African American Dance Essay

The Black Panther Party was a prominent political organization that operated from 1966 to 1982, born out of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s and advocated for equal rights and economic opportunities for African-American communities. While the party did originate in California, influential chapters spread out across the United States beyond California, including major cities like New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, and Chicago. With the party so widespread and with a great amount of people involved, it allowed for problems to arise within the communities they reached and within the party itself. These issues, both internal and external, lead to the eventual fall of the Black Panthers. The collapse

In African cultures, they believe in creating a positive environment for the gods by singing and dancing, with the hope that the attention will cause the gods, to grant their request. The African also believe that without the body and spirit there will be no god. In the Indian culture, they believe that dance the body and spirit are one, and therefore it cannot be separated. The Indian’s also believe that the body and spirit work together in unity or as one. Lastly, both the Africans and Indians believe the body is the temple of the spirit.

The Black Panther Party became so significant because it was created at a time when there was great turmoil in America. Minorities were fighting for equality and the party became a symbol for civil rights during this pivotal period. African Americans were being grossly mistreated and were extremely underrepresented in the 60’s. The Civil Rights Movement emerged after countless acts of violence and discrimination against minorities. The creation of a party made by Black people for Black people brought a sense of pride and reassurance to the Black community. The Black Panther Party played a vital role in the rise of Black Nationalism; the recognition of cultural and racial commonality and a call to racial solidarity.

“What do you mean? You don’t know that dude, you might! Don’t doubt yourself!” she declaimed. But at the time, I didn’t know how to take these words to heart.

Growing up, dance has been a very important aspect of my life. I dance every chance I get, whether that’s in my bedroom, by myself, at Walmart listening to the radio, or around anyone really. I tend to not talk a whole lot, and over time, dance was a way to help me express myself, since words couldn’t. Moving away to Kansas was probably the worst but best decision I’ve made. It was nice because I got to meet new people and learn new things that really helped me become who I am now. It was upsetting to leave behind my friends, and most of all, my family, and the place I called “home” for so long. As long ago as it was, I still remember the first friday night football game I went to as an 8th grader. Colby was up by two points against Norton and there was about a minute left of the first half of the game; when I noticed a group of girls in these black and orange uniforms with poms behind their backs and smiles on their faces. When they walked out onto the field, the crowd went silent, and the announcer announced them as “The CHS Dance Team.” Watching them was incredible. They were so in sync with each other and they looked like they were having the best time ever out there. After that one time of watching, I went every Friday night just to watch them at halftime.

Several hours later, I’m walking to the front of the line at Eden alongside Rose and Alice. I’m dressed in a mini royal blue dress with a plunging back, silver strappy heels, dark Smokey makeup. My long chestnut brown hair is straightened, the slightly lighter blonde ends of my hair reach my mid-back. I should probably get a haircut soon.

On a chilly Friday night in December at the Dixson center at Lurleen B. Wallace community college it was opening night for the Andalusia Ballet’s Nutcracker and in the wing with a little pink tutu with white and pink stoned embroiders on the top and around the skirt ready to walk onto the stage as every little girl’s dreams the Sugar Plum Fairy. As I was rolling through my pointe shoes to get my feet warmed up. I was so excited and nervous I could barely stand still. This was the moment I have been waiting for since I was three years old. When the music started my partner takes my hand to lead me out onto the stage as the hot lights hit my skin for the first time and I saw the audience and the audience to saw us for the first time. While we are dancing through the pas de deux I couldn’t believe I was the sugar plum fairy. I began to sweat excitement and nervous it was the best feeling. I caught a glance of my mom who was watching from the side of the stage I couldn’t let if she was crying, smiling or both. I think she was proud of me and how far I had come there were some moments that I wanted to throw in the towel and give up but could never do it. As we get through without pas de deux I couldn’t feel anything my body was numb from excitement. I was sweating joy as I was running off the stage for him to do his variation and so I could get ready for mine. I waited in the wings for my partner to run off and the audience to finish clapping. In the silence, I walked out onto

Once every fall, there holds a festival that combines a show of performances, merchandise, snacks, and activities. This was the first time I have ever gone to this festival; not only to attend, but to also perform as a contestant. Throughout the many dance practices that me and my team had rehearsed, we would always hurt ourselves; ours knees would be scraped against the stone sidewalk every minute in the burning sunlight. At the end of our practice days, our legs would be marked with scars that flamed our skin with red. My team and I would always give up and sigh in exhaustion and frustration, it was a huge struggle in the summer of 2016. Even though it was a huge goal to accomplish, we tried to achieve what we wanted and on the day of the performance, we earned exactly what we desired.

Dancing around in our bare feet, getting ready for the night. The music ran through the apartment with adrenaline as did we. During the week we were to focus on practice and our studies. But weekends, we went out. everyone knew us, I'm not talking us as in my roommates and I. We are just freshman anyways, but the soccer girls. Girls soccer was known for going out. This particular Saturday night was at the “Swim House”. Most sports will host a party and typically we have a core group that goes out, Mads, Em, Kenz and I. We tend to stick together. Making sure our lashes were just right and our belts were too tight, we bounced down the stairs and to the car. The music transferred with us. As you could picture four girls in a car, isn't your average night drive. Within a month we picked up each others dance moves and performed them routinely to our favorite songs. “Jealous by: Nick Jonas”, This one is Em’s favorite, but we all knew it too well. We parked in a golf course parking lot about a block away. It was pretty chilly so we ran to the door. My palms were sweaty and my pulse was racing, my nervousness kicked in. A college party, I have seen the movies and heard the stories, the booze, the boys, the nights we couldn't remember but some how never forget. Was I ready? I could never be ready. My heart beat to the sound of the music coming from within the house. I stood by the door, Mad,s turned to me “You ready?” she glared at me waiting for some sort of response, But I just

I have been enrolled in dance class since the age of two. Dance is my number one love.  I love it more than anything.  So naturally I am going to college for a science major. I know, I know, you were expecting this to be all about my love of dance, right?  And you were expecting that this essay was to be about how I am majoring in dance, but I left that part of my life behind for a world full of osmosis and isotopes. I find myself  in the middle of biology lectures and chemistry labs, which was the last place anyone would believe me to be. When I was younger I used to be bribed by my parents: the deal was no school equals no dance. With this deal came a certain grade point average to dance class ratio. The two subjects have little to no correlation, yet I have been able to make a personal connection between the two while sitting in an anatomy class in twelfth grade.

Geneviève! It’s so good to finally get this interview with you, we understand you’re very busy with your studies and dancing. Let’s not waste anymore time now that we've got you here. You are one of the most promising talents coming out of The School of American Ballet this season. Where did it all start?

My grandmother really questioned my sanity when I danced for 2 straight hours before my 10th class board results. Yes, I dance when I’m stressed.

The stage is dark, the whisper of the crowd is heard as I silently get into my spot, careful not to make too much noise. I stand still in the dark, my heart beating out of my chest, my mind racing about the next two and a half minutes. My nine months of sweat, pain and tears have come to this moment. The bright lights on the stage begin to illuminate, small beads of sweat forming beneath my skin. I put on my biggest and brightest smile, as the music begins to play. Everything is happening so fast and that is how I know that it is show time.

Noise pounded in my ears as I stumbled through a maze of bags, costumes, shoes, and people. The tiny dressing room was packed to the brim with everyone competing through Encore Dance Academy. My hands sweated from the humidity of the half-sized room. The blinding ceiling and vanity lights shone down on my friends and me from all angles, coughing on the heavy scent of Hairspray, mascara, and sweat. My waistline itched from the red and black, sequined, sleeved leotard. One of my teammates stopped me and tried to gently pick stuck strands of hair from my high ponytail out of the sequined bow perched on the crown of my head.

Twas the night of the high school dance and everyone I knew was excited. I felt like I was the one who would be doing the most tonight. I was getting all dressed up. My nice black suit laying on my bed next to my dark red tie. I looked at them both and smiled. Tonight was gonna be the night that the high schoolers would never forget. I glanced at my clock to see how much time I had. I quickly grabbed my suit and tie and rushed to the bathroom to get dressed.