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How to Dance to African Folktales

African folktales are rich in culture and tradition and are often celebrated around the world. Many of these stories have woven their way into American folktales as well, making them an indispensable part of American culture. You can use African folk tales to enhance a dance class, help make your school class well-rounded or introduce your music students to new cultures. When dancing to African folk tales, get creative by including costumes and music.

Things You'll Need

  • African folktale
  • African music CD
  • Costumes (optional)
  • CD player
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose an African folktale to work with. You can usually find a selection of these at your local library or with some Internet research. Two places to start include Favorite African Folktales Edited by Nelson Mandela and African Folktales by Roger Abrams.

    • 2

      Adapt the folktale to act out. You may want to turn it into a play, either with dialogue between characters, or with an off-stage narrator carrying the story.

    • 3

      Select African music to go with your folktale by perusing a local music store or library in the World Music section. Choose music from the same country as the folktale to make it even more accurate.

    • 4

      Play the music in a CD player or computer during your presentation.

    • 5

      Weave the music together with the narrative. You may want to use the music as background for your play (such as drums of the sound of an animal walking) or use dance as the only way to communicate the story. You can also try having dancers communicate the story while having a narrator read the story or tell the audience parts of the story that cannot be inferred through dance.

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