Excerpts From the Dances of Haiti

Abstract

To discuss adequately the function of the dance, a few words must be said of the form. (Notes on the interrelation of form and function have been reserved for the last section of this paper). It is only after months of continual observation and actual participation that the significance of emphasis on certain parts of the body, on floor pattern, on accent, on carriage of the head, and placement of hands and arms becomes distinguishable as definite patterns with distinct form. This same observation and participation is necessary if the association of form and terminology are to reach any degree of accuracy. The local tendency to use descriptive terminology is an initial aid in recognizing form. Thus certain dances are dance grouillfr, or colle, or dos-bas, or zepaules. Others are the hanches, others de pie, and still others du ven. Most of these terms refer to the part of the body stressed in the dance, i.e.,