University of Alberta West African Music Ensemble

Here you will find daily records of what was covered in class, as well as links to specific things we learn, such as dances or drums.

July 10, 2006

The circle represents life and community

• Life is a cycle.
• Most Ewe dances are in a circle.
• There is a connection between the physical and metaphysical--the living and the dead are related.

Gota

• The dance's basic movement
• The beginning drum signal
• The drum signal to change from the basic movement to improvised dance with your partner.

Gahu

• The bell pattern: low high high high high
• The rattle pattern: pum pa ti pa ti pa ti pa
• The basic steps: right right left left

Call & Response

• Kini wee

July 11, 2006

Gota

• review of the basic movement, the drum signal to change
• the drum signal to freeze
• Tomorrow Wisdom wants to see good improvised dancing with partners.

Gahu

• This dance was called the airplane dance by the old colonial masters. It can happen at any occasion, but especially for recreation. This is the dance where boys go to show off to get the most beautiful girl & vice versa (Wisdom).
• We reviewed the basic step (right right left left).
• We learned the variation one, variation two and variation three.

Call & Response

• Akpa

July 12, 2006

Introduction

• Circle call & response
  • The leader calls: Circle, circle.
  • The group responds: Big circle.
  • While responding, the group gets into a circle and holds hands until the circle is the right size.

Gahu

• We reviewed the three variations we learned yesterday, and the bell, rattle, sogo (& kagan) parts, and the master drum calls for these three variations.
• Wisdom showed us how to do the Ewe upper body movement.
• We learned variation four and variation five.