Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
NIGERIAN DANCES
BY
JULY, 2016
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Certification……………………………..…………………………………………....iii
Dedication………………..………………………………………………………..….iv
Acknowledgements…………..………..………………………………………….…...v
Table of Contents………………………………………………………………...........vi
Abstract……………………………..…………………………......………………...viii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study....................................................................................... 1
1.2 Statement of Problem ........................................................................................... 2
1.3 Objectives of the Study ......................................................................................... 3
1.4 Rationale of the Study .......................................................................................... 3
1.5 Significance of the Study ...................................................................................... 3
1.6 Methodology ........................................................................................................ 4
1.7 Scope of the Study ................................................................................................ 4
1.8 Limitation of the Study ......................................................................................... 4
1.9 Definition of Terms .............................................................................................. 5
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Dance (Overview) ................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.2 Traditional Nigerian Dances ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.3 Contemporary Dance ............................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
CHAPTER THREE: ANALYSIS OF NIGERIAN DANCES
3.1 Ikpiripki Ogu and Atilogwu dance of the Igbo ....... Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.2 The Bata Dance of the Yoruba .............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.3 Nigerian Contemporary Dances ............................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.4 Differences and Similarities between Traditional and Contemporary Nigerian Dances
Error! Bookmark not defined.
CHAPTER FOUR: ANALYSIS OF PRACTICAL PERFORMANCE
4.1 Aesthetics of Dance .............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
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ABSTRACT
This project deals with “A comparative study of traditional and contemporary Nigerian dances”
using Bata dance of the Yoruba, Ikpirikpi Ogu and Atilogwu dances of the Igbos as practical
illustration. This research work employs both the literary, artistic and historical methods.
Relevant information, articles, journals and materials were sourced. A practical performances
of the various dances was done. This research work has been able to examine the similarities
and differences between the traditional and contemporary Nigerian dances, functions of dance
and the beauty of dance. More dance courses was recommended in the school curriculum to
aid students who are interested in dance. The findings of this work reveal to the readers,
researchers, theatre practitioners, and the dancers that there are elements of traditional dances
in contemporary dance. This work concludes that dances, be it traditional or contemporary, are
strong tools for communication and communalism.
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Theatre arts is a broad platform, and all art forms have something to communicate. Art
cultural background. Dance is a form of art, hence, it is an index of culture. Zulu Sofola in
expresses itself.
Dancing is at least as old as man. Early man discovered that dancing channelled his
exuberance, gave him pleasure and expressed his feelings about the most important events of
his life. Adah (1991), in Science and Values in Culture and Civilisation posits that:
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Bakare (2004) in The Rudiments of Choreography asserts that “the fundamental reason
why dance takes place is to make a statement, to communicate, put across a message, express
a thought” (4). From this expression, we can deduce that dance communicates the cultural and
environmental situation of a people or society. Bakare (2004) further says that “all arts no
matter the nature have something to say” (3). This means that both traditional and
contemporary dances have their distinctive features and social statement which is derived from
their cultural situation. Again Bakare (2004) opines that “human beings from different cultures
of the world dance to externalise their inner feelings through body language” (2).
The dancer being a tool of communication uses his body as a means of expression. He
uses his body in expressing physical symbols. Every dance form has a specific body concept
and these might be intertwined with the everyday physical culture or quite remote from it.
Though the traditional and contemporary dances have the same elements and goals, it is still
obvious that they have distinct forms which makes it easy for identification. This project
therefore attempts a comparative study between traditional Nigerian dances and contemporary
dances, expressing the distinctive and similar features of both forms as well as the motivations
Dance like other art forms is a functional part of human life. Dance is as important as
other art forms. However, the subject matter is one that has not been given considerable
attention compared to other artistic forms. Traditional dance style is one that is gradually fading
away with the passage of time, and contemporary dance has not fully been analysed. This study
intends to discuss the relationship between the two dance forms in order to enable the society
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know the uniqueness of traditional and contemporary Nigerian dances, in African Society and
Since the coming of the missionaries, most African societies have abandoned their
cultural practises, this study therefore will help to bring the lost culture of most African
Societies, that traditional African dances can be used for more than just entertainment.
Though researches have been carried out on this subject, some loopholes still need to
be filled. Lack of knowledge of traditional dance forms and their various significance have not
fully been understood. This necessitated the choice for this study, exploring the Ikpiripki, Ogu
and Atilogwu dance of the Igbos and the Yoruba Bata, which are both traditional dances. Also,
the understanding of what contemporary dance entails and the influence of traditional dance
The significance of the project is not far-fetched, it is hoped that apart from stimulating
and exciting further researches on comparative study of traditional and contemporary Nigerian
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dances, it will also contribute to the growth of the general knowledge of Nigerian dance as an
art, as well as enlightening various personnel that require knowledge from this field.
practitioners, cultural historians and the general public in the sense that it will contribute to
their knowledge.
1.6 Methodology
The literary, historical and artistic methods are employed in the collection of data and
reporting of findings. In using the literary method, investigations into different literature such
as printed materials, Journals, Newspapers, books relating to the research topics are consulted.
In using the historical method, facts would be collected from archival materials and printed
sources that are related to the development, beginning and history of dance. In relation to the
artistic method, Data would be obtained from the researcher’s observation on the practical
This project work is strictly aimed at examining the evolution of traditional and
contemporary dances, and the similarities, differences and factors that affect both trends. This
It will be out of place to state that one will not encounter problems during the course of
this research work. Some of the major problems that limited this research work are:
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Both the available materials was constructively utilized to further the actualisation of
this work.
human movement. This movement has aesthetic and symbolic value, and is acknowledged as
between two (or more) entities in quantity, quality or degree, it is one of the degrees of
Traditional Dance: Traditional dance can be another term for folk dance, or sometimes even
called ceremonial dance. The term traditional is more frequently used when the emphasis is on
Contemporary Dance: Contemporary dance is a dance produced at the present period in time.
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