Why were dance rituals important to African-derived communities living under oppression?

For African-derived communities in Latin America, dance rituals served as vital mechanisms for survival while enduring systemic oppression, brutality, and racism. These practices were essential for several reasons:1

• Spiritual Strength: Rituals allowed participants to invoke spiritual guides, providing the necessary fortitude to endure ongoing struggles.1
• Emotional and Physical Well-being: Dance functioned as a therapeutic outlet, offering a means to escape emotional stress and restore the health of both the individual and the community.1
• Cultural Continuity: By maintaining these traditions—such as Santería in Cuba, Candomblé in Brazil, and Vodou in Haiti—communities preserved their heritage and identity in the face of colonial efforts to disrupt their traditional ways of life.12

Ultimately, these dances were more than artistic expressions; they were profound acts of resilience that helped sustain the humanity and social cohesion of enslaved and marginalized populations.1