Mocha Ethiopia Dance Group, Ethiopian National Theatre, Beta Dance Group, are just a few of the Ethiopian dance companies, Ethiopian dance schools, dancing organizations and dance wear suppliers that that can be found in our comprehensive Directory of Ethiopian Dance Companies.
Traditional Ethiopian Dance
Ethiopia is the only independent country in Africa and one of the oldest country in the world. (over 3000 year history) Ethiopia has a very unique culture and variety of folk dance. Folk dance is one of the symbol of this unique culture. All Ethiopian people love dancing, and it is one part of their life.
Ethiopian dance is quite different from other African dance styles. It is based on sensuous and refined movement of the upper body, especially the shoulders and neck. This basis ripples into passionate and physically intense flow to the entire body creating a revitalizing spiritual experience… and an invigorating workout!
Dances of Abyssinia features three styles of celebration dances performed at various social gatherings in Ethiopia and Eritrea. The first part features the high-energy dance of the Gurage of Ethiopia, which also depicts women making Kocho, traditional food made from the insides of banana trees. Next is the Tigrigna dance from Eritrea & Ethiopia. This style is flowy and graceful, traditionally performed in two parts:- In the slow Kuda part, every one flows together in a circle while in the faster Dirib part, the emphasis is on dancing with isolation of the neck, shoulders and chest. The last part is Eskesta, the popular dance of Ethiopia from the Amhara people. It is a dance which also focuses on the upper body in a more relaxed form than the Tigrigna. Socially, all three styles emphasize community as well as individual interpretation.
[use existing groups for Lul-shows -- if with the National Theatre]
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