Dancers as interpreters: the aesthetics and social commentary of Hausa Koroso Dance

ABSTRACT

Dance, commonly seen as the art of rhythmical movements of the body, is actually a vehicle to project ideas, be it social, cultural, or even political, particularly among the Hausas in Northern Nigeria. Previous studies of Hausa Koroso Dance have focused mainly on its aesthetics, while little cognizance has been given to the interpretative roles of the dance. This article examines the interpretative roles that dance plays in social milieu amongst the Hausas, and establishes how dance can be employed to interpret social and political ideas. Hausa Koroso Dance is identified as a form of total theatre called Kalankuwa. The dance (or dance-drama) is used to critique the ruling dynasties. In its economic role, it is performed to facilitate work by rhythmical execution of work-movements with musical accompaniments. Koroso Dancers ridicule socially unacceptable behaviours through carefully executed mimetic dance movements. Hausa Koroso Dance typifies the interpretative roles that dance, as an aesthetic practice, can play in contributing to societal progress and development.