| The Grand Parents and Great Grand Parents of Black People living in
America today, came from Africa more than Four Hundred Years ago.
Some came voluntarily as explorers and visitors, however, the majority
of them came as Slaves,
during the
Great Slave Trade,
also known as the Middle Passage.
When the Africans came to America, they brought their dance and music
with them and many aspects of that early African influence can still be
seen today in American performing art disciplines, such as Jazz,
Tap
and Break dancing, as well as Go-Go,
Pop
and Musical Theatre dance.
America is known as the New World, therefore, Black people born in
America of African ancestry are known as New
World Africans. Africans born on the continent
of Africa today are known as Old
World Africans or Continental
Africans.
The African slaves brought to America in early times came from many
different regions of the African continent, however, large numbers came
from West Africa from an area known as the Senegambia,
that includes the countries of Senegal, Gambia, Guinea and Mali.
The contents of this program will focus on the nations of Senegal and
Guinea, West Africa.
To more positively understand the continent of Africa, its people, Past,
Present and Future, and the contributions made to Dance, Music and Culture
in America today, the African Heritage Dancers & Drummers proudly present
Dances of West Africa. |