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Wake Ups

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Wake Ups

Title: Wake Ups

General Information about Item:

  • Genre: Customary Folklore: Rituals
  • Language: English
  • Country: United States of America

Informant Data:

Alexis Wyatt, aged 21, is a Director of Ujima who joined the group her freshman fall (2014). She is a senior at Dartmouth College majoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and minoring in Psychology. Alexis was born, raised, and currently lives in Akron, Ohio. Before Ujima, Alexis had two years of dance experience in high school with modern, contemporary, and lyrical dance.

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: The entire team participates in Wake Ups—old members wake up new members. This ritual occurs at the beginning of every year after new members are selected during auditions. This ritual originated at the group’s founding, and Alexis first learned of it when she was woken up during her freshman fall.
  • Cultural Context: Many groups on Dartmouth’s campus will wake their new members as an initiation ritual. Doing so gives teams the opportunity to spend time together and learn more about their new members. This ritual also acts as a surprise to new members and embodies Ujima’s cultural focus on closeness and fun.

Item:

As an initiation ritual, Ujima wakes their new members up after they are selected to be on the team. Typically, the entire team will then spend time together.

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file): Video

Transcript of Associated File:

“We did wake ups as well, and wake ups were an experience. They definitely made me feel welcome, but they were also like, ‘Bleh,’ and just very jarring at the same time, but in a great, ‘This is a kind of a fun surprise,’ way.

Informant’s Comments:

After the new members are woken up, the team will typically spend time at a diner getting to know one another.

Collector’s Comments:

This ritual not only creates bonds between old members and new members, but also establishes relationships between new members and strengthens old members’ bonds.

Collector’s Name: Marcus Reid

Compiled/Analyzed By: Shinar Jain

Tags/Keywords:

  • Ritual
  • Dance
  • Team

Hand Sign

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Hand Sign

Title: Hand Sign

General Information about Item:

  • Genre: Customary Folklore: Tradition
  • Language: English
  • Country: United States of America

Informant Data:

Alexis Wyatt, aged 21, is a Director of Ujima who joined the group her freshman fall (2014). She is a senior at Dartmouth College majoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and minoring in Psychology. Alexis was born, raised, and currently lives in Akron, Ohio. Before Ujima, Alexis had two years of dance experience in high school with modern, contemporary, and lyrical dance.

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: The entire team uses the Hand Sign. Ujima members will often pose with the hand sign at the end of a performance. This tradition originated at the group’s founding, and Alexis first learned of it when she performed during her freshman fall.
  • Cultural Context: Many dance groups have a hand symbol to act as an identifier for the team. Similarly, Ujima’s hand sign not only creates an image for the rest of campus to recognize them by, but also acts as a symbol of team membership within Ujima.

Item:

Ujima holds up two arms to form a “U” hand symbol pose to end their performances.

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file): Video

Transcript of Associated File:

“I think another unique thing that Ujima does is we have our hand gesture, which is essentially just a ‘U’ for Ujima. But I think that’s just kind of special because it also gives someone something to, kind of, represent, since obviously performances aren’t an everyday thing. But that doesn’t mean that we aren’t out here doing great things.”

Informant’s Comments:

The hand gesture’s visible likeness to the team name, Ujima, is integral to its recognizability.

Collector’s Comments:

The hand sign also acts as a symbol of unity and thus establishes a stronger group identity on campus.

Collector’s Name: Marcus Reid

Compiled/Analyzed By: Shinar Jain

Tags/Keywords:

  • Tradition
  • Dance
  • Team

Gummy Worm Ritual

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Gummy Worm Ritual

Title: Gummy Worm Rital

General Information about Item:

  • Genre: Customary Folklore: Rituals, Tradition
  • Language: English
  • Country: United States of America

Informant Data:

Raegina Hill, aged 21, is a Director of Ujima who joined the group her freshman fall (2014). She is a senior at Dartmouth College majoring in Anthropology with a concentration in Biological Anthropology and minoring in Theater. Raegina was born, raised, and currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Before Ujima, Raegina had six years of dance experience with hip hop, theatrical dance, high stepping, and cheer.

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: The entire team participates in the Gummy Worm Ritual. New members receive a gummy worm while old members look on. This ritual occurs at the beginning of every school year after new members are selected during auditions. The ritual originated at the group’s founding, and Raegina first learned of it when she participated during her freshman fall.
  • Cultural Context: Ujima is a fun dance group focused on creating a second family for their team members. This ritual is not only enjoyable for both groups, but also establishes loyalty between old members and new members. Many other groups on Dartmouth’s campus have initiation rituals to establish new bonds, and the Gummy Worm Ritual is reflective of that culture.

Item:

As part of their initiation into Ujima, new members are asked to close their eyes while a gummy worm is placed in their hand. Old members ask new members to eat the gummy worm in order to establish trust within the group.

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file): Video

Transcript of Associated File:

“So, we started a new tradition when we let members know that they’re in. We make them close their eyes and hold out their hand, and we place a gummy worm in their hand but they don’t know what it is and they start freaking out. And it’s really just like, ‘You should trust us. We’re never going to do anything that’s bad to you or make you feel uncomfortable,’ and they still freak out anyway even though it’s just a gummy worm. And when they finally eat it, it’s just like, ‘Why was I freaking out? You guys said that you weren’t going to make me feel uncomfortable.’ And it’s just really fun to watch.”

Informant’s Comments:

This ritual is a fun and safe initiation tool for young and old members alike.

Collector’s Comments:

This exercise is unique because it establishes trust in two directions. First, older members are able to test the younger members’ commitment and loyalty to the group. Second, new members begin to trust that older members will not let them down.

Collector’s Name: Marcus Reid

Compiled/Analyzed By: Shinar Jain

Tags/Keywords:

  • Ritual
  • Tradition
  • Dance
  • Team

Team Meals

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Team Meals

Title: Team Meals

General Information about Item:

  • Genre: Customary Folklore: Rituals, Tradition
  • Language: English
  • Country: United States of America

Informant Data:

Alexis Wyatt, aged 21, is a Director of Ujima who joined the group her freshman fall (2014). She is a senior at Dartmouth College majoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and minoring in Psychology. Alexis was born, raised, and currently lives in Akron, Ohio. Before Ujima, Alexis had two years of dance experience in high school with modern, contemporary, and lyrical dance.

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: Based on individual availability, as many team members as possible participate in Team Meals. Team meals occur at the Class of 1953 Commons (FoCo) before Sunday practices at noon and before performances throughout the year. The ritual originated at the group’s founding, and Alexis first learned of it when she participated during her freshman fall.
  • Cultural Context: Ujima’s culture focuses on building close relationships both on stage and off. Therefore, team meals allow Ujima’s members to get to know one another outside of practice and form friendships. Many sports teams on Dartmouth’s campus get meals together after practice, and this ritual is in line with that of other groups.

Item:

Ujima members get meals together prior to Sunday practices and performances as a way to converse and grow closer as a group.

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file): Video

Transcript of Associated File:

“So, typically on Sundays, since our practice starts at one, if people can make it, we always try to go and get FoCo together, at least an hour or so before rehearsal starts… And then leading up to shows, I would say that our tradition is get dinner together, disperse and go get dressed, and then come back together and continue running or whatever it is that we need to attend to, whether it be continuing to get dressed or discussing what we need to go over. And I’m not sure where that tradition started, but it’s been a thing since I’ve been in Ujima, so we just kept doing it.”

Informant’s Comments:

Team meals act as an opportunity to take a break and relieve anxiety with the team before a performance.

Collector’s Comments:

Aside from being open to every member on Ujima, team meals are especially inclusive because they involve a non-taxing, universal activity—eating.

Collector’s Name: Marcus Reid

Compiled/Analyzed By: Shinar Jain

Tags/Keywords:

  • Ritual
  • Tradition
  • Dance
  • Team

New GroupMe Groups

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New GroupMe Groups

Title: New GroupMe Groups

General Information about Item:

  • Genre: Customary Folklore: Tradition
  • Language: English
  • Country: United States of America

Informant Data:

Alexis Wyatt, aged 21, is a Director of Ujima who joined the group her freshman fall (2014). She is a senior at Dartmouth College majoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and minoring in Psychology. Alexis was born, raised, and currently lives in Akron, Ohio. Before Ujima, Alexis had two years of dance experience in high school with modern, contemporary, and lyrical dance.

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: On-campus team members are involved in the new GroupMe. However, off-campus members and alumni continue to remain involved through other GroupMe chats. Ujima leaders create a new GroupMe at the beginning of every term. Alexis created this tradition began last year.
  • Cultural Context: Ujima’s culture is heavily oriented towards open communication and mentorship. By creating a GroupMe exclusive to on-campus members, Ujima not only creates a new channel for members to bond outside of practice, but also encourages younger members to ask older members with any assistance they may need.

Item:

Ujima uses the app GroupMe to communicate through group chats. Each term, Ujima leaders create a new GroupMe exclusive to the team members that are on campus. They retain other group chats for the entire team and alumni.

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file): Video

Transcript of Associated File:

“I would actually say another one of our traditions is always having to remake a GroupMe. Because we’re really big on making sure that everybody who’s actually on campus during any given term is actually in a GroupMe together. And then, there’s a separate one that also includes Ujima members who are off or have taken time off, and even some alums who are in the area or things like that. But I think that there’s something very special about having that separate GroupMe that always includes just the people who are on campus because, in my opinion, that’s really where the familial aspect of Ujima comes through during a term. It’s because it’s like very concrete—these are the people who are on campus for you to actually utilize in whatever capacity that it would need to be. That’s something that wasn’t originally being done when I first joined Ujima. We weren’t, I would say, as close outside of dance because I don’t believe that the channels were really there to access people unless you did something like show up to practice. So I would say it’s kind of a new tradition is making sure that everybody is actually accessible in some communicative way.”

Informant’s Comments:

Although creating a new GroupMe every term is a very young tradition, members are likely to sustain it in the future.

Collector’s Comments:

Many extracurricular groups, Greek houses, and societies at Dartmouth create new GroupMe chats on a yearly basis. By creating a new chat every term, Ujima ensures that its members are only included in necessary discussions.

Collector’s Name: Marcus Reid

Compiled/Analyzed By: Shinar Jain

Tags/Keywords:

  • Tradition
  • Dance
  • Team

Team Contract

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Team Contract

Title: Team Contract

General Information about Item:

  • Genre: Customary Folklore: Rituals, Tradition
  • Language: English
  • Country: United States of America

Informant Data:

Alexis Wyatt, aged 21, is a Director of Ujima who joined the group her freshman fall (2014). She is a senior at Dartmouth College majoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and minoring in Psychology. Alexis was born, raised, and currently lives in Akron, Ohio. Before Ujima, Alexis had two years of dance experience in high school with modern, contemporary, and lyrical dance.

Raegina Hill, aged 21, is a Director of Ujima who joined the group her freshman fall (2014). She is a senior at Dartmouth College majoring in Anthropology with a concentration in Biological Anthropology and minoring in Theater. Raegina was born, raised, and currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Before Ujima, Raegina had six years of dance experience with hip hop, theatrical dance, high stepping, and cheer.

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: The entire team participates in the team contract drafting process. This ritual occurs at the beginning of every year, during fall term. The ritual originated approximately five years ago, and Alexis and Raegina first learned of it when they participated during their freshman fall.
  • Cultural Context: Much like other groups on campus, Ujima places an emphasis on sportsmanship and good individual behavior. Ujima members all work together to create a team contract that reflects their values as an organization. Furthermore, Ujima utilizes the contract drafting process as an avenue for open communication, which establishes the deep connections that Ujima hopes to build.

Item:

Every year, Ujima drafts a contract that lays out expectations for individual and team behavior. The entire team is involved in the drafting process, which is often used as an opportunity to resolve conflict and encourage dialogue amongst team members.

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file): Video

Transcript of Associated File:

Alexis: “One thing I can think of that is definitely around now that wasn’t around when I joined are Ujima Contracts, which kind of just essentially delineate expectations and consequences when you don’t meet those expectations. We established that because we felt like if we were going to be a family, then we also had a duty to practice holding each other accountable. We weren’t about to just let people out here slide just because we all love each other, which I think was a real aspect of actual bonding. Even having the courage to really call somebody out and be like, ‘No, no, that just wasn’t right,’ or ‘No, you might have done this wrong,’ or ‘No, you’re not contributing to a positive group dynamic in the way that you might hope,’ is something that’s definitely new but something I think has paid off very, very, very well.”

Raegina: “By actually enforcing the contract that we have everyone sign, it definitely has made us more put-together in terms of shows and things like that. Everyone has been more of a unit rather than just like, ‘Oh, I dance and I do this.’ But everyone’s a lot more serious and I think that has helped us become more of a presence on campus.”

Informant’s Comments:

Although Ujima’s team contracts did not originate at the group’s founding, members recognized the need for a code of conduct and created a tradition to implement one every year.

Collector’s Comments:

Ujima’s contract drafting ritual is extremely unique in comparison to other Dartmouth groups. By emphasizing direct communication and conflict resolution, Ujima gives its members the opportunity to build deeper, familial relationships.

Collector’s Name: Marcus Reid

Compiled/Analyzed By: Shinar Jain

Tags/Keywords:

  • Ritual
  • Tradition
  • Dance
  • Team

Baby Names

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Baby Names

Title: Baby Names

General Information about Item:

  • Genre: Customary Folklore: Tradition
  • Language: English
  • Country: United States of America

Informant Data:

Alexis Wyatt, aged 21, is a Director of Ujima who joined the group her freshman fall (2014). She is a senior at Dartmouth College majoring in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and minoring in Psychology. Alexis was born, raised, and currently lives in Akron, Ohio. Before Ujima, Alexis had two years of dance experience in high school with modern, contemporary, and lyrical dance.

Raegina Hill, aged 21, is a Director of Ujima who joined the group her freshman fall (2014). She is a senior at Dartmouth College majoring in Anthropology with a concentration in Biological Anthropology and minoring in Theater. Raegina was born, raised, and currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Before Ujima, Raegina had six years of dance experience with hip hop, theatrical dance, high stepping, and cheer.

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: The entire team receives a Baby Name. This tradition occurs after each member’s first term in Ujima. Naming new members originated at the group’s founding, and Alexis and Raegina first learned of it during their freshman fall. Both informants received baby names.
  • Cultural Context: Many performing groups and sports teams on campus give their new members nicknames. In line with Dartmouth’s culture, Ujima names their “babies” to finalize their initiation into the group. Doing so also reflects the value they place on inclusivity and increases group closeness by solidifying the new members’ identity on the team.

Item:

Each new members receives a “Baby Name” or nickname from the team after their first term on Ujima. Baby names are based off the new member’s personality.

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file): Video

Transcript of Associated File:

Alexis: “The current members who I joined Ujima with, we all got our own baby names. And everybody else who had come before us also had names as well. My baby name is Dr. Sass, so it’s a reflection of who I am as a person and also then how that person shines through when I dance.”

Raegina: “Every dance group likes to give names to their new babies, but we do ours after a term because I think that’s when you really get first impressions. And they just stick with a person throughout their years. With Ujima, my name is Little Dynamite because I’m small but mighty, very powerful. So when I got my name my freshman fall, it really just made me really happy and just know that we had a lot of people who really put thought into our names and just actually care. And they really fit us.”

Informant’s Comments:

Despite having little say in the naming process, new members tend to enjoy their names as a reflection of themselves and their identity. The naming process is a symbolic solidification of their membership.

Collector’s Comments:

Unlike other dance groups, Ujima gives their new members names after getting to know them. This difference not only opens avenues for bonding, but also helps new members feel valued and understood by their teammates.

Collector’s Name: Marcus Reid

Compiled/Analyzed By: Shinar Jain

Tags/Keywords:

  • Tradition
  • Dance
  • Team

Auditions and Initial Choreography

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Auditions and Initial Choreography

Title: Auditions and Initial Choreography

General Information about Item:

  • Genre: Customary Folklore: Rituals
  • Language: English
  • Country: United States of America

Informant Data:

Raegina Hill, aged 21, is a Director of Ujima who joined the group her freshman fall (2014). She is a senior at Dartmouth College majoring in Anthropology with a concentration in Biological Anthropology and minoring in Theater. Raegina was born, raised, and currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Before Ujima, Raegina had six years of dance experience with hip hop, theatrical dance, high stepping, and cheer.

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: The entire team participates in Auditions and Initial Choreography. Both occur at the beginning of the school year in the fall in the Alumni Gym and other practice rooms, such as Sarner and Wilson 301. The ritual originated at the group’s founding, and Raegina first learned of it when she participated during her freshman fall.
  • Cultural Context: During their audition process, Ujima works as a team to accept new members. By ensuring that each preexisting member has a say in the selection process, Ujima utilizes auditions to advance the group’s culture as a democratic organization. Furthermore, by pairing old members with new members to teach choreography, Ujima effectively reflects the value they place on mentorship and closeness.

Item:

Every fall term, Ujima hosts auditions with three other dance groups in order to gain new members. The entire team is involved in the audition, callback, and final decision process. After new members are initiated, old members teach new members choreography by pairing up with them one-on-one. Initial choreography may also involve a dance choreographed entirely by new members.

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file): Video

Transcript of Associated File:

“Ujima’s actually the oldest dance group on campus—it was founded in 1985. And I don’t really know much about their old traditions, but I know that we used to have auditions independently. And so, to gain more members, we started doing them with the other dance groups, and that definitely has helped in terms of members and just getting a more dynamic group. Dance auditions happen every fall with four groups, so its Ujima, Sheba, Sugarplum, and Fusion. And its a group audition, and so if you have no idea what group you want to be in, you get to experience all four groups at once and then you get to pick your preference after callbacks and things like that.

And typically, the first week is just teaching old dances just so they can get used to the style. And choreography-wise, we often pair new members up with old members so they’re just not jumping in right away and it makes it a little easier. And some of the new members will just go off and do it by themselves. I did my freshman year, I just was like, ‘I’ll try!’ And it was a lot of members’ favorite dances, so it was nice.”

Informant’s Comments:

Although Ujima prefers to pair old members and new members while teaching choreography, they also emphasize a preference for openness and creativity by allowing new members to choreograph their own pieces.

Collector’s Comments:

It is interesting to note that Ujima’s audition process has changed over time. Initially an independent tradition, Ujima now takes part in joint auditions in order to better reflect their new values of diversity and inclusivity.

Collector’s Name: Marcus Reid

Compiled/Analyzed By: Shinar Jain

Tags/Keywords:

  • Ritual
  • Dance
  • Team

Uji Tails

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Uji Tails

Title: Uji Tails

General Information about Item:

  • Genre: Customary Folklore: Rituals
  • Language: English
  • Country: United States of America

Informant Data:

Raegina Hill, aged 21, is a Director of Ujima who joined the group her freshman fall (2014). She is a senior at Dartmouth College majoring in Anthropology with a concentration in Biological Anthropology and minoring in Theater. Raegina was born, raised, and currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Before Ujima, Raegina had six years of dance experience with hip hop, theatrical dance, high stepping, and cheer.

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: The entire team participates in Uji Tails. The event typically occurs on a termly basis towards the end of the term in a member’s dorm room. The ritual originated at the group’s founding, and Raegina first learned of it when she participated during her freshman fall.
  • Cultural Context: Dartmouth extracurricular groups, Greek houses, and societies often host their own Tails to increase closeness and commitment to the group. In line with Dartmouth’s culture, Ujima hosts similar events every term. Furthermore, Uji Tails plays into Ujima’s cultural focus on inclusivity and togetherness by promoting bonding.

Item:

Once a term, Ujima hosts a social gathering known as “Tails” (short for “Cocktails”) to bring the team together outside of practices and performances. Uji Tails allows Ujima members to better familiarize themselves with the team and bond with one another, inadvertently increasing their comfort on stage.

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file): Video

Transcript of Associated File:

“My first Uji Tails is when I got my name. Everyone’s having fun and it was towards the end of the term and everyone was really stressed out, but it was just so nice to have a group of people that I could just hang out with. And the five of us, we got our new names. And it was just kind of like, ‘Ooh, well I’m this person now.’ And it was just fun to get another sense of self, so to speak.

We have Uji Tails, when its a get-together, and we typically just ask random questions in this game called ‘Hot Seat.’ And it really just breaks down any barriers between people being uncomfortable and just shy. And it just makes us bond a lot more, which really translates in our performances. There’s no like, “I don’t know how I feel about performing this with this person.” For example, in our last show we had a chair dance and everyone was extremely comfortable because we break those barriers pretty early on. And so everyone’s comfortable with each other and I think that really helps for a great performance in the long run.”

Informant’s Comments:

The bonding aspect of Tails plays an integral role in improving performances through greater familiarity within the team.

Collector’s Comments:

As Raegina mentioned, Tails during a member’s freshman fall not only serve to strengthen team bonds, but also establish the new member’s identity as part of the group.

Collector’s Name: Marcus Reid

Compiled/Analyzed By: Shinar Jain

Tags/Keywords:

  • Ritual
  • Dance
  • Team

Stretch and Warmup

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Stretch and Warmup

Title: Stretch and Warmup

General Information about Item:

  • Genre: Customary Folklore: Rituals
  • Language: English
  • Country: United States of America

Informant Data:

Shashwat Kala, aged 21, is a Director of Ujima who joined the group his freshman fall (2014). He is a senior at Dartmouth College who was born, raised, and currently lives in Waterford, Connecticut. Before Ujima, Shash had no formal dance training but participated in his hometown’s cultural dance shows for Indian festivals.

Contextual Data:

  • Social Context: The entire team participates in the Stretch and Warmup ritual. This ritual occurs before practices and performances.  It originated at the group’s founding, and Shash first learned of it when he participated during his freshman fall.
  • Cultural Context: Many dance groups encourage their members to stretch and warmup. However, because Ujima places great value on togetherness, the team requires that their members do so together as a group activity. This gives members more time to work on corrections and improve together.

Item:

Prior to shows and practices, Ujima members stretch and warmup as a group in order to loosen their bodies and improve their performance.

Associated file (a video, audio, or image file): Video

Transcript of Associated File:

“At the show, people are cheering, there’s a lot of adrenaline, so you’re hitting moves harder and you’re dancing with a lot more energy than you’ve probably done in practice. And it’s really important that if you are going out there with so much energy that you are not doing that to a body that has not been warmed up. So just for safety and so that nobody gets hurt. It’s a way to get your body to feel looser and less tight, as well, that helps you stay loose and clean when you perform. So you usually do this: [Demonstration]. Pretty classic. Girls who can hit a split will usually sit in a split for a little while. I can’t do one. And then the other classic one is just you stand up and you touch your toes. And that’s that. I believe in it. I think I stretch a lot more than the average person on Ujima before a show because I think for me personally, I like the way it feels. And psychologically, I like that I’m preparing myself, preparing my body as much as I can before I have to go out and perform. So probably more for me.”

Informant’s Comments:

Although this is a group ritual, the majority of dancers stretch and warm up due to personal belief in its impact rather than peer pressure.

Collector’s Comments:

Although the stretches and warm ups are a group ritual, it is interesting to note the variations that each individual has on the types of exercises that are best suited to his or her body. For example, many of the women will stretch in a split together while the men have their own exercises.

Collector’s Name: Shinar Jain

Compiled/Analyzed By: Shinar Jain

Tags/Keywords:

  • Ritual
  • Dance
  • Team