Dance and Rites of Passage

What follows is not an anthropological study on the subject of life and dance and the accompanying ceremonies of transition. I would just like to illustrate the role of dance in events which may themselves be times of joy or stress and strain in an individuals life. I shall use the rituals of birth, marriage and death to demonstrate how dance is a vital component of almost all societies ceremonies worldwide connected to these events. These rituals sometimes involve an individual man or a woman, a boy or a girl and at other times they are a group event.

These occasions are not just one of life's social transitions but have a very strong spiritual element though it must be said that highly industrialized societies and "individualistic" societies the sacred aspect has less and less impact. Rites of passage continue to be extremely important in the lives of societies where the emphasis is on family and group solidarity and spirituality rather than on individual self-fulfillment.Value is placed on the wisdom of age and the elders pass on the groups collective wisdom. Many societies to-day would benefit from finding a respected and honored place in life for the elders.

In Haiti ritual dances are held for healing at birth. Even to-day there are reports from Middle Eastern countries of women giving birth surrounded by their female friends and family who belly dance with the woman in labor to help her to give birth.As much Middle Eastern female dancing is "down into the ground", soft and sinuous I can well imagine that this helps to relax the birthing muscles. The baby is danced into the world and into a new life. What a wonderful way to welcome a newborn child and to give thanks for its safe birth!

A very important ceremony marks the transition of the young boy or girl to adulthood. The ceremonies for girls don't necessarily take place at the time of the first menses. Some societies wait until just before marriage. These special ceremonies for both boys and girls emphasize that on becoming adults they will have responsibilities to their society. Both boys and girls are taught tribal history and shown its relevance to present day life and how adult men and women are expected to behave and interact with others. The ceremonies are always led by the elders.The rite of passage teaches girls what is is to be a wife, daughter-in-law, mother and how to run a household.

Boys might have to undergo frightening and painful ordeals such as scarification, camping deep in the bush, hunting amongst many others.The Aranda of Central Australia perform circumcision and fire ordeals to strengthen cooperation among male hunting groups and to gain access to the Dreamtime - a very spiritual experience. In Central Africa certain groups consciously use dance to bring about changes in the bodies and spirits of the young girls so that they emerge as full women.

In some parts of Africa and the Middle East these ceremonies of transition are the time when young girls undergo clitoridectomy or infibulation. Personally, I fervently hope that the practitioners themselves will decide to allow this custom which causes such mental and physical pain, sexual, and birth difficulties to fall into disuse.

The Sunrise Ceremonial marks the point when an Apache girl becomes a woman and takes place after a girls first menstruation. There is a report of a girl dancing in her heavy buckskin outfit for six hours. In times past the girls danced all through the night.The ceremony is accompanied by numerous prayers and songs for blessings and a good life. At the end of this exhausting period the girl has become a strong woman with spiritual understanding.

The Bambuti Pygmies in the Ituri forest of Zaire perform a ritual called "elima". Older female relatives teach the girls among other things the songs, dances and village history. The conclusion of the ceremony is marked by dancing which goes on for many hours.

In large parts of Latin America and areas of the United States where there are Puerto Rican, Cuban or Mexican Americans, girls may celebrate their "QUINCEANERA" which is a rite of passage that has some aspects similar to a "sweet 16" party. The young girl shows a renewal of devotion to the life of the church but it is also the age at which she is old enough to begin dating boys. The girl whose party it is picks a boy to escort her and invites sixteen other young people to be members of her court. Each court member is expected to spend many hours rehearsing choreographed dances for the event.

The rituals can mark stages in education, social life or spiritual knowledge.In Australia debutante balls (debutante means beginner) are generally held in the eleventh year of the Australian school system. It is the girl who asks a boy to the ball. Boys cannot "do the deb" unless they are asked.This is an example of an educational rite of passage.

A cotillion or debutante ball in the United States of America is a formal presentation of young girls to those who are considered to be the "cream of society". The girls are usually recommended by a distinguished committee or sponsored by an established member of polite society. These balls are frequently charity affairs raising money so that others may have a better life.

This is rather different to tribal society where all members will undergo the rites of passage Countries such as Australia and the U.S have been influenced by customs which originated in England. The rite of passage known as the debutante season and "coming out" originated in the eighteenth century when King George the Third held a ball for his wife's birthday. The most important ball was Queen Charlotte's Ball where well-bred girls danced with eligible young men and hoped to find a suitable marriage partner. This rite of passage assured a girl of her position in society and in life in general, while also declaring her to be of marriageable age. Queen Elizabeth the Second abolished the ceremony of presentation of young girls at court in 1958.

In the United States, England and no doubt in other countries there has been a marked interest by parents, educators, the clergy and people of various spiritual orientations in arranging retreats for teen-agers which provide a rite of passage relevant to the youths and the life they will have to live in this troubled world.

Marriage is a rite of passage that worldwide is associated with dancing so I'm not going to dwell on this aspect. In Mexico while the bride and groom dance, guests gather around in the shape of a heart. The Cajuns of Louisiana are famous for their good food and life-style. They celebrate a wedding with a dance or reception. In French a wedding dance is called "la Bal de Noce " which is the term the Cajuns have adopted.

In death too, music and dance play a part. Farewells can take place to the throbbing of drums and much dancing or may be very staid and stiff affairs.

The people of New Orleans have their own unique rite of passage for the dead.The New Orleans jazz funeral has its origins in the spiritual beliefs of the Dahomean and Yoruba cultures of West Africa. The joyful music and enthusiastic dancing which takes place after the funeral rites reflects the belief that death is a gateway to a better spiritual place where one is re-united with the ancestors. The band accompanies the mourners and the coffin from the deceased's home or the funeral parlour, to the church. Then the party either march to the cemetery or they "cut the body lose" (send the hearse off to the cemetery). Until this point the procession is solemn and the band plays dirges adapted from French military music. As soon as they "cut the body loose" or leave the cemetery, the band strikes up a joyous sound and everyone dances back to the lodge hall with others joining in along the way.

Death is the final and ultimate rite of passage!

DANCE TO HEALTH