A folk dance is developed by people that reflect the life of the people of a certain country or region. Not all ethnic dances are folk dances

Lord of the Dance:

https://search-alexanderstreet-com.mutex.gmu.edu/view/work/442343

Ronald K. Brown- West African dance, modern, post-modern and hip hop: http://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/ronald-k-brown/in-gratitude-a-tribute-to-katherine-dunham/

Ronald K. Brown at the Joyce Theatre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JeMAAgjEh8

Tympani by Laura Dean- mix of modern dance and folk dance (you do NOT need to view this entire piece)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hKV-piAd2E

Hula: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upK-xODTd50

Hula: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXtQNVXNu-A

Cook Island Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQin3x3XHJI

Maori Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BoNmpvkavo

Folk Dance:

Folk Dance: as defined by Wikipedia

A folk dance is developed by people that reflect the life of the people of a certain country or region. Not all ethnic dances are folk dances. For example, ritual dances or dances of ritual origin are not considered to be folk dances. Ritual dances are usually called “Religious dances” because of their purpose. The terms “ethnic” and “traditional” are used when it is required to emphasize the cultural roots of the dance. In this sense, nearly all folk dances are ethnic ones. If some dances, such as polka, cross ethnic boundaries and even cross the boundary between “folk” and “ballroom dance”, ethnic differences are often considerable enough to mention.

Bhangra dance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVBMtyYQUnk

Bhangra from Warrior Bhangra:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD-LFksC1Nc

Hora:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtqdqTlvXUQ

Dabke: as defined by Wikipedia

Dabke

Palestinian girls dancing traditional Dabke

Medium

Circle dance and line dancing

Types

Variations

Originating culture

Levantine

Dabke (Arabic: دبكة‎ also spelled Dabka, Dubki, Dabkeh, plural Dabkaat),[1] is an Arab folk dance native to the Levant.[2] Dabke combines circle dance and line dancing and is widely performed at weddings and other joyous occasions. The line forms from right to left. The leader of the dabkeheads the line, alternating between facing the audience and the other dancers. In English, its name is also transliterated dabka, dabki, dabkeh.

Traditional Valencian dance

Greek Folk Dance: this is an extensive and thorough video

of folk dance in Greece, you are NOT required to view it in its entirety.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9zxWuczQgs

Dabke:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6fUVWzh_J4

Reading: Zvi Gothheimer and Dabke- Kibbutz: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/arts/dance/the-essence-of-the-kibbutz-from-zvidance-at-musa.html?smid=pl-share

Dabke by Zvi Gotheimer, modern dance choreographer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdlUOaAWfFU

Phillipines Dance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mj3QSfOfTs

Korean Folk Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuF0OosXR78

German Folk Dance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsgHN6yi4Lc

Scottish Dance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be59_bdC-6w

Irish Step Dancing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDwXb7pEEcWq0&v=JLeCLRK8Ws8

Dance Theatre of Japan:

The dance theatre of Japan is unique. Please review the attached Prezi for a breakdown of Noh, Kabuki, and Butoh. Noh is very slow and stylized theatre, utilizing an all male cast to portray different characters in Japanese society, exploring big themes like life and death. Kabuki is much faster paced, more bright colors, and showier in nature- also all male. Butoh is the dance of darkness. Themes of death are explored in a slow earthbound sense. It is definitely a very stylized art form, presenting painful images of devastation in the world.

Noh Theatre:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o–VbWf6M0c

Kabuki: this form of Japanese theatre, is truly a spectacle. This particular performance took place o the Las Vegas strip- a kind of perfect locale for an art form that is all about spectacle.

Kabuki film: for a more complete look at Kabuki this is an excellent film, you are not required to view it in its entirety.

http://search.alexanderstreet.com.mutex.gmu.edu/view/work/449867

Butoh:

Butoh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ms7MGs2Nh8

Eiko and Koma: this is a truly stunning look at the amazing work of Eiko and Koma

https://search-alexanderstreet-com.mutex.gmu.edu/daiv/view/work/606504

Eiko and Koma:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FumbT8J21g4

Journal Entry Questions:

1. How does the body serve the spirit in the traditional Yoruba dance?

2. What do you think of Ronald K. Brown’s style of dance- incorporating West African, Cuban, hip hop, and modern elements as evident in his piece, Evidence? What do you think about using traditional dance in a new way? Likewise, do you think Laura Dean’s work incorporating various folk dances into modern dance is effective?

3. The hula is based off of the waves in the ocean, what was so shocking about hula when it was first discovered by explorers and Westerners?

4. How are The Hula, Cook Island, and New Zealand’s Maori traditional dance alike and different?

5. How do the traditional Greek folk dance, the Hora, and Dabke compare? How are they alike, how are they different?

6. What do you think of Zvi Gotheimer’s use of Dabke with modern dance? Do you think traditional dances should be left alone, or are they open to artistic interpretation?

7. Stylistically, how does the Bhangra compare to Western Europe folk dances like the Irish step dance and German and Scottish folk dance?

8. The Japanese culture is known for honoring tradition as well as embracing new (outside) influences.  How do you see this reflected through the various dance/theater forms of Japan, as well as in the work of Japanese American modern dance choreographer’s Eiko & Koma?