Teachers Guide

Preface

Teachers Program Guide 
“Dances of West Africa” 

African Heritage Dancers & Drummers

 

The Grand Parents and Great Grand Parents of Black People living in America today, came from Africa more than Four Hundred Years ago.  Some came voluntarily as explorers and visitors, however, the majority of them came as Slaves, during the Great Slave Trade, also known as the “Middle Passage.”

 

When the Africans came to America, they brought their dance and music with them and many aspects of that early African influence can still be seen today in American performing art disciplines, such as Jazz, Tap and Break dancing, as well as Go-Go, Pop and Musical Theatre dance.

 

America is known as the “New World,” therefore, Black people born in America of African ancestry are known as “New World Africans.”  Africans born on the continent of Africa today are known as “Old World Africans” or “Continental Africans.”

 

The African slaves brought to America in early times came from many different regions of the African continent, however, large numbers came from “West Africa” from an area known as the “Senegambia,” that includes the countries of Senegal, Gambia, Guinea and Mali.

 

The contents of this program will focus on the nations of Senegal and Guinea, West Africa.

 

To more positively understand the continent of Africa, its people, Past, Present and Future, and the contributions made to Dance, Music and Culture in America today, the African Heritage Dancers & Drummers proudly present “Dances of West Africa.”

 

Key Words