Traditional Ghanaian Dance and Its Role In Transcending Western Notions of Community

Abstract

The primary objective of this paper is to examine the function of traditional dance in Ghana and how it both reflects and preserves an experience of community that continues to elude the Western world. The role of dance within Ghana challenges the very core of the Western idea of a communal society. As such, a study of traditional Ghanaian dance and its role in community provokes a comparative analysis between the fundamental bases of African and Western societies. The intent of this research is first and foremost to shed light on the powerful social influence of the arts but this paper also offers its readers the chance to peel away the superficial layers of both African and Western societies in order to gain a deeper understanding of their communal structures.