Amy Jackson-Zulu Dance

Zulu Dance Video

This is a traditional Zulu Reed Dance done in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. I chose this particular dance because I am from this area but I never knew what the dances meant. The reed dance is done annually and is preformed by thousands of Zulu girls celebrating their virginity. The ritual is to choose a reed from the river and follow the Zulu Princess 2 kilometers to the King's palace. It helps the girls preserve their virginity and also is when most Kings choose their wives. This is an important part of the Zulu customs. Although it is a special cultural dance for Zulu people, there are onlookers. They often do dances for tourists interested in finding out about their culture. When Van der Leeuw talks about dance and culture he says, "I discovered that, even more than other arts, participation is necessary if it is to be understood" (12). Even though people can watch the dance, they cannot experience it unless they participate.

Zulu people's faith parallels Christianity. This was brought about from missionaries. However, they do believe in ancestor spirits. In this Zulu dance, if the reed is broken it is considered a sign that the girl is not a virgin. Beliefs like this separate them from Western beliefs.

What makes dance religious? Does it have to be worship or praise to the divine? Van der Leeuw says, "[Dance] accompanies and stimulates all the processes of life, from hunting and farming to war and fertility, from love to death" (12). In this case, the coming of age of the Zulu girls. Is it religious because it echoes life? I think this dance celebrates culture and life which is, in a sense, a praise to God.