Created by video artist Burt Barr, 'Aeros' is an impressionistic behind-the-scenes look at the Trisha Brown Dance Company as they rehearse, stage, and perform her choreographed work in a variety of settings, including Moscow, New York, France, and Florida. Here we see members of the Tricia Brown Dance Company during a rehearsal for the performance piece.

This site presents a collection of 200 social dance manuals and related materials. Along with dance instruction manuals, this online presentation also includes a significant number of antidance manuals, histories, treatises on etiquette, and items from other conceptual categories. Many of the manuals also provide historical information on theatrical dance.

Al Jarreau performs 'You Don't See Me'Program focuses on three different African American theater productions. Host Barbara Barrow introduces the topic of Black theater and stage works Raisin (the Tony-Award-winning musical for 1974), The Black Dyad (about Black male and female relationships) and 'Theatre in Reverse,' a Say Brother theater piece with an in-studio vocal performance by Al Jarreau with dance performances (with the intent of drawing the audience's attention to sound and light, rather than to the performers). Program contains excerpts from each production, and an in-studio discussion with writers/directors Evelyn and Melvin Moore about the excerpt 'The Date' from The Black Dyad, which was the only segment of the three aired on the program. Produced by Marita Muhammad Rivero. Directed by Conrad White.

Dance and drumming company The Art of Black Dance and Music, under the guidance of Artistic Director DiAma Battle, performs harvest dances from Guinea, Gambia, Nigeria, and Senegal, and explain the seven principles of Kwanzaa (one for each day of celebration).

Based on a performance by Beth Galston, Ellen Sebring, and Sarah Skaggs. 'Aviary' is a melancholic mood piece that deals with themes of constraint and freedom. In this short sequence, images of a bird flying are superimposed over the figure of a lone female floating in a swimming pool.

This class is an interdisciplinary survey that explores the experiences of people of African descent through the overlapping approaches of history, literature, anthropology, legal studies, media studies, performance, linguistics, and creative writing. It connects the experiences of African Americans and of other American minorities, focusing on social, political, and cultural histories, and on linguistic patterns. Activities include lectures, discussions, workshops, and required field trips that involve minimal cost to students.

African American youth and education in Boston. Program consists of numerous community affairs segments, the most prominent of which is a panel discussion directed by Sarah-Ann Shaw on African American youth and education in Boston. Guests include Jean McGuire (Roxbury resident and only Black Pupil Adjustment Counselor for the Boston public school system), Gerald Hill (an African American teacher and nominee for Interim Project Director of the King-Timilty Coalition), Francine Mills (director of a vocational program for Operation Exodus), John Jackson (an African American teacher involved with experimental work-study program of Boston public schools), and Patricia Raynor (parent and member of the Parents' Education Committee). Additional segments include musical performances by Gwen Michaels and The Stark Reality, a poetry reading by Linda Hall, staff reflections on a recent African-style wedding in Boston, and a reading of the community news by Jacqueline Banks. Produced by Jim Boyd. Directed by Stan Lathan.

Boogie Beebies aims to get children off their seats and boogying along to pop songs especially created for them. In each programme, the viewer is introduced to a song created around a fun, child-friendly location. The song explores aspects of that location, using it as the basis for a series of moves that will make up a dance-routine.

Cannonball Adderley and the Cannonball Express. Program contains numerous 'magazine-style' segments, of which the most prominent is host John Slade's interview with musician Cannonball Adderley. Accompanying the interview, in segments before and after, is performance footage of Adderley's jazz band Cannonball Express (with Bobby Timmons, Walter Booker and Roy McCurdy) shot live at Paul's Mall in Boston the night before the interview. Other segments include a performance by the Immala Blakely Dancers, an interview with Harvard psychiatry professor Dr. Alvin Pouissant about his book Why Blacks Kill Blacks, a demonstration of self-defense techniques using karate with black belt Harry Gardner, and a performance by jazz group The J.R. Mitchell Experience. Produced by John Slade. Directed by Russell Tillman.

Demonstration of martial arts swordplay. Program celebrates the Chinese New Year with interviews with Chinese artists and in-studio performances by the Boston Chinese Dance Company and the Chinese Wushu Research Institute. Host Barbara Barrow-Murray speaks with guests Tsai Chin (an internationally known actress) and John Tsang (of the Boston Chinese Dance Company) to discuss the differences between Chinese and Chinese American cultures, whether their work as artists are Chinese or Chinese American in spirit, Chinese attitudes towards the arts, and whether or not their work is perceived by Americans as authentic. Program includes three performances by the Boston Chinese Dance Company to traditional Chinese music (including a fan dance) and demonstrations of Wushu (led by Master Bow Sim Mark, founder of the Chinese Wushu Research Institute), Shaolin boxing, and use of the double-edged sword with tassel (performed by Mark alone). Produced by Barbara Barrow-Murray Directed by David Atwood.

'Changing Steps' consists of solos, duets, trios, and quartets that can be performed in any order. The completed video work shows Cunningham's company of the 1980's staging the piece in the interior and exterior of a dance studio and in a more formal stage setting. The exterior of the studio blends into the natural environment, where a babbling stream passes by.

SPARK trails night manager Larry Chin of Ashkenaz, an East Bay music and culture venue that specializes in live roots music and international folk dancing. This Educator Guide tracks the history of this community venue and others like it as a point of connection and learning about world cultures.

Lesson plan for an activity, in which students take turns dancing and playing percussion instruments, that encourages understanding of a basic principle of Balinese music and dance.

Lesson ideas for creative dance in class.

'A celebration of busy movement performed by male dancers jumping, stretching, bumping, and sliding across Venezuela's beaches.' In this duet, two men perform spirited partnering phrases against an oceanside background. Repeatedly, the two are seen lying together in a thin bed, lending an air of eroticism to the work. Black-and-white sequences and still photographs are juxtaposed against the vibrant colors of most of the piece. The score by Charles Nieland features rhythmic electronic music, which incorporates a sound like the crashing of a wave, emphasizing the ocean setting. The performers sport colorful summer clothing with primary colors of red and yellow. Directed by Jeff McMahin, the work is just over 12 minutes in length.

Learn about the Dance Theatre of Harlem is this segment from A Walk Through Harlem.

Edin Velez's study of Butoh includes archival footage of early Butoh pioneer Tatsumi Hijikata, who is credited as the form's originator. Kazuo Ohno, another early Butoh performer, is shown performing his famous 'Admiring La Argentina,' and other works. Other companies whose works are shown include Akaji Mori's Dai Rakuda Kan, Isamu Ohsuga's Byakko Sha, and Yoko Ashikawa's Hakutoboh. These examples reveal the depth and diversity of Butoh as it has evolved. Many of these dancers worked directly with Hijikata at some point and all speak to his influence, as they are interviewed about the art form. One performer, Akiko Motofuji, explains, 'Ballet and modern dance spring from the earth...Hijikata created a dance, which crawls on the earth.'

Explores jazz dance as a social dance form and a uniquely expressive art of African-American culture from the 1920's and 1930's. Students will learn about the complexity of African-American experiences that generated the dance and musical style. The activities develop students' understanding of jazz dance while integrating visual, audio, and kinesthetic learning styles.

Dance communicates ideas through movement and is an expressive art form. Students need to learn how to use their body in a safe and healthy way, whilst developing a wide-ranging movement vocabulary. The use of different dance techniques can be an effective way of building vocabulary and developing different kinds of skills and abilities. Technical dance skills can form the foundation on which to develop and enhance each individual's performance. As dance teachers, we may have a range of skills, but it isn't always possible to possess expertise in every type of dance style and technique. Having the knowledge and experience to teach African Dance forms, Jazz Dance or Hip Hop to students is a great way of introducing them to a variety of styles and can be a rich and rewarding process. However, many teachers in schools and colleges work within a Contemporary Dance style because it will have been the basis of their education and training; it is also the point of reference for this unit.