To celebrate Black History Month, Bradford Elementary School hosted The Seventh Principle, whose main objective is to heighten awareness of African dance and culture through creative expression of this unique art form. Through a high-energy fusion of percussive dance, traditional music, and rousing call-and-response, three performers of The Seventh Principle demonstrated both traditional African dance and modern African-American dance while teaching about the respective cultures on both sides of the Atlantic. Students were given the opportunity to understand how dance and music are infused into elements of everyday life in West African communities, and how the arts play an important role as an expression of cultural identity. Bantaba: The Circle of Celebration connects students to the history of African dance and culture and celebrates the unique ability the art form has to bring people together around the world.
“We learned a lot about African dance and West African storytelling,” said Principal Naomi Kirkman. “This high energy, interactive performance taught us how art brings us all together.”
The Seventh Principle name comes from Kwanzaa, a celebration of African heritage and values that includes seven principles as a system for daily living.
More on Bradford’s and the district’s Black History Month activities.