Ecuador Ballet

1) What did you learn about Ecuadorian culture from the folkloric ballet?  What were your favorite parts and why?  
I learned that the Ecuadorian culture shares stories and their history through dance, costumes and art. I was amazed by the pan flute, and how the man who played the pan flute played it with his eyes closed. I enjoyed watching the band rock with their own music, and the dancers move with the beat of the live music. I learned through the ballet how the Ecuadorian culture searched for food with hunting. That was one of my favorite dances from last night! The costumes were incredible and to my knowledge completely real! I can tell that the Ecuadorian culture places emphasis on spending time together because the costumes they wore in the show are extremely time and labor intensive. The Ecuadorian culture enjoys doing their every day activities together because in the beginning they were weaving thread together, 'cooking' food together and singing and dancing together. There was a huge emphasis on women and nature because they had multiple songs about each!

2) How does dance serve as a universal form of nonverbal communication?
During the introduction I picked up a few words of what the man was saying; however, in the intermission I picked up almost none of what he was saying. What I enjoyed most about the dance was that I could understand nearly all of it! I did not completely understand the dance where the man was dressed up as a woman and the clowns came out. It is something everyone can understand, and everyone is able to share in the joy of. Dance has taught me all over the world about different cultures, what they value and how they operate on a daily basis, even though I cannot speak the language all the time. 

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