The belief is that blessing comes from the gods and the spirits of ancestors mediate for you, she said. But Munchus-Bullock emphasizes the diversity of dances from the African continent, adding that dances and movements vary according to the countries and the areas from which the dances are derived. The phrase African dance is somewhat of a misnomer. There are the dances of Africa. Despite the multitude of differences, Munchus-Bullock said that there are similarities among many of the dances and movements, which she tries to focus on in her class, Introduction to African Dance and Culture.
Many people know that dance is important to the study of a people or group.
Burgee points to the similarities of dance in all cultures as a force to create understanding among different ethnic groups. Dance provided me with a more worldly perspective of life. It gave me the desire to learn more about the world and different cultures. Culture is the principle of life . . . Although many things have affected aspects of African tradition, mainly colonization, the dance and music have preserved the culture, Burgee said.