Assignment international dance styles

Understanding and representing internation dance styles
Throughout 3 weeks I have been learning 3 different international dances, these are Samba Reggae, Maculele and Maracuta.

Samba Reggae is a music genre from Brazil.It has a blend from samba and Jamaican Reggae as typified by Bob Marley.
Bahia's population has a large proportion of dark-skinned Brazilians, these were protests of Arfican Slaves , who were brought to Brazil by the Portuguese in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Afro- brazilians had a big role in the early development of Samba. The results show that Samba was brought back to Bahia from Rio.
Samba-reggae is influenced from a style African dance this originated from Afro - Brazilian
and candomble dance moves. In a social setting, samba-reggae dances tend to be done in a follow-the-leader fashion, with a few skilled dancers initiating moves in a line in front of the crowd.

Samba reggae is recognised all around the world as a symbol of Brazil to engage and spread there religous traditions , Samba Reggae is a huge entertainment in the Brazil carnival.

Samba Reggae, Maracuta and Maculele are all originated from Brazil. However Maracuta is from the North East. All three of these dancers are performed from different cultures, Maculele and Samba Reggae are all peformed by Afro - Brazilian slaves. However Maracuta is performed by Black Africans.

Maracuta is part of an Ancient carnival tradition. Maracuta is part of a religious brotherhood to preserve African culture. Africans think very highly of Kings and Queens so every year each slave will not be classed as a slave, each one will be a King and Queen, performing greatly with each other.
In 1674 Maracuta was created and throughout the years, this dance has developed through an ancient Carnival tradition, were over 65 groups will perform this style of dance. Magnificient clothing will be worn on this day aswell as a great atmosphere and Drums being played all day and night.

Maculue :
Maculele is a Afro- brazilian Dance were a numberous of people will gather to watch this dance being performed. Maculule is classed as a ' War tribe, yet peaceful.' Maculue is a tradition to be perfromed each year, and is something the slaves can look forward to.

Maculele's dance is based around props, these are sticks. The reason why each slave uses these skills is to represent safety. They feel these are their own personal weapons to protect each other from any harm. Alternatively the Afro - Brazilians dance Maculule yet they do not respond to it being a dance personally to them, this is because each slave will go and perform, yet when they are performing it is preventing them from any Angre, as well as letting out any frustration from being a slave. During the dance there is alot of shouting and singing throughout this in their own individual language.

All three of the dances are part of a cultural tradition because each year, each dance will gather for the special occassion were they will all perform there dances in the different regions of Brazil. When each dance performs hundreds gather together to watch these performances. Each performance is part of the traditional carnival, this day only the Slaves can be themselfs and show each individual who they are and what they are representing. From this it shows there spirit is still alive, as well as skills being shown and all the importance represening their own individual religion, culuture.

Each dance will perform their style of dance will props, Sticks are used for Maculue and these are interpreted with the movement and dynamics for the dance. Each performer will have these sticks and dance through the whole song with this. Maracuta therefore uses Drums these are interpreted with the beats from the music, as well as making up individual beats were the slaves will respond and dance to.

However Samba Reggae does not use props but their Dynamics and performance are based around godesses. So each movement will represent an individual godess.
 There are 4 main goddesses for this Dance, they are ;
Xango this goddess represents Thunder, so the movement will interpret the arms for this.
Then there is Oyasin this godess is a herbalist, were the medicine will come from to cure each individual slave, the godess will plant seeds that will grow into plants and then medication. Then there is Yemanja this is the sea godess, the dynamics for this are very gentle and smooth. Oya is the wind, religious beliefs show that there is a big connection between the slaves and this godess. The Afro brazilians are very religious.

Characteristic ;
The sticks, called grimas, traditionally measure 24 inches long by 1 and 1/8 inch thick..
A interesting characteristic about Samba Reggae is that there is 90 - 120 beats per minute, so this is a solid performance.
In Samba Reggae each movement performed is originated from their goddesses.

Maculele dance is based around a young lad who picked up the sticks during the dance and faught with the team against the other team, during this the lad got killed, and to show recognisition and bravery they called this dance Maculele, due to this being the lads name, so on honour they named the dance by him.

Maracute dressed as Kings and Queens on this day to represent whom they are.
Maracute is the best dressed and colourful in the nation parade. This shows recognisition of who they are.

Personal Opinion:
I feel honoured to be able to get taught these dances, due to not realising how many different styyles there are internationally. Street is a well known style as well as Ballet, but there is so many other dances, that myself as well as others have never heard of before. When performing each of these dances as soon as the music starts to play it is natural to start dancing, the music gets the atmosphere going positively and therefore due to this I can feel and get an idea of how the slaves feel when they get this moment to perform. Slaves are known to nothing, yet this is not true, they are talented and for them to perform these dances, it was just a regonisition of a day of games, like 'Limbo'. The dances are a way of speaking out to show who they are. I loved learning these dances and I am thinking of interpreting these dance styles in my Solo, I am thinking Maculule and will be looking into more depth of this.