study guide for teachers - Burlington Performing Arts Centre

STUDY GUIDE FOR TEACHERS
Black Umfolosi
Background Information on the Company
Black Umfolosi is a self taught Acappella (Imbube) singing and traditional dance group that was formed in 1982 by the then school age
members who wanted to dEvelop themselves and contribute to their
community. Specialising in imbube music, gumboot dance and Zulu
dance, Black Umfolosi has toured extensively nationally and internationally –Europe, USA, Canada, Australia. Black Umfolosi soon found
the need to visit people to see and learn about different traditions,
and then made it their mission to demonstrate and teach others
around the world (including other African countries) about Southern
African, traditional dance and music. Black Umfolosi expanded to
become Black Umfolosi Performing Arts Project,acquired land and put
up an Arts Centre. The following programmes were then possible:
Mentoring and Training Other Artists, Hiring Equipment Out, Foreign
and local exchange programs
Background Information on Zimbabwe
Every Culture
A reference to the geography, language, history, economy of
Zimbabwe)
Activity Village-Zimbabwe
Fun facts about Zimbabwe with printable maps and flags)
Our Africa
A brief reference about the people and culture. Includes 2
videos about a young boy wanting to play the marimba –
xylophone– and of children playing the small hand-held instrument the mbira.
Where in Africa
Language Arts & Social Studies Activities for Grades 6-8)
An extensive PBS website based on a televised series of 8
segments. Series is supported by lesson plans and student
activities including maps, information on daily life and African culture chart. Note some links may be invalid and resources may be dated.
African Eco Challenges
(Social Studies & History Activities for Grades 7-8)
Continuing the PBS series, more information and activities
that explore: conservation, clean water, art & literature,
broadcasting news, defining desertification, geography and
climate, activism and the media. Note some links may be
invalid and resources may be dated.
Music Lesson Plans & Resources
African Music Diary
(All ages)
Interviews, films, videos of current and historical Zimbabwe musicians.
Music of Zimbawe: Spirit of the People
(Grades 4-8)
The British Columbia Teacher Federation has compiled a comprehensive curriculum
document with lesson plans on song writing, dance and musical instruments. Published
in 1996 so some content may be out of date.
Musical Reflecions
(Grades 4-8)
Southern African music is explored and digital recordings are highlighted so students can
listen to: Masalela (Xhosa fighting song), Hayi Amabete Ngolwimi (Xhosa popular song
traditionally played with a uhadi), Bloemfontein (Zulu love song), Musengu (Njanja song A Xhosa thumb piano from Zimbabwe
is played to appease the mhondoro spirits, who are central deities of the Karanga
people of southern Zimbabwe).
Dance Lesson Plans & Resources
Gumboot Dance
Understand the historical significance of Black Umfolosi’s famous dance.
Exploring Cultural Dance: CODE
(Grade 4+)
Creative and critical analysis process to explore, assess and reflect on different cultural dance forms.
Cultural Dances – Demonstration
(Grade 7+)
This video, featuring Akua Acheampong and Grade 7 students, was developed by
Curriculum Services Canada. Students learn dances from a variety of cultures.
This video is 10 minutes in length.
Dance – Dance Styles
(Grade 8)
This teacher guide provides a lesson plan on the variety of dance forms, traditions,
and styles from past and present, and their
Socio-cultural and historical contexts. The plan includes 3, 40 minute period outlines.
Dance 101
The National Art Centre of Ottawa’s award winning arts education website provides
dance information on the following topics: why people dance, dance forms and
styles, dance facts, safety, glossary of 150+ dance terms, glossary of human anatomy terms, over 130+ links and resources on dance related topics.
Understanding Dance
More outstanding information from the NAC on where to find live dance experiences
throughout Canada, understanding dance through practicing, watching,
General Lesson Plans about African Culture
Studying Africa Through the Humanities
(Grade 5-8)
A comprehensive study curriculum with extensive lesson plans, activities,
primary materials and videos.
Exploring African Culture
(Grades 4-8)
A extensive PSB website based on a series of 8 segments on Africa. Site
includes 6 lesson plans ranging from myths, food, religions, everyday life,
art and musical reflections. Also includes a Teacher’s Guide that includes
student resources and activities.
Interactive Activities & Videos
Global Trek: Virtual Travel Around the World
(Grades 3-8)
Students can virtually travel from Ontario to Zimbabwe without leaving their classroom. Students enjoy interactive activities that
include book their own trip, writing a travel journal, sharing experiences with other classrooms around the world through an instant translator and creating their own Global Postcard.
Our Africa: Children’s Videos of Africa
(All grades)
Children from across Africa have made films to show others what life is like in their own country. Highlights include:
Mbira Magic (Children from the SOS Children’s Village at Bindura sing some traditional songs to the accompaniment of a very
important instrument in Zimbabwean music – the mbira)
Sculpture, The Protected Egg (Florence visits Lovemore Mashapure, a local sculptor. He shows her the stone sculpture he’s
working on. It’s called ‘The protected egg’ and is made from a local rock called springstone.)
Marimba Maker (Godfrey visits Robert Muuya, who is a marimba teacher. The marimba is a type of wooden xylophone.)
Additional Resources
International Dance Day – Guide for Teachers (2010)
A guide for teachers to encourage participation in the UNESCO designated day that celebrates dance and initiates new audiences
to dance. The documents includes dance steps template created by Montreal-based dance artist José Navas, an associate dance
artist of the National Art Centre as well as additional curriculum connections and student based activities.
African Online Digital Library
The African Online Digital Library (AODL) is a portal to multimedia collections about Africa. The site works in cooperation with the
African Studies Center at Michigan State University as well as universities and cultural heritage organizations in Africa to build this
resource. Plans are underway to add digital tools in order to enable scholars to work with and add to these materials.
For more information on Black Umfolosi performance contact:
Joanne Churchill
Education Outreach Coordinator
The Burlington Performing Arts Centre
P ǀ 905.681.2551 x 6311 F ǀ 905.681.6002
[email protected]
www.burlingtonpac.ca/school-performances