Kenyan Traditional African Dances.

Music is an international language and with it comes a dance. Dancing is not uncommon in the Africa culture as it has over the years been used to mark the different special occasions and celebrations. There are 8 provinces in Kenya but five major regions. Each of these regions has a popular ethnic group with unique dancing styles; Northern Kenya, Western Kenya, Central, Coast and Eastern Kenya.

The Maasai Dances of Northern Kenya. The north is represented by the famous Maasai tribe. This ethnic community has managed to withstand the test of time and retained its rich traditions and attires. The Maasai have a distinct dance that involve making a circle and jumping up high. The women wear bead necklaces or shanga round their necks which they use to dance as they sing their traditional music. The beautiful colors of their shukas and beads combined with their mowhawk kind of hairstyles separates them from any other dancers in Kenya.

 

Chakacha  of Coastal kenya unlike the Maasai dances, coastal dances focus mainly on vigorous waist movements. Chakacha is a very popular dance amongst the coastal tribes and their music is usually traditional or Taarab. With Taarab music and dancing, the instrumentals take up most of the song giving both the dancers and the performers time to shake their waists and move their hands freely. The major difference between chakacha and Taarab is the tempo of the songs with chakacha being the faster kind of music.

 

Kamba Dances in the Eastern Province The eastern province is synonymous with the Akamba people whose traditional dances involve shaking their shoulders while stamping their bare feet. Their music is usually accompanied by drum beats and flutes. Percussion instruments were used to accompany song and dance depending on the occasion or ceremony.

Mwomboko of Central Region. Central Kenya is famous for its hilly terrain and the great Mountain of God, Mount Kenya. The most populous tribe are the Agikuyu whose dances concentrated on foot and hand movements. The rythimic stamping of feet and sequential arm movements make up most of the dances in that area. Mwomboko is one of the most popular dances in that area and can be compared to a waltz or a slow paced salsa dance. The leg movements of both male and female are systematic and one missed step ruins the whole performance. This dance is one of the least vigorous dances in Kenya.

Isukuti in Western It is with much vigor and passion that the people of western Kenya dance. They probably have the most energetic dances that combine all the other four dancing styles. Unlike the coastal people who shake their waists, or the people from central whose main focus is the feet, or the northerners who love to jump and the easterners who shake their shoulders, the people of western Kenya shake their whole body. Accompanied by the famous Isikuti drums and the karingaringa, a metallic circular instrument that is hit to produce sound, these people love to dance. They dance during all ceremonies, be it a funeral or a wedding. However their most colorful dances are performed during their annual circumcision ceremonies.

 Each of the dances is performed on special occasions like initiation, marriage ceremonies or even funerals. They are easy to learn by observation and can be very entertaining.

B-boy Harry Foundation, Compass Nella Fitness Centre, Ongata Rongai.

Email: bboyharry@live.com - Phone: +254 700 472 451.

DANCE UNPLUGGED IV 2014 DANCE AUDITIONS!!!

If you have a dream, passion, desire to perform on stage and want to present your talent, there is a place for you at the Dance_Unplugged™ International.

Established since 2009, Dance_Unplugged™ has been presented at renowned East Africa venues including: Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya amongst others. We are holding Auditions and the details are a follows....

 DANCE UNPLUGGED IV 2014 DANCE AUDITIONS!!!

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• Monday March 17th 4pm Sharp
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• Call Renee 0722 984 539.

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  Dance_Unplugged International, Compass Nella Fitness Centre, Ongata Rongai.
  Email: danceunplugged@live.com - Phone: +254 700 472 451.

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It was an honour to to be part of production at “Safaricom International Jazz Festival” the first of a kind Jazz Festival in Kenya at an affordable cost that gave Kenyans from all walks of life an opportunity to sample timeless music that is jazz.
A one of its kind Jazz Festival hosted by Safaricom.
Had Big Performances by:
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DANCE UNPLUGGED is one of Kenya's best Dance Show cases, launched in 2011 by B-boy harry and  Shrink Crew. Being one of the dance crews and dance pioneers in East Africa, the event attracts the best dancers in the country and its out skirts and commands a huge following among the youth.  This has been the talk of not only dance crews but teens and youth at large. With a huge and great following it seeks to invest more on dance showcases and workshops to train dance artists, nurture and produce more professional talents in the dance scene.

DANCE UNPLUGGED 4 IN KENYA

Time is a healer, and to achieve your dream you actually have to wake up. It’s without no doubt that practice makes perfect, Bboy harry as he is commonly known has a great passion for dance. His clearly one of the most experienced dancers in Kenya and with his wealth of talent, skill and tonnes of untold stories he bore a vision which he clearly points out was ordained from up above,

Dance unplugged is a dream that was installed in me by God nikiwa (when I was) at my place way back in 2009. It was around December getting to January and was telling my crew/Pals(Friends) that I want to start a dance showcase that will reach out to all dancers, “ Am having this dream that I want to make a reality. “ I had to meet a few people, I know got opened doors and we got PCEA LANG’ATA at our disposal- they saw the dream and tapped it. So, I talked to Dj Joelz, his brother and the crew tukaanza (we started) plans, basically the 1^st Unplugged.

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To be held on 12^st April 2014, Dance Unplugged 4 promises to be one of the most anticipated and hyped event so far. Boosting of over 15 crews on their list that comprise of both fresh and veteran crews, top of the list array of artistes and a capable management we are expectant…ooh yes

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DATE: APRIL 12th
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CHARGES:
Advanced Tickets go for KSH. 150/-
Gate Charges are KSH. 200/-
To Book Your space or STAND email: danceunplugged@live.com
Call, Text or Whats Up: +254 700 472 451.
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DATE: APRIL 19th
TIME: 2pm - 6pm
VENUE: Nyayo National Stadium
CHARGES:
Advanced Tickets go for KSH. 150/-
Gate Charges are KSH. 200/-

Tickets Call: 1511
To Book Your space or STAND email: danceunplugged@live.com
Call, Text or Whats Up: +254 700 472 451.
#TRANSFORMING_LIVES_THROUGH_DANCE.
#We_Are_The_DREAM.

Hi kindly check out dance unplugged...http://danceunplugged.tumblr.com/

 

 

Dance_Unplugged International, Compass Nella Fitness Centre, Ongata Rongai.

Email: danceunplugged@live.com - Phone: +254 700 472 451.