Bela Kawe (Afro-caribbean Creole)

Bela Kawe

Creole - Afro-Caribbean

Island of Carriacou

These notes ©2018, Andrew Carnie. The dance is an arrangement of traditional "Highlife" figures put together by Mary Joyce Strahlendorf. Also taught by Norma Huff, and Phyllis Weikert.

Music:

• Sanna Longden Dances of the 7 continents Volume 1 CD#3
• Rhythmically Moving 3.
• AR36

Meter: 2/4
Formation: Solo dance, either in a circle or lines of people facing the same direction. Also possible are two concentric circles, with the inside circle facing out, and the outside circle facing in.
Introduction: Wait thru drums and start with flute, starting after a 1 beat pickup.

Part 1: Shuffle

Women are holding skirts and men have hands on backs.
Bar 1:  Step forward on R into the center (1), Rock back o L (&), Rock forward on R (2)
Bar 2: Repeat bar 1 with opposite footwork still moving into the center.
Bars 3-8: Repeat bars 1-2, three more times.

Part 2: Heel Steps

Bar 1: Touch R heel to diagonal R, while reaching both hands up to the R (1), Step backwards out of center on R (2)
Bar 2: Touch L heel to diagonal L, while pointing hands to left at waist (1). Step backwards out of center on L (2)
Bars 3-8: repeat bars 1-2, three more times

Part 3: Turns

Bars 1-2: Stepping R (1), L (2), R (1), make a complete CW turn to the right, arms out to sides. Then touch L next to R (2). An optional clap may be done on (2)
Bars 3-4: Repeat bars 1-2, with opposite footwork, turning CCW to the left.
Bars 5-8: Repeat bars 1-4.

Other notes on the web

• http://users.rowan.edu/~conet/rhythms/CulturalDances/belekawe.html

Videos on the web

Other Sources

• Longden, Sanna. (2007) Dances of the Seven Continents Vol 1. DVD 6
• Longden, Sanna. (2007) Dances of the Seven Continents Syllabus.
• Unidentified PDF
• Weikert, Phyllis (1997) Teaching Folk Dance. Highscope Press
• Weikert, Phyllis (2003) Teaching Movement and Dance. Highscope Press

See also:

• Highlife (Pondogo) - Ghana

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