Why is zulu dance important

Characteristic at South African Zulu dance is rhythmic and legs and feet work and smooth hip movements. Zulu is a South African tribe, and one of the largest ethnic groups. With their traditional dances they celebrate, as indeed in many other cultures weddings, the inauguration of a new king, choosing a bride, contact with the ancestors, rites of passage to adulthood, finding a partner.

In a typical Zulu dance large and high steps and jumps are made, and is hard and rhythmically pounded on the ground. The dancers stand in a line. Hands are piled high, often decorated with weapons and shields. Sometimes the dance is subdued and almost a shuffle. On other occasions, the dancers sometimes are kicking above their head before falling to the ground to jump up with high kicks again.

Types of dance The Zulu Reed Dance is an opportunity for young girls to get noticed by the king, who is also looking for a wife. In this dance, the girls get reeds by the river and bring them to the king. It 's a rite of passage, and a fight - and hunting dance. In "Ingoma ishishameni " the boys and girls dance separately. A group claps while the other dances.

It is derived from the war dances. It is a men's dance and it is carried out in full regalia: head ornaments, ceremonial belts, rattles, shields and weapons. It is performed by men of all ages wearing full traditional attire like head-rings, ceremonial belts, ankle rattles, shields and spears. Drums and people whistling accompany the dancers when performing the Indlamu. One of the movements done in the Indlamu dance is fighting imaginary enemies with spears and swords, their facial expressions make the dance feel real.

The dancers lift one leg in the air, bringing it down and switching it with the other one, after a certain amount of leg lifts the dancers purposely fall to the ground on their back. Dancers are more likely to make eye contact with the audience during the Indlamu dance. Imvunulo is a parade to show off the traditional attire of Zulu men and women.

It is danced by one participant at a time indicating ones role in the society. A leather skirt worn by woman sends a message to the opposite sex that she desires to become pregnant. Colors in the beaded aprons also help indicate where the dancer comes from.

This dance would fall in the welcome dance category under the African dance types. The lead singer provides rhythm for the dancers. This dance is also danced at weddings, and it is internationally known.

Dance ceremonies bring the community together as everybody takes responsibility to for training others especially the young ones. Many Zulu dances today deal with social issues like Aids, crime and migrant labour work. In Zulu land, the dances are usually performed by males and involve a high level of athletism. Zulu dances help the people to praise, criticize and even work with each other. This essay was written by a fellow student. You can use it as an example when writing your own essay or use it as a source, but you need cite it.

Explore how the human body functions as one unit in harmony in order to life. Zulu Traditional Dance. Free Essays - PhDessay. Accessed November 13, Speaking Through the Movement of Dance Summary: Many people think of dance as human communication at its most basic level. Some form of dance can be found in every culture,. Ever since I was a little girl dance has always been in my life. I can still remember as a three year old putting on my favorite pink sparkly costume.

Christian Gabriel Mrs. Zulu dancing is something quite spectacular, especially when the men and women are fully dressed in their traditional attire. It is customary that unmarried and young men dance, alternating in separate groups, occasionally the married women and men break in and join the festivities.

Married women utter a quavering shrill ukukikiza. When the young women izintombi dance, the young men clap and play the drum and vice versa. This is a dance performed by boys and girls without drums and accompanied by a chant. The girls wear woolen skirts and are usually bare-chested. They also wear rattles made of seedpods around the ankles to accent the high kicks. The Ingoma is one of the purest remnants of Zulu tradition. Boys and girls perform the dance for transition ceremonies such as coming of age, weddings.

In the past it was performed before a hunt as well as before battle. For the youth it instils the tradition of sharing experiences and building solidarity through communal dance. A harmonising performance with boys and girls together but dancing separately.