This course will engage students both physically and intellectually. The physical practice will be culled from traditional contemporary and popular dances from Burkina Faso (Louwaga, Wiré, Gurmantché, and Gurunsi), west and central Africa (N’dombolo), and urban Africa (such as Coupé-décalé), and western contemporary dance forms, including improvisation.  Students will be asked to expand their knowledge of African related arts and architecture by reading a variety of texts and viewing films. In discussions, we will explore the interrelationship of African dance with these different art forms.