Special Projects in Dance / Fall 2024

      I  Unit: National Dance Theme: Danzon Introduction If the danza cubana, or Cuban danza , owes to Ignacio Cervantes its origin and development, Danzon, Cuba's national dance, owes to Miguel Failde, its birth. Although the danzón is traditionally Cuban, it was influenced by a variety of cultures. Miguel Faílde, a Cuban musician, is the official originator of the danzón , the composer of the first danzón, “Las Alturas de Simpson,” and the founder of one of the earliest danzón orchestras, Orquesta Faílde (Faílde 2016).   II Learning Objectives   Understand the main characteristics of the danzon Explain relationship between the contradanza, the danza and the danzon  Gain an awareness of the classic and nationalist aspect of the danzon Experience dancing the danzon    III Main Lesson   1  The Danzon General Notes (Based on Carpentier 2001, 212) Two types of contradanzas existed in the late eighteen hundreds: one closer to...

  I  Unit: Classic Cuba Theme: Danzas Introduction La danza cubana, or Cuban danza , owes to Ignacio Cervantes its origin and development. In its foreword, Barreiro (2006), mentions how Cervantes' danzas represent the "popular melodic and rhythmic unity" that was harvested in music academies. Barreiro, borrowing from Dana (1859), describes the danza as "a rondo of constantly returning melodies." Even though, as expressed by Carpentier, Cervantes respected the binary form established by his predecessor Manuel Saumell, his romanticism gave the contradanza (what later became known as the habanera), its final classical touch.   II Learning Objectives   Understand the main characteristics of the danza Explain relationship between the contradanza and danza   Gain an awareness of the classic aspect of the danza Experience dancing the danza      III Main Lesson   1  The Danza General Notes (Based on Carpentier 2001, 212) There is a co...