MAke-Up Work

 Blake Jacey - Summary of Missed Classes
1/21

This lesson explored the early stages of human evolution and how the physical traits
that formed in our ancestors helped set the stage for dance. We learned that long
before humans had large brains, they walked upright. This bipedal movement freed their
hands and allowed for more complex gestures. As species like Homo habilis and Homo
erectus appeared, their use of tools, dexterous fingers, and longer legs showed signs of
growing coordination and rhythm, both of which are important for dance. Eventually,
Homo sapiens emerged with even more adaptability, social interaction, and creativity.
We also discussed how building shelters, burying the dead, and creating early art were
signs of deeper thinking and emotions. These behaviors may have included rituals that
involved movement or dance. Burial sites and art objects suggest that early humans
were connecting physically and spiritually through expressive acts, which likely included
dance. We reflected on how dance likely started as a form of ritual and communication.
By studying hand gestures and movement sequences inspired by early humans, we
began to understand how physical evolution impacted our ability to express ourselves
through dance.

2/4
We explored how rituals helped early communities make sense of big life changes like
birth, death, and seasonal transitions. We learned about anthropologist Victor Turner’s
idea of the rite of passage, which has three parts: separation, a middle “in-between”
phase called liminality, and rejoining the group with a new role. These ideas relayed
why rituals are powerful tools for both personal growth and community bonding.
We also talked about why bringing rituals back into modern life matters. In a world that
often feels rushed or disconnected, rituals can give people a sense of belonging and
meaning. Whether it’s through cultural traditions or even a simple group activity, rituals
can help mark transitions in life in a more intentional way.
As a class, we reworked the group ritual we had created earlier, this time including
elements like liminality and symbolic transformation. It was a hands-on way to
understand how dance and ritual have always been connected, from ancient sun
celebrations to today’s ceremonies that still bring people together.

2/6
We explored how the discovery of copper impacted early human society, not just in
terms of tools and technology, but also through culture and ritual. Copper smelting
allowed people to make more durable musical instruments, like finger cymbals, which
played a key role in Egyptian music and ceremonial dance. As communities became
more settled they began developing unique religious practices centered around nature
and agriculture.
We also looked at how theater grew out of ritual practices. We saw how early
performances were often spiritual or symbolic events, using movement, music, and
storytelling to express shared beliefs. These rituals eventually evolved into more
structured theatrical traditions.We studied historic illustrations of ancient dances,
noticing how early gestures and poses were repeated across generations. Some
movements even resemble steps we still see in modern dance today.

2/20
This lesson focused on African cultural retention, specifically through dance, religion,
and rhythm. We explored how traditions like capoeira and the dances of the Yoruba
orishas have survived and evolved, especially through the blending of African beliefs
with Catholicism in the Americas. These blended practices, known as syncretism,
helped preserve African spirituality during and after the slave trade, especially in places
like Cuba and Brazil.
A central idea was that in African culture, “there is no movement without rhythm.” Dance
isn’t just physical—it’s spiritual, social, and deeply connected to music and everyday
life. We studied different orishas (Yoruba deities), each with their own chants, dance
styles, and symbolic meanings. For example, Ogun, the god of metals, is honored with
strong, grounded movements that reflect his power and connection to labor and
protection.
In class, we watched videos, explored chants, and learned the dance movements
associated with various orishas. These dances aren’t just performance, but they’re a
way of communicating with the divine, honoring ancestors, and keeping cultural identity
alive.

2/27
We explored Carnival as a rich cultural expression rooted in the African diaspora. We
looked at how Carnival emerged from a mix of African, European, Indigenous, and
Asian influences across different countries, becoming a space where history, resistance,
joy, and identity come alive. In places like Haiti, Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, and
New Orleans, Carnival takes on different forms, but all reflect shared themes of
liberation, creativity, and cultural pride.
We also discussed ideas like circum-Atlantic memory—the shared historical
experiences across Africa, the Americas, and Europe—and socio-cultural density, or
how layered and meaningful these celebrations are. Philosophers helped us see how
Carnival turns the world upside down, challenging social norms through costumes,
music, and dance. At the same time, we learned how Carnival can also reveal deeper
societal issues, including racism, as discussed in Carlos Moore’s work.
In class, we watched Carnival performances from different countries, analyzed the
cultural meanings behind them, and learned some samba choreography. We also
studied Katherine Dunham, a pioneer in dance anthropology, who showed how
movement can be both a cultural practice and a serious field of study.

4/8
In this lesson, we explored the styles of Baroque and Rococo through their influence on
dance, especially the minuet and contradanza. The Baroque period was known for its
drama, emotion, and grandeur, while Rococo evolved from it with a lighter, more playful
and decorative flair. These styles were reflected not just in art and architecture, but also
in how people moved, especially the nobility, who used dance to display elegance,
grace, and social status.
We learned that dances from these periods, like the minuet, were highly structured and
precise, helping lay the foundation for classical ballet. In contrast, the contradanza,
which spread from Europe to the Caribbean, became a symbol of cultural blending. In
Cuba, it transformed into the habanera, mixing African rhythms with European forms,
eventually influencing styles like mambo and cha-cha-cha.
We also looked at tumba francesa, a dance and music tradition brought to eastern Cuba
by enslaved Haitians after the Haitian Revolution. It blends French, Haitian, and African
elements and is still practiced today in cultural societies.

4/10
This lesson traced the evolution of ballroom dance in the Spanish Caribbean, starting
with the European-influenced contradanza and ending with the vibrant rhythms of salsa.
We explored how the contradanza, also known as the habanera, spread from Europe to
Cuba and evolved by blending with African rhythms. Its influence extended beyond
Cuba, shaping other genres like tango and classical compositions such as Carmen. The
Enlightenment period also played a key role in this dance evolution, promoting values
like human emotion and accessibility in music and performance.
From there, we observed the dance’s transformation into danza, which took on a more
romantic, expressive tone and thrived in both Cuba and Puerto Rico. The danzón came
next, considered Cuba’s national dance. Out of danzón grew the son, which added
syncopation, call-and-response singing, and stronger Afro-Cuban elements. Eventually,
this lineage led to the creation of salsa, a genre born in New York but deeply rooted in
Caribbean traditions, especially Cuban son and guaracha. It is called “salsa” for a
reason.

4/15
This lesson focused on the origins and evolution of ballet, beginning with its roots in the
Italian Renaissance and its development in the French royal court. We learned how
Catherine de Medici helped introduce Italian culture and dance to France, laying the
groundwork for ballet as an art form. Under King Louis XIV, ballet became a symbol of
power and refinement—used to reflect the king's control and elegance, often performed
in his court as a form of cultural expression and social hierarchy.
We also explored ballet’s connection to fencing, particularly in the turned-out feet,
upright posture, and formal positioning. Over time, ballet evolved from its courtly
beginnings into a professionalized and highly technical form of theatrical dance. Despite
changes in movement and performance styles over the centuries, the five foundational
ballet positions have remained central to ballet technique. A major turning point came
with the Ballets Russes in the early 1900s, which reenergized Western ballet by
merging bold Russian influences with innovative music and stage design. We
emphasized how ballet has shaped other forms of dance and continues to be a global
standard for technique and artistry. Overall, ballet in the Renaissance reflected the era’s
ideals of discipline, beauty, and human expression. These values continue to shape
dance today.

4/17
This lesson explored the emergence of modern dance as a response to the rigid
traditions of ballet. Modern dance, which began in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries, emphasized freedom of movement, emotional expression, and connection to
the natural human form. It moved away from ballet’s formality, seeking authenticity and
individuality in performance.
We studied early innovators like Loie Fuller, who used light and fabric to create visual
effects, and Isadora Duncan, who danced barefoot and drew inspiration from nature and
ancient Greek art. Modern dance expanded with European expressionists like Rudolf
Laban, Mary Wigman, and Kurt Jooss, who emphasized the body’s relationship to
space and internal emotion.
In America, figures like Martha Graham introduced groundbreaking techniques like
contraction and release to tell deep psychological and mythological stories. Lester
Horton developed a whole-body technique rooted in strength and flexibility, while José
Limón focused on breath and fall-recovery. Katherine Dunham blended modern dance
with Afro-Caribbean movement and was a key figure in connecting dance to cultural
identity.
We also examined the “figure 4” shape, a foundational posture in Horton technique, as
a tool for strength, alignment, and expression.
Together, these pioneers reshaped dance into a powerful medium for storytelling,
emotion, and social commentary—laying the groundwork for postmodern and
contemporary dance that followed.