DANC 137 SC - Latin American Dance Practices

In this intermediate-level dance class, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of Latin dance practices, particularly from Brazil and Cuba. Students will learn about the African roots of these dances and the common threads that connect a wide range of people and practices across the Afro-Latin Diaspora— culturally, physically, musically, and spiritually. Such common threads include concepts like: orishas (deities of the Yoruba West African tradition that represent varying archetypes and forces of nature), ashé (a multifaceted Yoruba word meaning sacred energy/life force present throughout the Afro-Latin diaspora), playful improvisation, polyrhythmic music, call and response as community-building, dance and music as social resistance, and the intrinsic relationship between the sacred and the profane.

Prerequisite(s): Some previous dance experience required.
Course Credit: 1.0
Offered: Occasionally

Please refer to the course schedule on the Scripps Portal for current course offerings and details.