Topics vary from semester to semester and have included The Power of Music and Poetry in the Theater; Modern Drama and Theater, 1940 to the Present; Theaters, Tricksters, and Cultural Exchange; Art as Social Action; and The Invisible World (Process Seminar).

This course introduces students to African dance forms, focusing on Traditional and Popular (Afro-pop/Afrobeat) dances from across the continent. The Traditional section focuses on developing students' skills, technique, and understanding of dances performed by the Akan (Adowa, Sikyi, Fontonfrom), Ewe (Agbadza, Agbekor, Adzogbo, Gota, Gahu, Gadzo), Ga (Kpanlogo), and Dagarti (Bawa) peoples of Ghana. Movement phrases and vocabularies from Bawa, Agbekor, and Gahu will be the foundation for movement exploration, composition, and choreography. Through these dance forms – incorporating chants, ululation, storytelling, and more – students will gain an understanding of poly-rhythmic movements, aesthetic diversity, and the societal roles of the dances. The course also examines the traditions, value systems, and histories specific to these forms. In addition, the course places emphasis on African Popular (Afro-contemporary) dances such as Azonto, Shorkie, Shaku Shaku, Gwara Gwara, Pilolo, Ekupe, Gborhe, Anwa, Akaida, and others from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, and beyond. The class integrates theories from contemporary cultural and performance studies, highlighting the confluence of global and African influences. Students will study how traditional dance forms have transformed into contemporary constructs, tracing the relationships between popular dance movements and traditional African dances like Kpanlogo and Oge, as well as Azonto and Kpanlogo from the Ga people of Accra. The course will explore the foundational elements, vocabulary, musical connections, and cultural histories of these styles, along with their current popularity driven by social media.

This class fulfills a dance technique requirement.

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