On Stage, Spirit Dance II: Research Findings and Experiences

Abstract This article defines “Spirit Dance” and its practices; it furthers an understanding of the powerful impact of dance in religious rituals across the American African diaspora for the past three centuries. The article focuses on the relevance of Spirit Dance on theatrical and educational stages and compares Spirit Dance in several cultures before concentrating on those African-rooted religious dances found in Caribbean, Latin American, and US sites. The article also documents the profound injection of West and Central African dances into the US during the 1950s and 1960s. It relies pointedly on the experience over time of researching and teaching African dance in the Americas, reveling in the individual and group affect that Spirit Dance produces. In sum, the article encourages Spirit Dance on stages and in concert spaces so that more people will profit from its affect and uplift.