Traditional Dance

A traditional dance is an interesting body movement. It belongs to the local society or community. The dance goes with traditional music. We dance to the rhythm of the song or the beat of the instruments. Everybody may take part. Each ethnic group or languages have their type of dances. The Igbo people have a particular way of dancing to their songs. So also are the Yoruba, the Hausa, the Efik, Igala and other groups in Nigeria.

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Traditional dances usually involves the twisting of the waist, clapping, bending the back and the knees, shaking the head and movement of the hands and legs.

Uses of traditional dances

Traditional dances are used for entertainment.
Traditional dances are used during occasions like marriages, coronations, festivals and rituals.
Traditional dances are used for body exercises.
Traditional dances are used with songs to tell stories.

Traditional dances in Nigeria

The Bata dance: The Bata dance is common among the Yoruba tribe. It involves the sharp movement of the joints of the body to the rhythm of the drum.
The Atilogwu dance: This is common among the Igbo tribe. It is a dance which needs much power. It is a dance of the youths in the society. They come out to show their strength. It is also an acrobatic dance where dancers somersault and carry one another.
The Koroso dance: The Koroso is common among the Fulani society. The dance is performed during ceremonies like the marriage ceremony. The females usually dance in a small area while the males dance to meet the females.
The Sharo dance: It is common among the Fulani people in Sokoto State. The Sharo dance is performed when a young man is looking for a wife. It is also performed during a marriage ceremony
Other dances include the Ekombi dance, Jarawa dance, Gada dance, Swange dance and Unekisin dance. They belong to different ethnic groups in Nigeria. They also have different musical instruments and ways of dancing.