Response 1: What is "black dance"?

Like any social movement I believe that it is important to observe the social and cultural backgrounds of its founding people. Therefore, the topic of “black dance” in contrast to a more ambiguous definition of “white dance” is interesting to discuss in the context of the Diaspora of traditional and spiritual dance from Africa to the United States. While Shantella Sherman outlines a brief history of “black dance” in America, Lisa Jo Sagolla critiques the label of “black dance” from a contemporary dance perspective. In both articles I found the preservation of culture and tradition in “black dance” to be the most fundamental instrument in modern dance.

Sherman discusses the origins of African dance in America as a tool to express “tragedy and triumph” as a means of coping with an enslaved reality. As a result in the 1920’s, the American popular culture viewed black dance as “unsophisticated and primitive” creating a stereotype in the future of its development. In the late 60’s, Katherine Dunham, an anthropologist and choreographer studied the culture of dance and found ways to adapt the spiritual art of African dance and incorporate them with the contemporary dance movements. It was as this point where African- American dance was put in the spotlight and gained mass media attention with artists such as Michael Jackson. The attention to culture and ritual in black dance truly has evolved from its emotional roots in both the United States and Africa.

Lisa Jo Sagolla explains that studying black history is important to understanding the development of dance, however there must be a contrast to what is considered “white dance”. I found it interesting that traditional “white dances” such as ballet were considered forms of dance that were “acceptable” for all audiences, while black dances needed to be “cleaned” for a white audience. In addition, I found it interesting the emphasis of “bare feet, and having solid contact with the earth” in black dance especially after today’s lesson in trying to maintain full body contact with the ground. The body’s connection to the earth also resonates the strong spiritual and cultural connection “black dance” remains with the African people.

As I continue on in the course I hope to find more cultural connections between the strong roots in Africa and the modern American influences. As I study any art I also feel that it is important to know the history and culture that it originates from. I hope to find more connections and differences between the traditional definitions of “white dance” and “black dance” that is stereotyped in contemporary America.