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Article: Using the power of West African dance to combat gender issues. (includes related article) (Dance Dynamics: Gender Issues in Dance Education)
- Article from:
- JOPERD--The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance
- Article date:
- February 1, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In the West African societies, aesthetic standards that govern body size and shape are more accepting of individual variation and, consequently, are more embracing. By incorporating West African aesthetics into modern dance classes, body size and shape are deemphasized.
In their search for a new movement vocabulary, early American modern dance pioneers were drawn to African dance traditions for inspiration. Their works reflect a complex mix of cultural influences. The new movement vocabulary, of which these pioneers became major architects, drew heavily (some might reason, primarily) from African dance traditions.
Aesthetic dimensions of West African dance ...