Course Description
Summary
In this course, we will be uncovering, re-positioning, and affirming historical legacies and traditions that stand the risk of being lost forever. We will explore the history and the effects of colonization in select regions of the world, i.e. S茅n茅gal, Gambia, and other countries in West Africa. We will focus on how specific dance practices intersect with systems of race, ethnicity, and national identity. We will focus further on how dance expresses and intervenes in systems of power and oppression, including nation, race, gender, and class. We will explore how globalization across geographic, political, commercial, and digital domains has shaped the evolution of dance practice, performance, and community.
Students will read a series of texts, observe video, images, mixtape, and podcasts. We will see how African Dance and American Black Modern Dance are deeply connected. Students will write a few essays/reflections. Throughout, students will share their research and collaborate in building a digital archive of their findings.
