ROLE OF WOMEN IN

CULTURAL DANCE

(TOPIC 15)
What is Cultural Dance?
Cultural dance is a special type of dance that is shared by a community. It can
have specific uses and meanings. These include rituals, ceremonies like marriage
and birth, paying respect to ancestors, or simply for enjoyment. The dance is
unique to a certain people and their traditions.
Culture is defined as our way of life
The tradition and norms which is important in every culture
can be represent in a way of dancing, a graceful dance, colorful props and
costumes, slow movements and fast that catches the attention of everyone.
Cultural dancers can be a story teller, tells the story in every movements and
sequence of their dance.
Every Cultural dances has a story that need to match on the theme or things
that they want to express. This dance is different from other forms of dances,
you cannot make a cultural dance without a story. It has a story behind in order
to be understood by other cultures.
 What is the importance of cultural dance in
Philippines?
Folk dances are important
because they preserve the
Philippine culture and pass it on
the next generation. They are a
uniting force to the Philippine
people.
What is the importance of cultural dance?
Cultural Dance is really important, this is
our way to tell other people on what are
things that they need to know about our
culture. It is also the way that other people
could have respect, knowledge and give
importance to our culture.
It is also the way that other people could
have respect, knowledge and give
importance to our traditions and norms. Let
our cultures tell what are the stories behind
their dance.
Role of Women in Dance

Gender, is a very common word which is the combination of six alphabets

which represents A MALE, A FEMALE or A TRANCEGENDER. But, in many
culture and in various society a gender represent a male and a female as of their
physiological structure, behaviours, strength, capacity and for their activities.
Gender provides particular roles for a male and for a female and this
distribution of work set as per the masculine and the feminine characterises are
being followed by generations. The cultural mind set in people as of this gender
division and its roles are just confined within the thoughts of a society. We see
these gender roles in dance, but the dance world is constantly expanding and
creating new dances, where we see more equality between genders.
The Samba of Brazil

Hop on a plane and travel down to South America to

discover the Brazilian Samba. To Brazilians, this native
dance is much more than a dance. It is a representation of
themselves, and the country’s rich Latin American culture.
Brought to Brazil during the times of Portuguese
colonization, this dance is widely associated with the world
renowned Brazilian Rio Carnival. There are over seven
variations of the samba ; all are accompanied by samba
music, a type of flavorful, upbeat music typically involving
guitars, tambourines, and drums.
The Flamenco of Spain

Out of the country of Spain emerges the

Flamenco. This dance, or jaleo, is performed to
the beat of the Spanish guitar. It is then
accompanied by singing, finger snapping and
hand clapping. Though this Andalusian style of
dance originated amongst the Romani people of
Spain, today it is performed worldwide, and is
most popular in the US and in Japan.
 The Dragon Dance of China

Head on over to Asia to experience the traditional Dragon Dance of China. This cultural dance
is performed during celebratory festivals including weddings and the Chinese New Year.
Originating amongst Chinese farming communities during the Han Dynasty of 180-230AD, the
Dragon Dance is performed to ward off evil spirits and bad luck, and is thought to bring good
fortune.
The Viennese Waltz of Austria

Step into a European world of enchantment as you twirl

your way into Austria for the Viennese Waltz. Today, this
dance is popular around the world, but when the waltz
first began to spread across Europe in the 1700s, it was
considered highly controversial because this dance
allowed partners to be closer than an arms’ length
distance from each other and allowed them to touch as
they whirled around the dance floor. This classic
ballroom dance, which starts slow, then speeds up in
three-quarter time, led to the creation of the first public
dance hall. Following the Civil War, the Viennese waltz
spread to the US, resulting in Americanized variations of
the dance, including the Boston Waltz, otherwise known
as the Boston Dip.
Hopak — Kiev, Ukraine
Further north, Russians and Ukrainians are dancing the Hopak, or the gopak in
Russia . Named after the Ukranian term hopaty, meaning “to jump”, Russians and
Ukranians have been performing this dance since the 16th century. In western areas
of Ukraine, this dance is called the hopak-kolo. Here, the dance is performed in a
closed circle, with no specific patterns of steps; it is all based on improvisation.
The hopak was originally a dance performed by military men as a dance of victory,
representing battles through leaping dance movements. Today, it is also danced
inpartners and in groups. The modern day hopak is often accompanied by woman
adorned in traditional clothing, dancing alongside squatting, split-leaping men.
Adumu “Aigus” — Kenya and Tenzania

Next on the list, the traditional African Adumu dance. Performed

by the Maasai tribes of East Africa, the Adumu, also known as the
Aigus, is a competitive jumping dance performed as a part of
Eonoto, a Maasai coming of age ceremony for warriors; a right of
passage that initiates a boy into a man.
To begin the dance, warriors start by forming a circle. Then, little
by little, one or two of the boys will enter the circle. Once in the
circle, the boys jump as high as they can, never once allowing their
heels to touch the ground. Throughout the Adumu, the voices of the
boys in the circle can be heard above the music and clapping of
community members, raising their pitch based on the height of
their jumps.
The Zaouli mask dance of the Ivory Coast
Emerging out of African traditions, the Zaouli mask dance is only
allowed to be viewed by those permitted to watch; no women are
allowed to be present during the dance. Once the Zaouli dancer
puts on their mask, the performer begins to change, a
representation of the spirit taking over the dancer’s body. This
dance is reflective of the culture of the Ivory Coast, where people
often turned to these masks when there was fear of danger. While
some masks protected against evil, other masks are used to
celebrate. Each mask is hand carved, and can take up to six days
to complete. Throughout this mask dance, two performers move
quick and intensely, provoked to move faster by the other dancer.
The Haka of New Zealand

On the other side of the world, indigenous New Zealanders are

dancing the ancient war dance of the ancient Māori people.
Traditionally danced both on the battlefield, and when tribes came
together peacefully, the Haka dance exists as a way for the Māori to
display their tribe’s “pride, strength and unity” . During this dance,
men fiercely stick their tongues out, stomp their feet, and slap their
body to the rhythm of loud chanting in their native tongue. Typically,
these chants tell the story of the tribe’s ancestors and history. The
haka dance is still performed today during Māori ceremonies and
special occasions, including family events, birthdays and weddings. In
addition, though no longer used out on the battlefield, the New
Zealand national rugby team, the All Blacks, still use haka as a form of
intimidation out on the field, and are famously known for performing
it before their rugby matches.
Ote’a of French Polynesian Tahiti

Sail on over to the French Polynesian island of Tahiti to experience the

Tahitian’s traditional Ote’a dance. Characterized by rapid hip shaking,
dancers performing this cultural performance are accompanied by lively
percussion, while they use hip and hand movement to bring to life stories of
their daily lives. Dancers performing this dance wear traditional floral, plant
fiber skirts, and ornate headpieces.
Bharata Natyam: Southern India

Make your way over to the continent of Asia to discover the Southern Indian
dance of Bharata natyam. Translating to “Bharata’s dancing” in Sanskrit,
Bharata Natyam is one of the main classical Indian dances. Indigenous to the
Tamil Nadu region of India, this ancient dance is performed to express
religious themes of Hinduism. Though this dance was originally reserved only
for female temple dancers, in 1930 the Bharata Natyam began to be
performed to the public.
This dance is composed of a series of rhythmic feet movement, during which
the dancer remains in a low squat, while the arms, neck and shoulders of the
dancer move to the beat. Throughout the performance, the dancer utilizes
their hands in order to tell a story, while their facial expressions set the mood.
In the pure form of this dance, hand movements are restricted to the 11
“mudras”, a series of symbolic religious hand gestures.
During a performance of this dance, a single dancer performs on stage for
around two uninterrupted hours, never once leaving the stage to change
costumes or take a break. Behind the dancer, the dancer’s guru, or teacher,
conducts an orchestra of drums, a drone, and a singe.
 Thank You!
God Bless!

by: Reyannah Jane V. Villariez BPED-1C