Final answer:
The African dance tradition has been preserved through the resilience of communities practicing traditional dances in informal settings during apartheid, post-apartheid educational revisions, and organizations like StepAfrika!. The connection between African and African American dance forms such as gumboot dancing and Steppin' highlights the importance of these traditions in cultural identity and heritage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout history, various individuals and movements have been instrumental in keeping the African dance tradition alive. Amidst the oppressive era of apartheid where the education system enforced racial divisions and marginalized African cultural practices, informal settings like townships and Black school playgrounds became hubs for these expressive art forms, with gumboot dancing as a prime example.
Post-apartheid South Africa saw an educational revision that included the need to teach traditional African dances, sometimes challenging teachers whose expertise was in Western art forms. They relied on both their own research and the experiences of their students to guide instruction. Gumboot dancing and African American Steppin' are two dances that have clear historical and cultural connections, reflecting the broader narrative of cultural survival and evolution.
Organizations like StepAfrika! and movements like the Black Arts Movement in America have also played crucial roles in elevating and preserving African dance by educating audiences and fostering an appreciation of these art forms' historical roots and cultural significance.
In communities such as those in Charleston, South Carolina, African Americans maintained a sense of community through dance, even when such expressions were legally curtailed. The historical resilience of these communities, along with contemporary educational and artistic initiatives, continues to keep the African dance tradition alive and thriving today.