Response 5: Christian Conversion and the Challenge of Dance

JJ Janikis
DANC 163

Stuckey’s article demonstrates the roots of African dance in America through the conflict and blend of religious values of the southern slaves and white Christians. This is the first article in which we have explored the beginnings of African dance in the United States. Before their introduction to Christianity, the blacks slave’s religious ceremonies primarily consisted of music and dance. However, white Christians strongly discouraged the blend of Christian practices with the slaves “secular” dancing. Stuckey suggests that the traditional “Ring Shout” dance was the first black dance to originate in the new world.
From the roots and terrors of slavery, dance became a way to channel emotions and memories from Africa to America. Regardless of previous tribal differences, the importance of dance and music united them under the conditions in the new world. Stuckey explains that, “dance was the principal means by which slaves, using its symbolism to evoke their spiritual view of the world” (41). Therefore, the Ring Shout became both a spiritual outlet and a form of “recreation and relief”. The rhythms of the Ring Shout expressed the emotions of the slave and “lead to its own form of consciousness”. In many ways this dance became a way to remember the value of their community and to forget the horrors of slavery.
In contrast, the white Christian slave owners did not understand the significance of the dance and “associated with sexual activity and barbarism” (47). Stuckey explains that these religious differences: “dance to most Europeans was empty of sacred content and to Africans sacred like a prayer” (42). I feel that this statement speaks strongly of the power of black dance in America, but also of its roots in assimilating to Christianity. While both blacks and whites were resistant to slaves practicing Christianity, elements like the Ring Shout in religious ceremonies incorporated the need for dance in their spiritual beliefs in America. Similar to singing in church, the Ring Shout provided moments of “communal consciousness and collective performance”.
The influence of the Ring Shout in Christianity also gave roots to the progression of blues and jazz music in America. I find it powerful the extent to which both the rhythm and the music in the dance could provide an outlet for the suppressed emotions of the slaves that became a separate language from the white slave owners. The elements of improvisation in the music and Ring Shout speak strongly to the African Americans need to “generate change” in their communities. While this is the first time we have experiences African dance in America, I hope to continue to understand its progression in modern art and its impact on change in society.

-JJ Janikis
10/6/ 2009