The Unity of Music and Dance in World Cultures

The author examines music and dance around the world, viewing them as inseparable and inherent in every culture. He takes a regional approach and discusses music and dance in Africa, the Americas, Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East: the bikutsi dance of Cameroon, the egungun dance of the Yoruba culture of Nigeria, the gumboot dance of South Africa, and music and dance in Cote d'Ivoire, Botswana, and of the Mbuti people of the Democratic Republic of Congo; the bachata and merengue of the Dominican Republic, reggae in Jamaica, rumba in Cuba, the sun dance of the Plains Indians, the hula of Hawaii, swing dancing in New York, American jazz, slave dances of North America, the tango and chacarera of Argentina, the capoeria and other music and dances of Brazil, and music and dance in Mexico and Latin America; and the odissi, bharata natyam, and kathak dances of India, the kundiman, sinulog, tinikling, and Santacruzan dance of the Philippines, traditions of the Khalkas people of Mongolia, traditions in China, and the Shomyo dance of Japan. He describes the kapa haka dance of New Zealand and Australian aboriginal dance and music; the ballet of Europe, Igor Stravinsky and the Ballets Russes, traditional music and dance of Ireland, and the flamenco of Spain; and traditions in Afghanistan, the saray court dance of the Turkish people, and the traditional music of Iraq. Annotation c2016 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)

David Akombo is an associate professor of music at Jackson State University in Mississippi.