Akan Dance Group: 1948 Founding & US Influence - Essay Sample

Introduction

According to Heard and Mussa (2002), the dance group was founded in 1948. The group's singers, drummers, and dancers drew mainly in Asadata Dafora's influence. Alice Dinizulu and Nana Dinizulu formed a dance school, and it served as Akan's religion and culture center of information in the United States. Also, it sponsors several dance workshops that are controlled by master teachers who hail from the Dinizulu's dancers and the United States. The group had an impact on the dancing traditions in the fraternities of African Americans.

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The dance group played an essential role in connecting the African Americans in the United States with their African ancestries. Taking part in different cultural events in the United States made the group famous. This issue made many people join the center, which was formed so that they could learn about African music, languages, traditions, history, and dance (Guedj, 2015). It made the African Americans know more about their culture, and they could easily portray it through different types of dances. Furthermore, it is through the dance group that the leader was able to diffuse religion called Akan in the United States (Guedj, 2015).

The dance group was significant in American dance. The reason is that it made Americans realize that dancing can also portray the culture of a particular group of individuals. Furthermore, it made the American dance culture grow as the dancers performed in different events, which made it be popular. In the past, people thought that dancing could only be done for leisure purposes. However, through Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu, the other American dancers realized that they could make a living by just dancing (Opokuwaa, 2005). This realization was possible through performing in different events. The dance group led to the creation of other dance groups in the United States in which people from other races also showed their culture through dancing. Through dancing, the group showed that the culture and history of a group could be ex[ressed through music and dancing

In the past, Africans danced mainly for special occasions that included marriage or birth and when performing their daily activities (Opokuwaa, 2005). However, with the introduction of African dance by this group, the Americans also started dancing. Also, they realized that they could use dance to portray their message to other individuals. Apart from performing in different events, the Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu dance groups resulted in the rise of professional dance standards for both blacks and whites. Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu dance group made the other American dancers and dance group realize that they can express themselves through dancing. Also, the group used dancing in expressing the interests, personalities, and needs of African Americans. The group made an impact on the American dance by emphasizing directing emotions in choreography (Opokuwaa, 2005). The strategy was used by other American dancers to express their dance, and it is still being used in the current modern world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Nana Yao Opare Dinizulu dance group was significant in American dance. This was possible through using the dancing to show the rich African culture. Furthermore, the group enabled the American dancers to know that they can use dancing to express their emotions and personalities. Therefore, the group was significant in the development of American dance.

References

Guedj, P. (2015). The Transnationalization of the Akan Religion: Religion and Identity among the US African American community. Religions, 6(1), 24-39. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel6010024

Heard, M. E., & Mussa, M. K. (2002). African Dance in New York City. Dancing many drums: Excavations in African American dance, 143-167.

Opokuwaa, N. A. K. (2005). The quest for spiritual transformation: Introduction to traditional Akan religion, rituals, and practices. iUniverse.