Maya Angelou's Harlem Hopscotch

Maya Angelou's
Harlem Hopscotch

I can listen to Maya Angelou's Harlem Hopscotch again and again, days in, days out... and the dance draw me in even more... 

This poem had been studied extensively. Oprah Winfrey's team did a wonderful work in offering it as an inspiring dance story on video.

Born To Dance

Born to dance...
dance trends, dance craze,
dance flash mobs...

Born to Dance and Live in Balance and Harmony in All

I believe we are born to dance life. Do you?

Everybody ought to understand how true this is. We ought to take in that every men's and women's misfortunes derive from not knowing how to dance life. We ought to comprehend that we must dance to live in balance and harmony in all.

Let me dance - Part 1

Dance Art Definition Essay

African dance is a language
infused with metaphysics elements
of African culture

Dance is, first of all, a language. It is both different and similar to other languages. It has its own origins and codes. Its evolution stems from cultural, historical, political and social context.

The dance will stay vibrant as long as it continues to be a vehicle for personal expression and communication on all levels. It can never be contained, nor restrained and, is always in the moment, while having the strength of continuity.

Dance Passion

Dance Passion to the Call of the Ancestors

Call of the Ancestors - Kristo Art

I believe that the strongest memories are our bodies'; they are guts memories. Dance passion connects us to those core memories.

That's why it can't be any surprise to anyone that dance is fundamental in all culture. 

We can look at it whichever way we want, deny it, reject it, accept it, forget it, demonize it, honor it... it remains like all truth, an evidence. 

Everyone who is aware of that evidence in dance touches an extraordinarily high level of consciousness and connects to the call of the ancestors.

Dance Of Life ° Global Water Dances 2015

Global Water Dances 2015 

dancing for safe water everywhere

It's happening now, the planet cascades to come together at 3 o'clock sharp everywhere.

People from over 70 countries dance to revere, renew and inspire solutions for our precious resource of water.


Performances take place for 24 hours, all broadcast live...

www.ustream.tv/channel/global-water-dances-2015

Argentina Dances

Argentina Dances

Dancing in Argentina plays a great part in Argentina's culture. Such dance as tango is surely familiar to anyone in any part of the world. But tango is not the only dance in Argentina.

Hawaiian Hula Dance History

Hawaiian Hula Dance History

The Hula dance is associated with Hawaii and luaus and while everyone knows what the hula is very few people are actually knowledgeable of its origin. 


According to Hawaiian history there is no information available as to who performed the first hula dance or why, however it is a common agreement that the original hula dance was performed by a god or goddess, making the dance sacred to Hawaiians.


And this dance is sacred to men and women in Hawaii because the hula was danced by both sexes despite some information stating only men danced the hula. This information is incorrect and actually men and women both were involved in the sacred hula dance.

Ethiopian Traditional Music And Culture

Ethiopian Traditional Music and Dances Culture

The Beta troupe performing 
an original contemporary dance 
based on the culture of Ethiopian Jewhy

Ethiopia has a very rich and diverse music history. The various tribes and ethnic groups of Ethiopia have their own distinct music culture and tradition.

The Tigrayans to the north have this smooth, circular dance routine culminated with shoulder and neck movement. The Amharas at the center have dance style dominated by upper body and neck movement.

“Move your neck according to the music.”

~ Ethiopian Proverb  

The Oromos to the center and south have this jumping style and full body dance routine. The Gurages have an acrobatic dance that requires high level of arm, leg and body coordination.

African Dances: An Introduction

African Dances: An Introduction

African dances have both historic and social traditions that reflect more significance than those of many other cultures. 


The dances help celebrate not only special events and festivals, similar to other cultures, but regularly tell the stories of the state's history. 


Unwritten oral history, passed through generation before writing became part of the culture, frequently included African dance as a part of the process. 


Lots of the dances taught the young about social morays and values, others were simply for the excitement of celebration. Some of the dances were tributes of thanks to the gods for helping the clan achieve success on a hunt or crop. 


Many clans trained singers to provide the music for the African dance. They produced intricate harmonies and set the rhythmic pace for the dance. While most of the music came from vocals, frequently drums went with the singers to provide heavy rhythms for the dancers. The bougaragou, on of the drums used, is obviously the hottest, although there are lots of others.

Global Water Dances

Global Water Dances

Santa fe, New Mexico, USA dances for the Sante Fe Riverbed.
Santa Fe River is one of the most endangered river in the USA.

As leaders in the indigenous contemporary dance movement
the intertribal performance group of DANCING EARTH
deepens understanding of cultural relevance
by exploring ecological themes that resonate with all being.

More than 500 professional choreographers and dancers around the world work to create awareness of the local and global water issues, and to inspire their communities to work together to find solutions. 


“We want clean water for everyone,” says Global Water Dances organizer Marylee Hardenbergh. 


“Global Water Dances raise the awareness of participants and observers about the importance of water, and provide a model for empowering local communities to take action. 


The event brings local environmental experts and organizations, artists and members of the community together in a process that can build ongoing collaborations.”

Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your own soul according to the fashion.
Rather follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.

~ Franz Kafka

A devastating crisis

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), unsafe water causes 4.4 billion cases of diarrhea every year, resulting in 1.5 million deaths, mostly of children under five. A child dies somewhere in the world every 20 seconds from waterborne diarrhea. Overall, WHO figures show that unsafe water kills more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.

Khmer Traditional Music And Dance

Khmer Traditional Music And Dance

At age 78, Em Theay designated Master of Performing Arts
by the Ministry of Culture, continues to train young Cambodians 
in the art of Khmer Royal Dance 

The Khmer empire which is better known today as Cambodia was one of the biggest and long lasting Empires of South East Asia. However in recent centuries, this famous empire has been limited to a small territory following the rule of Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.


This empire has gifted many valuable cultural and political aspects to the world.

Mapouka: A Traditional Dance

Mapouka: Traditional African Dance

Mapouka is also known as Macouka. It is a traditional dance from south-east of Ivory Coast in Dabon. From its inception, Mapouka was usually being carried out when some religious ceremonies were being conducted and grandly organized.

Health Benefits of Dancing - Including Specific Benefits of Different Dances

Cardio Capoeira: Dance Your Way To Better Health

If you secretly sashay across your living room when you're home alone or long to cha-cha with your significant other, you're in luck. Not only is dancing an exceptional way to let loose and have fun, but it also provides some terrific benefits for your health. In fact, Mayo Clinic researchers reported that social dancing helps to:

• Reduce stress
• Increase energy
• Improve strength
• Increase muscle tone and coordination
  

Chinese Dance History

Chinese Dance History

Chinese dance dates back nearly 5,000 years. As in many cultures around the world, early Chinese dances were a religious expression and closely linked to life experiences and concerns.


The Chinese dances can be divided into:

1. Ceremonial for praying to the gods for bountiful harvests,
2. Martial for showing fighting techniques,
3. Dramaticfor noting historical events
4. Agricultural for celebrating nature and work

Dancing With The Stars’ PAS DE DEUX: What Can Small Business Owners Learn?

15.2 million viewers tuned in to watch the season finale of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars’ Pas de Deux". Together, we watched Pussycat Dolls' singer Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough dazzle with a "Proud Mary" jive, Olympic ice-skating champion Evan Lysacek and Anna Trebenskaya dance a superb quickstep to "I Want You to Want Me," and ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews and Maksim Chmerkovskiy bow out graciously.

But what, you may ask, does "Dancing with the Stars’" pairs dancing have to do with how to be a successful small business owner in the world today?

Breakdancing Origins

Breakdancing Origins

Breakdancing in the streets on board

Breakdancing is a dance form that came on the music scene in the 1970 having evolved as street dancing in then hip hop movement. It was most predominant among the Puerto Rican and African American youth on the streets of Manhattan and the South Bronx. There are different names for those who dance this style, such as breakdancer, breaker, b-girl and b-boy.


In its early days it was seen as a positive alternative activity for the youth that kept them away from the violence of the gangs. Crowds gathered to see the dancers in the streets and on the sidewalks and pretty soon this style of dance spread to the youth all over the country.

Odissi Dance Glory

Odissi Dance Glory

Odissi is one of the oldest classical dance forms originating from the state of Orissa in India. With its original performance in the court of emperor Kharvela, the dance was later performed in the temples of Orissa. 


It was well performed in Jain and Buddhist monasteries as well. This fantastic form of dance lost its glory after the decline of feudal rulers in 1930s and 40s. Though there are few practitioners of this dance form present, it continues to be one of the popular and unique dance forms.

Belly Dance Through Time

Uniquely designed for the 
female body, with an emphasis on 
abdominal muscles, 
hip and chest moves.

A  celebration
 of the female spirit 
and a physical display 
of the strength 
and beauty of women

For generations, the fascinating powers of Belly Dance charmed travelers, pilgrims, kings. 


In the early days, this dance was performed by women in the Middle East and North Africa, with mystical and ritualistic character. 


About these days we can only guess, because the material on the subject is scarce.  


Unlike other dances such as Flamenco, Tango, Forro, Charleston or Ballet, this ancient dance does not have an official name. 

Samba Music Culture

Samba Music Culture

Cultural group, OLODUM founded by percussionist Neguinho do Samba,
based in the Afro Brazilian community of Salvador,
the capital city of the state of Bahia

Cavaquinho, 
small string instrument
with four wire or gut strings

Samba music is very heterogeneous and it is intricate to define. It is the result of a long simmering mix of heritage from the Portuguese songs, African rhythms, and the fast paced Indian ceremony meeting global influences.


In the beginning it was played only with drums and other bass beat instruments, but later the acoustic guitar and the small Brazilian guitar cavaquinho was added.

"Does rhythm have memory?
Can it travel through time and make the old forever new

~ Susana Baca

Zumba Dance: The fitness Program That Makes Everyone Go Wild

A very popular fitness program, inspired from the Latin dances, is the Zumba dance. The name comes from a Columbian word that means to move fast while having fun. Because it mixes resistance training with cardio intervals, Zumba is an optimal fitness choice for all people.  


There are many experts who believe that body toning and fat burning can be maximized through a resistance-interval training combination. Because they have so much fun during a Zumba session, people forget that they are actually working out and so they are able to exercise longer and burn a lot more fat.