This course explores the primary pantheon of deities, the Orixás, of the Afro-Brazilian religion Candomblé, through their dances, songs, and complex rhythms. We will center our embodied practice through an Africanist aesthetic, focusing on polyrhythm, the correlation of dance and nature, polycentrism, theatricality, and oral tradition. Movement exploration is supplemented by short lectures and video in order to ascertain a more in-depth understanding of Brazilian history as it pertains to the creation and evolution of Candomblé and its dances as resistance against slavery and racism. A celebratory experience, the lively and multifaceted experiential nature of these dances provides a portal into one of Brazil's most influential religious and cultural practices. |