Omai Ojobi
March 9, 2011
COM 108
Professor Marcia Hair
Outline for Informative Speech

General Purpose: To inform
Specific Purpose: To educate/inform my audience about the history of dance and how it has become a well know craft.
Thesis Statement: Dancing is an art that goes way back, before records were recorded. Way back into the early days of human beings on this earth. It has shaped lives and built character.
I. Introduction: (What dance really is?)slide 1
A. Many of us have believed our whole life that dancing is something that comes naturally to some people. Most of have thought that if one cannot dance they were not born to do so. I believe that dancing is a way of life and anyone can be in sync rhythm with a beat.
B. As a child I was raised into a family of dancers. My mother danced and so did my father. Music always played in the house in the morning, afternoon and at night. I was born with the talent of dancing and with a family of dancers it improved my skills. As a curious person from birth; I always wondered how dancing started, when did it start and were did it come from.
C. Right now researchers have concluded their studies and dancing is indeed our world.
II. Body: ( The origin of dance and the creator)
A. Where dancing came from (slide 2)
1. Dancing is an art done all over the world. Different dances come from different countries. But, dancing is believed to be from Africa. When slaves were gathered from their homeland to America. They were force to do a dance for the shipmates.
2. Generally Africans do indeed use dancing as a way of communication, celebration, and scarification
3. Unfortunately dancing was not originated in Africa, as a matter of fact where dancing started and when it started is a bit foggy, but dancing is sure known to have started way back to the early days of human beings on this earth. Before records were recorded.
4. In all reality dancing came from nature. Many of us do not pay attention to the movements of the trees, the rivers, the animals and the grass. But the people who did pay close attention were the Native Americans.
B. Who created/ started dancing (slide 3)
1. Native Americans were the humans for the early days that paid close attention to nature’s majestic movements. Native Americans mocked the movement of Mother Nature’s dances, during prehistoric past. Before dancing became a complex art. They would sway, circle and stomp out rhythms like little children.
2. Native Americans danced to please and gain more power from the gods. The hunters danced before going to kill their prey, warriors danced before marching into battle, tribes danced to banish evil spirits, and to also ask the gods for favors.(like praise and worship at church)
3. There were specific dances that brought rain, dances to celebrate their harvest, dances of birth, puberty, marriage, and death. ( sort of like today)
4. Native Americans also danced just for fun. They did dances that told an ancient story.
5. After the Native Americans then the Africans, where we as a whole developed different dances using the movements of the tribal Indians and the Africans.
C. The dances of today
1. Today we have over a hundred dance moves from break dancing, jazz, hip hop, and ballet. Each of these dances has their own history behind it.
2. Break dancing is known to be created by a young man from the cognizant as b-boy spinning on his head as if he were a child’s toy. In actuality started in the late 70s early 80s by the Rock Steady Crew. Break dancing is a rather ancient art form with roots extending far deeper and wider than the 1960s Bronx and Brooklyn street people. Break dancing is said to have originated in Brazil about 500 years ago from the Brazilian Frevo, a Russian folk-dance in a form of martial arts dance and marching. Now break dancing is used to battle different rival gangs, in some way replacing guns and knives.
3. Jazz was originated in New Orleans back when World War I had ended. Jazz back then was commonly referred to as sexual intercourse. When WWI ended it was known to be a social revolution under way. Values of previous generations were rejected. They were to live and enjoy life to the fullest. The called this era “The lost generation.” There was a particular music that suited this generation at that was Jazz.
4. Hip hop is a energetic dance evolved with street jazz and hip hop music. Hip hop dance was discovered back in the 70s. Where new moves were introduced to the dance world to accompany the funky sounds of hip hop music. Using some African moves and modernizing them.
5. Ballet is a form of dance that tells a hidden story, expresses an emotion and reflects a piece of music. Ballet is basically deception. Ballet transports the audience to a fantasy land where the dancers defy gravity as they leap, maintain balance, and glide across the stage. Ballet is originated from Italy. During the Renaissance, for entertainment.
III. Conclusion:
A. Dancing is a legendary art that lives in our world. Different countries have created new dances with the help of our prehistoric ancestors.
B. Dance is a crafty skill that requires hard work, talent and dedication.
C. Dance may one day fade and die but the art will forever live on.