Dances

Description of Classes

Orixa/Orisha Dance – a definition

I asked Prof. Rachael Harding of the Iliff School of Theology at the University of Colorado to define Orisha/Orixa dance for us:

“Orisha dance is a beautiful, ritual tradition of movement that both evokes and represents the power of African and Afro-Diasporan spiritual beings, known as Orishas (Caribbean region) or Orixas (Brazil). These beings are essentially manifestations of the universe or manifestations of God – natural elements like water, earth, fire and wind; as well as concepts like justice, peace, compassion, beauty and strength. The Orishas/Orixas are divine energies that are present in some measure in all living beings. In the Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian religions, each Orisha is associated with specific movements and rhythms which are danced to call the spirits into being and which also reflect various aspects of the “personality” and “history” of each Orisha. The dances are powerful, beautiful and holy.”

Orisha-Orixa is a dance form, outside of the sacred space of the Afro-Brazilian and Afro-Caribbean religious ceremonies where they originated.

Orisha Dance – Richard Gonzalez

Orisha dance introduces us to the traditions of the Afro-Cuban faith, known to outsiders as Santeria, and to adherents as

“La regla de Ocha de los Locumi.” This religion provides a living conduit of energy connecting the spirit world with our own. With roots in Africa, most specifically with the Yoruba tribes of Nigeria, these songs and dances of praise came to the Caribbean with the slave trade where they evolved in response to the surrounding cultures.

Orixa Dance Movement – Rosangela Silvestre

The Orixas are spiritual forces that symbolize the strength and phenomena of nature. They originate from the ceremonies of Candomble, an Afro-Brazilian religion. We celebrate these spiritual forces with music, dance and song. In this classes we will experiment with the dances associated with specific rhythms, absorbing the strength and phenomena of Orixas such as Oxum, the spiritual force of fresh water; Yemaja, the spiritual force of salt water; Yansa, the spiritual force of the wind; Xango, the spiritual force of fire and lightening; and, others such as Oxossi, Oxala, Ogum, etc.

Silvestre Technique

A dance technique of Brazilian Expression, not just a style but language of dance inspired by the ancient forces of nature. These forces are put into emotion, giving meaning to each exercise and gesture of the body, in relation with music.

In the language of traditional dances, the contact with symbolism is preserved, enriching the message of an idea, however abstract it may be. In the language of technical training, we move the body in a broader way. The combination of these two forms allows a freedom to create without restraint by defined forms.

Music is an indispensable element of the Silvestre Technique it provides the rhythm a s a marker of time and dynamic for each exercise. Each moment becomes an opportunity for composing and exploring sounds and other instruments. This class is designed for students with Orixa dance experience.

Samba

It is the most popular type of dance and rhythm of Brazil. This traditional form comes in various styles such as: Samba-Rio, Samba-Afro-, Samba-Reggae, Samba-Jazz and many others. In this class we will explore the traditional form of Samba, following with other variations. We will look at other dances such as Axe Dances which are originally from the North Eastern part of Brazil (Bahia) developed during the preparation of Carnival. This class is open to all levels.

Salsa de Costa Rica

Costa Rican Salsa is constantly undergoing tireless innovation, and it is influenced by the turning patterns and timing structure of Costa Rican Swing. Having advanced to a high degree of virtuosity, it includes advanced turns and countless variations on the basic step, characterized by fast technical turns and subtle leader and follower communication.

Bolero:

Bolero is characterized by restraint, tension, and by endless partner communication. It is full of subtle leading and following techniques, instructing the dancer in the adept handling of the marriage between music and dance. It is a slow, intimate, and intuitive form of dance enjoyed in Latin America by young and mature dancers alike.

Bolero-Son:

The Bolero Son is closely tied to the Bolero, but allows the dancers more freedom for turns and to interrupt their communication for individual improvisation. In Costa Rica, Bolero Son is danced “picadito”, a staccato variation that includes a usage of the entire musical phrase. Bolero Son utilizes steps of Cha-cha-cha and it is a more grounded and faster form of the Bolero.

Swing Criollo

Swing Criollo is peculiar to Costa Rica and to no other country in Latin America. Similar in timing to Swing from the United States, it has taken on a life of its own in Costa Rica, where it is a national dance craze. Swing is danced to Cumbia rhythms from Colombia and Mexico and it is characterized by intricate turns and quick precise changes in flow by leader and follower alike. A challenging form for beginners, it is difficult to learn, but offers an endless opportunity for innovation to creative dancers.