Basic 3 · Creative Arts · Displaying and Sharing
Performing African-Inspired Works
In this topic you will perform your African-inspired music and dance to share your creative experience.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Rehearse your performance
- Perform for an audience
- Explain the culture behind your performance
What you already know
- Creating African-inspired music and dance
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
- Strand
- Performing Arts
- Sub-strand
- Displaying and Sharing
- Indicator
- B3.2.3.4.1 – Perform own artworks to share creative experiences that reflect the history and culture of people in other African communities
Introduction
After weeks of practice, your group will perform for the school. You will also tell the audience where the music and dance come from.
1. Before the Performance
- Rehearse at least three times.
- Prepare simple costumes (cloth wraps, beads, raffia).
- Plan an introduction.
2. Introducing Your Performance
Example: "Good morning. Our group will perform a dance inspired by the Maasai of Kenya. The Maasai jump high to show the strength of young warriors. Enjoy!"
3. During the Performance
- Face the audience.
- Keep together with the rhythm.
- Smile and enjoy it.
New words
- rehearse
- To practise before performing.
- introduction
- What you say at the start.
- audience
- People who watch.
- costume
- Clothes worn to perform.
Summary
- Rehearse, prepare costumes and plan an introduction.
- Tell the audience about the culture behind your work.
- Perform together and confidently.
Class activity: Showtime
- Introduce your performance to the class.
- Perform with drum, shaker and dance.
- Answer one question from the audience.
You need: Locally made drum, Gourd shaker, Printed photographs of Ghanaian performances
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. What do we do before performing?
- A. Rehearse
- B. Sleep
- C. Leave
- D. Eat only
Show answer
Answer: RehearsePractice prepares us.2. What should an introduction tell the audience?
- A. Where the performance comes from
- B. Nothing
- C. Your shoe size
- D. The time
Show answer
Answer: Where the performance comes fromIt shares the culture.3. Performers should face the audience.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueIt shows confidence.4. Costumes are never used in performances.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseCostumes help tell the story.5. People who watch are the ______.
Show answer
Answer: audienceThat is the audience.6. Write an introduction for a performance inspired by Zulu dance.
Show answer
Answer: E.g. "Our dance is inspired by the Zulu of South Africa, who dance to show warrior spirit."Name the people and meaning.
Homework
- Teach a family member one step from your performance.