Jangwa (Zimbabwe)

Jangwa

Zimbabwe

These notes ©2016, Andrew Carnie. This dance is from the Manyika Tribe, who are of the Shona people of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia).  Jangwa is a style of choral music of this group, although the recording for this particular dance has no singing. The dance was originally taught by Abraham Dumisani Mararie. Let's dance magazine from 1974 reports that Jennie Margolis taught the dance at the 5th Aman Institute in Los Angeles.

Meter: 4/4
Formation: Individuals facing the music.
Introduction: 4 bars, no action. Start with slightly deeper drum beat.

Part 1: Kicks

Bar 1: Kick R foot high, L arms swings across body (1), Step back in place on R, L arm swings across body (2), Touch L toe backwards and bend over at the waist, L arm swings across body (3), Step forward in place on L, R arm swings across in front of body (4).
Bars 2-12: repeat bar 1 of part 1., eleven more times.

Part 2: Twists

Bar 1. Lift R knee up and across body, twisting body to the R, raising R hand up across body and tucking head down (1), Step back in place on R, L arm swings across body (2), Touch L toe backwards and bend over at the waist, L arm swings across body (3), Step forward in place on L, R arm swings across in front of body (4).
Bars 2-12: repeat bar 1 of part 2, eleven more times.

Part 3: Hips

Bar 1: Shift so that ball of R foot is slightly forward and weight is mainly on the L, thrust R hip forward and back, hands do an inward circular motion (out to sides, down and then up in front of body) (1),  repeat the motion of count 1 (2), Step on R in place, both hands swing to the R, palms down (3) Step on L in place, hands swing back to L (4)
Bars 2-12: repeat bar 1 of part 3, eleven more times

Part 4: Back arching

Bar 1: repeat counts 1 & 2 of bar 1, part 3 (1,2), bend knees, and throw hands up in the air (3). Bend over at the waist, slapping knees with both hands (4)
Bar 2: Stay bent over, keeping hands on knees, Round back (&), arch back (1), round back (&), arch back (2), round back (&), arch back (3), round back (&), arch back (4)
Bars 3-12: repeat bars 1-2 of part 4, five more times.

Part 5: Slow sways

Bar 1: Sway on R to R, leading with R hip and swinging hands to the R (1,2), Sway on L to L, leading with L hip, and swinging hands to the L (3,4)
Bar 2: Cross R over L, turning to face RLOD, bend over at waist and cover eyes with left forearm (1), Step on L in place, straightening up (2), step R (3), L (4) in place.
Bars 3-12: repeat bars 1-2 of part 5, five more times

Part 6: draw circle

Bar 1: repeat bar 1 of part 5

Bar 2:  Cross R over L, turning to face RLOD, bend over at waist and cover eyes with left forearm (1), Step on L in place, straightening up (2), draw R toe around in a CW circle to close next to L, no weight (3,4)

Bars 3-12: repeat bars 1-2 of part 6, five more times

Part 7: repeat kicks

Bars 1-13: repeat bar 1 of part 1, thirteen times
Bar 14: Kick R forward, and hold

Bill and Karen Faust's Fayetteville Video

Other Sources

• Anonymous undated typewritten dance instructions
• http://folkdance.com/LDMags/1974March.pdf

Also Spelled: Jangua