“Cumbia for all” Curriculum
Pre-residency Introductory Performance (2 hours with set up)
– Featuring a range of Colombian music performed by Folklore Urbano, dance by Daniel Fetecua and company
Week 1– A brief history of Colombia and origins of its musical and dance traditions
- Geographical overview to four main regions
- Facts about the country
- Introduction song
– Introductory theater exercises (separate workshop)
Week 2-4: Andes region
- Cultural background
- Introduction to the instruments
– Rhythms and dance steps of the region
- Song in Spanish based on rhythms from the region like bambuco, pasillo, torbellino
– Theater workshops based on practices and traditions from the region (separate workshop)
Week 5-7: Pacific coast region
- Cultural background
- Introduction to the instruments
- Drumming 6/8 rhythms based on familiar word play
- Dance steps of the region
- Song in Spanish based on rhythms from the region like Currulao, bunde
– Theater workshops based on practices and traditions from the region (separate workshop)
Week 8-9: Eastern Plains region
- Cultural background
- Introduction to the instruments
- Song in Spanish based on joropo rhythm
- Zapateo introduction (dance step particular to this region)
– Theater workshops based on practices and traditions from the region (separate workshop)
Week 10-12: Caribbean coast
- Cultural background
- Introduction to the instruments
- Learning Cumbia rhythm on the drums through “sapo”
- Song in Spanish based on rhythms from the region
- Cumbia dance
– Theater workshops based on practices and traditions from the region (separate workshop)
Week 13: Dress rehearsal and Final Performances (2 performances, 2hrs/ea)