ABSTRACT
Dance expresses emotions of joy, sadness, peace, love, and commemoration. It serves purposes of entertainment, enlightenment, communication, and instruction. Ogoni dances are situated within space, time and an ontology that determine criteria and theory. It is one of the dance groups known in Ogoni, Nigeria and America, places where it has performed several times. The dance steps are in sync with waist vibrations that contort the buttocks and release them. The mobility rhythm is the one that begins the dance session. All the masquerades of the group and the Teg-Teg dancers move in a snake-like fashion; they are led by the Balo Karikpo, who doubles as a hunter, carrying a sword that he flings to left and right. Dances and masquerades of Ogoni are Black African arts. The dances and masquerades are rooted in the culture of the people; the tonal speech rhythm is reflected in rhythmic drum patterns of communication, singing and dancing.
