The Broad Stage Learning Guide - Santa Monica College's Global Motion World Dance Company

THE INSPIRATION BROAD STAGE LEARNING GUIDE

19/20 SEASON LEARNING GUIDE 2019/20 GlobalSEASON Motion

Santa Monica College's Global Motion World Dance Company

Go behind the scenes! Explore our creative Learning Guides with insights, fun facts and activities to enrich and inform your performance experience at The Broad Stage. For families, students and learners of all ages, Learning Guides place arts education center stage.

THE BROAD STAGE AT THE SANTA MONICA COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER EDUCATION & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS | THEBROADSTAGE.ORG/COMMUNITY 1310 11TH STREET, SANTA MONICA, CA 90401 | 310.434.3650

INSPIRATION

19/20 SEASON LEARNING GUIDE Global Motion

“Global Motion World Dance Company provides students a platform to experience and learn about other cultures through the study of cultural dance. By studying cultural dances, our students gain insight into the traditional community mindset of the people who have created them while also developing their individual artistic sensibilities.”

– Sri Susilowati, Co-Director, Global Motion World Dance Company

Global Motion World Dance Company, Santa Monica College Global Motion World Dance Company educates as it promotes the expression of dance traditions from around the world.

As a dance company rooted in the Santa Monica College dance department, it provides students the opportunity to work with professional choreographers, enriching their cultural knowledge as they rehearse and develop dances for public performances. This process creates awareness and appreciation for dance as an art form for students and audiences alike. Some, but not all, performances are developed around a shared theme such as water, justice or food to highlight similarities while celebrating the uniqueness of each global culture and providing a creative reflection of one of the most diverse cities of the world, Los Angeles.

THE BROAD STAGE AT THE SANTA MONICA COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER EDUCATION & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS | THEBROADSTAGE.ORG/COMMUNITY 1310 11TH STREET, SANTA MONICA, CA 90401 | 310.434.3650

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INVESTIGATION

19/20 SEASON LEARNING GUIDE Global Motion

“Culture is to humans as water is to fish.”

- Dr. Wade W. Nobles

WHAT IS CULTURE AND CULTURAL DANCE? Culture is our way of being in this world. When we speak of culture as in heritage or cultural background, this includes elements of our lives such as food, adornment, communication, beliefs, worldview, rituals, and a shared history and geographic location, among others. Culture is learned within a social group and the shared knowledge is passed on to the next generations, historically through oral tradition. Some elements of culture are learned formally as in schools and other institutions, while other aspects are learned informally, at home from family and community.

Around the world, cultures have developed dances that include storytelling, teach morals and create community.

Cultural dance refers to the dances that represent a community of people who are traditionally from a specific geographical location and share a language, traditions and beliefs. Cultural dances can be sacred, based on spiritual or religious beliefs, or they can be secular, which include everything else that is not based directly on these beliefs.

The cultural dances of a people are an important part of their group identity. Through dance, the body is used to express ideas, intentions, emotions and other ways of being. Given its significance to the people and communities, cultural dances should never be appropriated. Taking and making use of another’s cultural elements improperly” and without permission is considered a lack of respect.

Communication and education are essential for promoting cultural respect and understanding.

FUN FACT Historical events have influenced the development of dance styles and traditions around the world. Examples of this are Hip Hop and Son Jarocho dance. These two styles arose at very different times and within two different countries, each reflecting their community and sense of place.

In Veracruz, México over five hundred years ago, the Son Jarocho dance style emerged from the blend of African, Spanish, Indigenous and Carribean cultures. This evolved into the cultural celebration known as Fandango, which combines music, dance and poetry/song.

In the 1970s, African American, Latino and Caribbean American cultures came together in the Bronx, New York, and created Hip Hop dance. The Hip Hop movement was (and still is) strongly based on the social justice, civic and political activism of this generation.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CULTURAL DANCE AND MODERN DANCE? Modern dance is a form of contemporary theatrical and concert dance that uses the entire body to express abstract ideas. Modern dance began to develop in the United States and Germany during the late 19th century as a protest against the rigid structure and formality of classical ballet.

This dance style focuses on the choreographer's movement vocabulary, physical interpretation and point of view as inspiration for the feeling or design of a dance rather than the codified steps as in ballet. The elements of dance, as identified by western modern dance include - Body, Action, Space, Time, and Energy, and are interpreted by all dance forms. Modern dance does not represent a group of people as cultural dance does. Instead, it represents the individual dancer and choreographer and their abstract ideas.

VOCABULARY ABSTRACT: Related only to the essence of an idea or feeling, with little or no narrative content.

ADORNMENT: An accessory or ornament, including clothing, worn to embellish, enhance, or distinguish the wearer, and to define cultural, social, or religious status within a specific community.

APPROPRIATED: Something taken and made use of improperly and without permission, authority or right.

CULTURE: A way of life of a group of people; their behaviors, beliefs, values, artistic expression, shared history and worldview, among other elements, which are passed on to the next generation by communication and imitation.

Given that most cultural dances are part of ancient traditions, the time involved in establishing these dances has assured that they are also codified and passed on to the next generations. Whereas Modern dance allows for more immediate changes, cultural dances also change because all culture is fluid, but the change is slow, over time, with changes usually coming from within the culture.

ORAL TRADITION: The knowledge, stories, beliefs, etc., that a people share by telling stories and talking to each other.

THE BROAD STAGE AT THE SANTA MONICA COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER EDUCATION & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS | THEBROADSTAGE.ORG/COMMUNITY 1310 11TH STREET, SANTA MONICA, CA 90401 | 310.434.3650

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EXPLORATION

19/20 SEASON LEARNING GUIDE Global Motion

TRY THIS MAKE YOUR OWN DANCE!

Think of something you do everyday, such as taking a shower, getting dressed, or reading. Choose one prop from your activity, such as the soap, your shirt or a book. First move as if you are actually doing that activity from start to finish. Select two clear movements from what you were doing. Repeat just these two movements a few times very slowly, changing from one movement to the next. Create two more movements from the original sequence or make up something new. Do all four of your movements, changing from one move to the next slowly, then repeat. Now, try making each of your movements bigger or wider, lower or higher, faster or slower until you feel comfortable with the changes. Try your new moves to a piece of music, adjusting them to the new rhythm.

WHO’S THE DANCER IN YOUR FAMILY?

Find out if there are any cultural dances hidden in your family history! Interview an adult/older friend or family member to learn more about their culture. Where did they grow up? Did they learn any type of dance? If so, is it part of what they learned in school or with friends or family?

Do they like to attend dance performances?

Maybe they can teach you a step or two that they remember or, better yet, dance with you! Take a photo or video of you doing the dance and write a description or story about the dance and its origins. It will make a unique family keepsake!

TAKE IT FURTHER

Check out our Resources page with website links and relevant state standards to use for the classroom.

THE BROAD STAGE AT THE SANTA MONICA COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER EDUCATION & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS | THEBROADSTAGE.ORG/COMMUNITY 1310 11TH STREET, SANTA MONICA, CA 90401 | 310.434.3650

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RESOURCES

19/20 SEASON LEARNING GUIDE Global Motion

WEBSITE AND RESEARCH LINKS:

SUGGESTED CA STATE STANDARDS:

SMC GLOBAL MOTION DANCE - CULTURAL & MODERN DANCE

SIXTH GRADE STANDARDS CA VAPA Dance Grade 6 1.5: Describe and analyze movements observed and performed, using appropriate dance vocabulary.

SMC GLOBAL MOTION DANCE - ELEMENTS OF DANCE SMC GLOBAL MOTION DANCE - LOVE IS THE LOVE

CA VAPA Dance Grade 6: 3.0: Historical and Cultural Context

HISTORY OF TAHITIAN DANCE

CA VAPA Dance Grade 6: 3.1: Compare and contrast features of dances already performed from different countries.

TINIKLING: THE NATIONAL DANCE OF THE PHILIPPINES W/ BAMBOO POLES

CA VAPA Dance Grade Six: 3.2 History and Function of Dance. Explain the importance and function of dance in students’ lives.

NEW WORLD ENCYCLOPEDIA: AFRICAN DANCE TEEN KIDS NEWS: THE ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF CHINESE DANCE

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL 6.1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

TEACHROCK: THE HISTORICAL ROOTS OF HIP HOP INDOINDIANS: 10 TRADITIONAL INDONESIAN DANCES YOU NEED TO KNOW

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W6.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

YOUTUBE: MEXICAN FOLK DANCE: FANDANGO/JAROCHO & LA BRUJA SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS RECORDINGS: SON JAROCHO MUSIC & DANCE FROM VERACRUZ

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W6.2. A: Introduce a topic or thesis statement; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g. headings), graphics (e.g. charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.

SMITHSONIAN CENTER FOR FOLKLIFE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE: CREATING KEY INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W6.3. D: Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to convey experiences and events.

SOCIAL JUSTICE STANDARDS ID.6-8.2: I know about my family history and culture and how I am connected to the collective history and culture of other people in my identity groups.

DI.6-8.7: I can accurately and respectfully describe ways that people (including myself) are similar to and different from each other and others in their identity groups.

DI.6-8.8: I am curious and want to know more about other people’s histories and lived experiences, and I ask questions respectfully and listen carefully and non-judgmentally.

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING COMPETENCIES Social Awareness; appreciating diversity; respect for others.

THE BROAD STAGE AT THE SANTA MONICA COLLEGE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER EDUCATION & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS | THEBROADSTAGE.ORG/COMMUNITY 1310 11TH STREET, SANTA MONICA, CA 90401 | 310.434.3650

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