World Music Quiz JukeBox Index

INTRODUCTION Like music, dance exists in time and space. Dance its musical accompaniment it are so closely joined that both are often known by the same name. Dance almost always makes a statement about its time and place, and about the people who are performing it. Dances can reflect and express a range of emotions. Dance enacts the most important values of a soundscape and serves to communicate and reinforce these ideas. Dance ethnologists specialize in dance studies Choreometrics allows for measurement of many types of movement. HEARING AND FEELING THE DANCE Case Study: Moving through Time and Space with Bhangra Bhangra is a dance tradition that originated in the Punjab region of India, and is now associated with South Asian diaspora communities in Great Britain and North America. Originally referred to the rhythms played by the dhol drums Two-headed drum beaten with curved sticks Each head has a distinctive sound. Giddha: closely related dance for Punjabi women, accompanied by hand-claps rather than drums The dhol rhythm, jhummar, originated in Punjab. Other instruments were used with the dhol drums. Bugdu: a monochord Algoza: a double flute Chimta: an idiophone Bhangra in the diaspora Bhangra might have remained a regional harvest dance had many Punjabis not migrated to Britain in the early 1950s. By the 1960s, bhangra provided a context in which South Asian youths could affirm their cultural identities in a positive way. By the late 1970s, a number of amateur Punjabi groups were performing traditional bhangra at community events. By the early 1990s, bhangra styles had emerged in Great Britain and abroad, and had crossed over into the mainstream. In North America, bhangra performance spread to schools and college campuses. Many campuses now have bhangra clubs. Many students view participation in bhangra as a way to construct a relationship with the traditions of their Punjabi-born parents. Competitive bhangra retains traces of the music, text, and choreography of the Punjabi dance and drumming. Movements of the competitive bhangra dance are much more tightly coordinated than its Punjabi predecessors. Gender segregation into male and female teams performing bhangra and giddha respectively, is common. Many bhangra styles, including rock bhangra, house bhangra, and bhangramuffin, have used new technologies and sampling combined with acoustic instruments. Aao Nachiye was a bhangra hit of the mid-1990s performed by the Sangeet Group. Use of synthesizers and electronic manipulations Retains a number of traditional elements In recent years Bhangra has moved well beyond college campuses to enter the professional "Indipop" scene. Bhangra has also been performed regularly at clubs in England and in urban North America. Bhangra and hip-hop are partners in creating new hybrid styles. Case Study: The Polka Originated among the Czech-speaking people of Bohemia The polka first appeared in Prague in 1837. Origin of name uncertain It is a dance style in double time performed by couples and cultivated in urban ballrooms. By 1844, the polka was also known in the United States. A large number of Czechs migrated to the Midwest and Texas. Polish and German immigrants also performed the Polka. Popular among Mexicans and Mexican Americans. The accordion was associated with the polka. The polka dance is characterized internationally by its distinctive step. Beer Barrel Polka is one of the most famous early-twentieth-century polkas. Became a landmark polka largely due to its international appearance on jukeboxes Brought the polka to working class people of a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds Reinforced its popularity among Mexican Americans Polkas continue to be widely performed at weddings and have even been played during the Roman Catholic Mass. Milwaukee, Wisconsin is considered the "Polka capital" of the United States. In 1994, Wisconsin officially named the polka its state dance. DANCE STYLES AND THEIR MULTIPLE MEANINGS Case Study: The Tango Sound and steps The tango's musical foundation is a quadruple meter strongly emphasized in the bass. Uses habanera rhythm, named after the Cuban rhythm from which it was derived Circular dance with steps that progress counterclockwise Includes a number of standard motions Some steps are also used in Latin dances such as the chachachá and rumba. Played by the orquesta típical Piano, violin, and bandoneón Eventually became larger ensembles Around 1910, tango dances began to be sung with texts. The singer most responsible for the internationalization of the tango was Carlos Gardel. He was a major force in popularizing the tango in Paris and in Argentina. Tango's popularity spread through nightclub performances and recordings, radio, and film. Tango lyrics drew on the lunfardo, a lower-class dialect of Buenos Aires. Organ grinders (organitos) also played tangos throughout the streets. Migration of the tango to Europe insured its upward mobility in Argentina. Buenos Aires followed Paris's lead in welcoming the tango to upper-class cabarets and theatres. New sounds for the concert hall Astor Piazzolla created a purely instrumental "new tango," one not intended for dancing, but for the concert hall. Retained the sound of the bandoneón-centered tango ensemble while expanding the rhythmic and harmonic complexity of the music Reshaped its sound to span the divide between popular and classical music New tango ensemble includes several bandoneóns, strings, and percussion instruments, as well as piano. European classical composers such as Igor Stravinsky had incorporated the tango into their compositions. As the tango spread, different dance styles developed, Argentine style: performed in a close embrace International style: simpler than the Argentine tango, and is highly choreographed for competitions American style: a social dance, although it is used for competitions as well Significance The significance of the tango remains a source of dispute in Argentina. Themes of overt sexuality and male dominance are embedded in the choreography of the dance. Body language incorporates and perpetuates notions of masculine dominance. As the tango spread, it was considered exotic and was exploited as a commodity. Holds great significance for its many aficionados who are enthralled with the grace and rhythm of the dance There are tango clubs throughout the world, including in Argentina, Germany, and Japan.

Copyright 2006 ©    W. W. Norton | Credits | Site Feedback | Technical Support | Print This Page