Archive: The History of Black Dance in America (2015)

The History of Black Dance in America
Juneteenth 2015!
A show 10 years in the making.  An event 150 years in the making.
June 19, 20 and 21 2015
University Theater
California State University at Dominquez Hills
See map of University campus here.
 

See a review of the show here: http://artsmeme.com/2015/06/25/review-the-history-of-black-dance-in-america/


 

What is “The History of Black Dance in America”?
HBDA is a multi-media dance concert that showcases the contributions of African-Americans to popular American social dance from slavery to the modern era.  It has been presented every year since 2011, and in 2015 was funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign. Audiences are mesmerized by authentic renditions of dances such as Zulu, Work Songs, Cakewalk, Spiritual Dances, Shim Sham, Lindy Hop, Foxtrot, the African inspired Latin-American dances, and more. It is a family-friendly show that hopes to entertain as well as teach some little known history that every American should know. The 2015 performance also observes the 150th Anniversary of Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.

 
 

What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.  Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19ththat the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.  One of General Granger’s first orders of business was to read to the people of Texas, General Order Number 3 which began most significantly with:

 
"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer."
 

Videos:

 
 

Type Title Post datesort ascending Updated/commented date
Link The History of Black Dance in America (New Crisis, The, Jan/Feb 2000 ) Wednesday, December 23, 2009 - 11:28am Friday, April 24, 2015 - 3:44am
Video Embed The Central Ave Cotillion Dance Ensemble Sunday, December 6, 2009 - 3:31pm Saturday, May 2, 2015 - 5:30pm
Video Embed A FOXTROT Mr Maxwell Stewart and Miss Barbara Miles demonstrate their fox-trot. Monday, November 2, 2009 - 4:00pm Saturday, May 2, 2015 - 5:30pm
Video Embed 1929 Smooth Foxtrot by Carsani & Lennard Monday, November 2, 2009 - 4:00pm Saturday, May 2, 2015 - 5:30pm
Video Embed Foxtrot from 1920s Thursday, October 29, 2009 - 12:26pm Saturday, May 2, 2015 - 5:30pm
Video Embed Foxtrotting At 1939 Worlds Fair Thursday, October 29, 2009 - 1:00am Saturday, May 2, 2015 - 5:30pm
Video Embed Poinciana (Herb Jeffries performance) Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 4:40pm Tuesday, January 30, 2018 - 7:24pm
Video Embed Blacks in Ballroom (God Bless The Child) Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 4:40pm Sunday, January 23, 2011 - 3:16pm
Blog entry Cuban Motion in Poinciana Choreography Monday, January 7, 2008 - 5:37am Saturday, May 2, 2015 - 5:30pm
Blog entry Tango and Milonga: A close relationship Monday, January 15, 2007 - 2:29pm Saturday, May 2, 2015 - 5:30pm

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