Bélé

A bélé is a folk dance and music from Martinique, Dominica, and other Caribbean islands. It may be the oldest Creole dance from Dominica, and it strongly reflects influences from African fertility dances. It is performed most commonly during full moon evenings, or sometimes during funeral wakes (Antillean Creole: lavèyé). The dance is also popular in Saint Lucia. In Trinidad, it is thought to have been performed by women at social events in the planters' great houses, and the dress and dance style copied by the slaves who worked in or around these houses .

The term bélé also refers to a kind of drum found on Dominica, Martinique and Saint Lucia.

History

The bélé dance formed from a combination of traditional African moves and a Caribbean traits due to the changed landscape, musical instruments, and tumultuous lifestyle.

Origin

In Africa, the bélé dance had origins in festivals associated with mating and fertility. A male and female (in Creole, the "Cavalier" and the "Dam") show off their dance skills to the other dancer, hinting at their sexuality in chants led by a "chantuelle" meaning singer and the refrain or "lavway" given by a chorus of spectators. The cavalier and dam take turns dancing. The cavalier first demonstrates his prowess, then the dam reacts. The cavalier again courts with the dam, and the both dance in the wildest part of the bélé.

Bělá

Bělá is the name of several places in the Czech Republic:

BL

BL (or similar) may refer to:

Arts and entertainment

Computing

Television series

Music