The purpose of the course is to promote knowledge of Latin American culture by raising awareness of how nationality, gender and class have been significant elements in shaping the history and cultural identity of different countries in this geographical area. In particular, the course looks at this phenomenon within the context of social and theatrical dance, highlighting the link between dance, society and culture. It fits within a liberal arts curriculum, exposing students to the fields of cultural anthropology, cultural studies and Latin American studies.
Some of the general questions that the course poses are: How have immigration, racial relationships and politics influenced the formulation of national identities in Latin America and how have the dance forms from the region reflected this phenomenon? How have social class dynamics affected the social acceptance and commercialization of dance and music in the region? How does the practice of dance enact gender roles and relationships in Latin America?
The analysis of salsa and tango, the first one from the Caribbean and the second one from the South Cone, allows establishing a parallel between the cultures of two different geographical areas within Latin American. In this way, the course pays attention to the shared cultural legacy of Latin American countries at the same time that it emphasizes the uniqueness of national histories and local dance traditions within the continent.
The topics of the course are situated in a global perspective. In addition to approaching native dance forms, the course discusses the development of Cuban ballet as an example of how Latin Americans have assimilated foreign dance traditions and used them as a vehicle to express their own cultural identity. In counterpoint to this, it addresses the practice of Latin American dance forms beyond the borders of the region, directing attention to the interaction between Latin American and local cultures within the salsa and tango communities in Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
These subjects will be analyzed through readings, viewings of documentaries, seminar presentations, class discussions and guest lectures. Students will be physically exposed to the dance forms under study through participation in salsa/tango classes and a field trip to salsa/tango/ballet venues in the Philadelphia area.
Participation 20 pts.
Discussion leadership 20 pts.
Seminar presentation 25 pts.
Final paper 35 pts.
The addition of the points obtained in the different assignments will determine the final letter grade. Unexcused absences will affect final grade.
The grade for participation takes into account the quality of the students’ input to class discussions, their ability to engage in a debate, to keep up with the readings and to focus on and be willing to try the movement activities and other tasks of the course.
In class discussions, students should be prepared to contribute questions and personal responses to assigned readings. Critical analysis and exchange of opinions is essential to each student’s learning and the overall success of the course.
Once in the semester, students will be responsible for introducing one of the articles or book chapters in the course’s bibliography. The purpose of this assignment is to hone the students’ skills for summarizing information, responding to a text, conducting an oral presentation and moderating a discussion.
The presenter will study the assigned text, identifying its major topics and their connection to the contents of the course, while paying attention to how the author builds the argument/narrative of the text. She will have ten minutes to share this information with the class. She should also prepare three questions for the class, as a way to start a discussion of the text.
While a synopsis of the text may be part of the presentation, the student should attempt to go beyond merely condensing information. Instead, she should strive for a broader picture. What is the student’s personal response to the text? Does she notice any connections between the material and other subjects studied in class? What is the significance of the article?
The presenter should deploy strong oral communication skills. A script or notes are recommended. She should be ready to answer questions on the text from the class and the instructor.
Depending on the number of the students in the class, the assignment will be conducted individually or with a partner.
During the midterm period, a seminar takes place that inquires on Latin American dance forms not covered as part of the course’s main topics. It aims for students to enlarge their understanding of the diversity and richness of Latin America’s dance heritage, while developing skills for independent research.
Students will have freedom to choose as their topic any dance form from a Latin American country (social, folkloric or theatrical dance). They will conduct research on this dance form in order to establish its history and distinctive features, highlighting how issues of nationality, race, gender and class have affected its practice, and illuminating the connections between the dance form and the sociocultural context surrounding it.
The researcher will write a five-page paper and lead a fifteen-minute presentation on their topic. The use of illustrations or videotapes is encouraged as part of the presentation.
The reliability of the sources is important. At least two of the sources should be in the format of a book, a scholarly article, a press article, an interview of an artist or specialist, an entry from a dance/music/folklore encyclopedia, a documentary or any other similarly qualified text.
Some suggested dance forms for this assignment are:
Cuba: rumba
Dominican Republic: merengue
Colombia: cumbia, vallenato
Brazil: samba, capoeira
Puerto Rico: reggaeton
Panama: murga
Venezuela: joropo, ballet, modern dance
Chile: cueca, butoh, La Tirana
Argentina: ballet, modern dance
Depending on the size of the class, students will work individually or in groups of two or three. Papers will be written individually.
All seminar papers will be made available to the rest of the class assembled in a reading packet as a reference material for the final paper.
The final assignment requires the students to write a six-eight page paper focusing on nationality, ethnicity, race, gender OR class. The chosen category should be discussed across the different dance forms studied during the semester—salsa, tango, ballet and any other forms addressed during the seminar presentations. The paper must address at least two dance forms and ideally three or four.
The purpose of the assignment is that students develop skills for synthesizing information, making connections and drawing comparisons between different areas of the syllabus.
The paper should refer to course readings and audiovisual materials, seminar papers, experiences from dance classes and field trips, class discussions, presentations by guest lecturers, etc… Students are welcome to incorporate any additional materials relevant to their topics.
The information obtained from these sources should be woven into a critical essay—avoiding a mere recollection of data.