Tag Archives: cathartic dancing

Professional Pallbearers Dance the Dead Out in Style

Cross-continental tradition honours the dead with coffin choreography

If you attend a funeral in parts of West Africa and the Southern United States, you may witness some fancy footwork by professional pallbearers who specialize in dancing with the dead. These dancing pallbearers often sing gospel or other sacred … Continue reading

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The New Orleans Jazz Funeral

How people in New Orleans celebrate the lives of loved ones as they properly send them off at a funeral

New Orleans, Louisiana is no exception when it comes to playing music for loved ones at funerals. However, it uniquely incorporates the jazz music it is well-known for, along with a combination of West African, French, and African-American traditions, into one … Continue reading

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