¡Al Ritmo de Garifuna! [To the Rhythm of Garifuna]

• Event Date: Thursday, October 28, 2021
• Time: 6:00 pm (CDT)
• Location: Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana, IL
• Cost: Free

• Workshop

Learn about Garifuna culture and some basic steps of Punta dance during GarifunaRobics. Founded by Garifuna-American dancer Arnol Guity-Martinez, GarifunaRobics mixes fitness and culture to create an upbeat and fun dance workout.

About the Garifuna

The Garifuna are descendants of the African and Indigenous people who lived in the island nation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In 1797, after over a century of resisting British colonizing efforts, the Garifuna were exiled to the island of Roatan, directly north of mainland Honduras. Today, most Garifuna live along the coasts of Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Belize with several smaller communities found across the U.S.

The Garifuna have maintained some of their ancestral food and language and more notably, the exceptional storytelling found in their music and dance traditions. The Garifuna use music and dance to celebrate and explain their daily lives and struggles. They also honor their culture and ancestors through music and dance.

The most popular Garifuna music and dance is Punta. Punta is performed with drums and other percussion and vocals. The focus is on the dancers’ hip movements which sway side to side rapidly.

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