DAN 284 - Dancing Diaspora: The African American Theatrical Dance Tradition

Drawing on scholarship about the African Diaspora, this lecture/discussion course examines how United States dance performance has shaped and been shaped by ideas about Africanist aesthetics and cultural identities.  Exploring entertainment and concert performances from late minstrelsy to the present day, the class will investigate both how black dance artists have staged their cultural experiences, and how those theatrical representations have been received and interpreted. Course work includes readings, performance viewings, presentations, and written assignments.

Satisfies a minor requirement in Dance.
Counts as an elective in the Cultural Production & Expression category of the Africana Studies major (Geographic Region = North America).
Satisfies the Visual and Performing Arts distribution requirement.