM LUCUMI, CARABALI, ARARA,
BANTU
AND AHITIANO TRADITIONS • July 24
See video examples of the fundamental Afro-Cuban folkloric rhythms and dances, including rumba and conga de comparsa.
CROSS RHYTHM: THE UNDERLYING STRUCTURE
OF AFRO-CUBAN DANCE & MUSIC • July 24
David Peñalosa and Alison Hong break down several dances and their accompanying rhythms in order to demonstrate their fundamental cross-rhythmic structure.
RUMBA SONG CLASS • July 24
Special song class by master singer Lazaro Galarraga in the style of guaguanco.
AFRICAN SPIRITUAL THEMES AND ELEMENTS
IN CUBAN AND CARIBBEAN POPULAR MUSIC • July 31
Music of spiritual origin is the foundation of much Caribbean-based music, like gospel music and spirituals are an important root of U.S. jazz and popular music. This series will focus mostly on Cuban music, using recordings and video clips from the last 100 years that have direct and indirect spiritual elements and references. With John Santos.
SKILL LEVELS
Level 1 - requires little or no prior experience with Afro-Cuban dance styles.
Level 2 - requires prior Afro-Cuban folkloric dance experience with the ability to keep up in a moderately fast paced environment. Participants must be:
- able to pick up moves and steps quickly
- familiar with the bembe/guiro step
- familiar with the fundamental orisha steps
Level 3 - Master class. For professional dancers, teachers, and performers of Afro-Cuban folkloric dance. Requires mastery of the fundamental orisha steps, and the ability to keep up in an extremely fast-paced, high energy environment. Intended for those with many years of experience in Afro-Cuban dance.
PERFORMANCE
SAT., JULY 31: Week-long participants are invited to attend the faculty performance, which is open to the public for a nominal admission charge. Students are invited to dance with faculty in the conga de comparsa.
ABOUT THE PHOTOS:
1: José Francisco Barroso (far right) teaching dance class, 1998 Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance & Drum (Photo by Howard Kaufman)
2: Dance class participants, 1998 (Photo by Howard Kaufman)
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