Sep 30 - Week 7 - Meeting 13 / Cultural Eclecticism: Comparsa

 

I
 
Unit: Cultural Eclecticism
Theme: Comparsa

Introduction

Eclecticism adopts elements from various systems without necessarily integrating them into a single cohesive framework. This distinction allows for a broader, more inclusive approach in eclecticism, where the selection is based on individual merit or preference rather than an attempt to create a new unified tradition. The Spanish conquistadors did not plan for their culture to eclectically mix with other traditions. Comparsa, a street dance performed by a neighborhood band has elements from all cultures that shared the same space in the Americas.

 
II
 
Learning Objectives 

  • Understand carnival as an expression of African diasporic history
  • Explain the meaning of the terms Circum-Atlantic memory and socio-cultural density
  • Gain an awareness of the meaning of  the society of the spectacle
  • Experience carnival dance choreography

 III
 
Main Lesson 
 
1
 
 
Havana

Question 1

 What is you impression of Havana's carnival in 1961?

 

 2

 

 Question 2


What is the difference between Havana's Carnival and Santiago de Cuba's Conga in terms of dance, culture and performance?


3

 Conga los Hoyos, Santiago de Cuba

 

Read: Article

Toward an Understanding of Conga santiaguera: Elements of La conga de Los Hoyos.

(Pages 224 - 248)

Link: https://www-jstor-org.access.library.miami.edu/stable/pdf/43282555.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A8cc5ae3588c162fdbb7764dfeb8c9291&ab_segments=&initiator=&acceptTC=1


Activity 1

Each student reads a page from 224 to 248 and shares with the rest of the class his/her summary.


 

 4

Conga as Show

 

 

Conga Rhythm in the Pink Ballroom of The Tropical

https://youtu.be/j868ZBSJFuM?si=BcKD2qWuEA_w-WyH 

 

 Question 3

What is the difference between this conga and the Conga de los Hoyos in Santiago the Cuba?


 5

Conga Dance Steps


 

https://youtu.be/oMBvJPZHHVY?si=abxrY1KcZ2yahx1l 

 

Question 4

What is the difference between this conga steps and the conga we saw in Conga de Los Hoyos in Santiago de Cuba?

 

IV

 A Note to Remember

The African diaspora has left all over the continent traces of their religious, cultural and social practices. Carnival is one of the events that illustrate the impact that African cultures have had on Westernized culture since its insertion.

 

V

Case Study


Human Cartography — Mapping Ancestry, DNA & Peoples

 Human Cartography explores human ancestry, DNA, ethnicity, and migration through history, genetics, anthropology, and geography. This channel explains how populations formed, mixed, and moved long before modern borders and racial labels existed. We break down topics like race vs ancestry, population genetics, ancient DNA, and the link between language, culture, and genetics

 

 Question 5

What is the narrator saying about the racial composition of Cuban people and consequently Cuban Americans in Miami?



 15:50

 

Cuba Centro


 Paseo Carroza Barrio Santa Teresa, Chivos, Camajuaní 2025 

The Wizard  of Oz



 

 Paseo Carroza Barrio San Jose, Sapos, Camajuaní 2025

(11:00 - End) 

 

Question 6
After watching the videos above, what is your impression of the cultural performances in the central part of Cuba compared to Santiago de Cuba and Havana?

VI

Activity 2


Students learn conga/comparsa steps


Accompaniment for Dance

 

Learn the mains steps of the comparsa (carnival street dance)

Create your own steps or phrase with 8 moves


VII

Journaling


VIII

Glossary


IX

Sources

Milstein, Lani (n.d.).Toward an Understanding of Conga santiaguera: Elements of La conga de Los Hoyos. https://www.utexaspressjournals.org/doi/abs/10.7560/LAMR34204

Las Parrandas cubanas resplandecen en el pintoresco pueblo de Camajuaní.

https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/las-parrandas-cubanas-resplandecen-en-el-pintoresco-pueblo-de-camajuan%C3%AD/89053763

X

Students' Work

 

 

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