African Diasporic Retention: Comparsa

I
 
Unit: Iron Age
Theme: Comparsa

Introduction

 The African diaspora is the worldwide collection of communities descended from native Africans or people from Africa, predominantly in the Americas. The term describes the process of dispersal and the dispersed ethnic population. The African Diaspora has been formed by the movements of Africans and their descendants.
 
 
II
 
Learning Objectives 

  • Understand carnival as an expression of African diasporic history
  • Explain the meaning of the terms circum-Atlantic memory and socio-cultural density
  • Gain an awareness of the meaning of  the society of the spectacle
  • Experience carnival dance choreography

 III
 
Main Lesson 
 
1
 
 
Havana

Question 1

 What is you impression of Havana's carnival in 1961?

 

 2

 

 Question 2


What is the difference between Havana's Carnival and Santiago de Cuba's Carnival in terms of dance?


3

 Conga los Hoyos, Santiago de Cuba

 


Question 3

When comparing the Rio Carnival and the Santiago de Cuba Carnival, what are the things you observe that are problematic from Deborg's point of view?

 

IV

 A Note to Remember

 The African diaspora has left all over the continent traces of their religious, cultural and social practices. Carnival is one of the events that illustrate the impact that African cultures have had on Westernized culture since its insertion.

 

V

Case Study

Patricia Saunders


 Prof. Saunders is an associate professor of English at the University of Miami and Hemispheric Caribbean Studies Faculty Lead at the Miami Institute for the Advanced Study of the Americas. Her research and scholarship focus largely on the relationship between sexual identity and national identity in Caribbean literature and popular culture.

 



VI

Activity


Students learn conga/comparsa steps


Accompaniment for Dance

 

Learn the mains steps of the comparsa (carnival street dance)

Create your own steps or phrase with 8 moves


VII

Journaling


VIII

Glossary


IX

Sources


X

Students' Work

Comparsa / Carnival Band




Students making up, record and post your phrase using the music in the video.


 

 

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