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:

 
 

Typesort descending Title Post date Updated/commented date
Book page 2015 Review from Debra Levine Monday, June 29, 2015 - 6:12pm Monday, June 29, 2015 - 6:13pm
Book page 2012 Review from Santa Monica Mirror Saturday, March 3, 2012 - 2:47am Monday, June 29, 2015 - 6:13pm
Book page Ford Proposal Notes Monday, May 29, 2023 - 6:43pm Monday, May 29, 2023 - 6:43pm
Book page Map of California State University - Dominguez Hills Tuesday, June 16, 2015 - 4:04pm Tuesday, June 16, 2015 - 4:04pm
Event The History of Black Dance in America (2015) - Sunday Monday, April 27, 2015 - 4:28pm Tuesday, November 24, 2015 - 2:42pm
Event Chester Whitmore "Lord of the Swing" Teaches Weekly Swing Class in February Sunday, February 2, 2020 - 3:47pm Sunday, February 2, 2020 - 3:47pm
Event Central Ave Dance Ensemble performs at Maxwell DeMille's Cicada Club in LA Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 2:02pm Thursday, August 20, 2015 - 5:18pm
Event CADE Performs at USA Dance LA Halloween Ball Saturday, November 19, 2011 - 1:58pm Thursday, August 20, 2015 - 5:26pm
Event CentralAveDance at The 5th Annual Uview Media Group Honor Awards 2018 Tuesday, June 19, 2018 - 8:15pm Tuesday, June 19, 2018 - 8:18pm
Event The History of Black Dance in America (2015) - Friday Monday, April 27, 2015 - 4:26pm Tuesday, November 24, 2015 - 2:43pm

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