TowerlightVideo, May 9, 2012
This video is showcased because I was looking for short videos that showed the close formation probate march.
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases four videos of the new members of four historically Black Greek letter sororities who are members of Divine 9 performing a close formation march as they enter their probate*.
This pancocojams post also showcases two video examples of the South African (Venda) python dance (also called the domba dance) which I believe is the inspiration for these Divine 9 sororities' close formation probate marches.
Information about the Venda is included in this post along with information about the Venda's python dance. My comments about the similarities (and some differences) between the python dance and some close formation probate marches that are performed by historically Black Greek letter sororities are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to all those who published these videos on YouTube.
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A probate is the formal, public presentation of a Greek fraternity/ sorority’s new “line” of members. Probates are a longstanding tradition of those fraternities/ sororities belonging to the National Pan Hellenic Council. The "Divine 9" is a referent to the five historically Black Greek letter fraternities and four sororities that are members of the NPHC).
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Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/01/similarities-between-venda-python-dance_7.html for a 2013 pancocojams post on this subject that is entitled "Similarities Between The Venda Python Dance & Black Sororities Probate Line Formations".
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE VENDA PYTHON DANCE AND THE (AFRICAN AMERICAN ORIGINATED) HISTORICALLY BLACK GREEK LETTER SORORITIES AND FRATERNITIES PROBATE MARCHES
[Please help improve this description of historically Black Greek letter organizations close formations marches to enter probates. Thanks!]
One of the things that interested me was the close similarities between this dance & the probate processional (march) that may be performed at the beginning of historically Black Greek lettered sororities and fraternities probates.
I am referring to the way that new members of a specific sorority's or fraternity sometimes stand in very close formations in a vertical line and march to enter the probate ( Among historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities a "probate" is a public presentation of new members of a specific organization.)
In videos of what I believe are traditional performances of the python dance, the women form one vertical line and hold on to the forearm of the woman in front of them. The first woman in line folds her hands together in a facing forward prayer-like shape to represent the face of a python. The women are solemn and weary- Their bodies appear to slightly lean on the backs of the woman in front of them. The women move forward in moderate tempo to the sound of other women playing traditional African drums.
Similarly, in videos of some historically Black Greek letter probates, the new members of that specific sorority or that specific fraternity stand very close together in a vertical line to enter their probate. (Note that in the case of large groups of new members, there are two or more vertical lines.). Similar to the mood of the performers of the python dance, the mood for these close formation marches to enter the probate, the mood is serious and determined.
In some videos of these enter the probate marches by historically Black Greek letter sororities, the women hold the forearm of the woman in front of them, and their bodies lean slightly forward as described above for the python dance. In other videos of Black Greek letter sorority probate marches, the women place both hands or one of their hands on the shoulder of the woman in front of them. In both of these types of formations, the woman in the front holds her hands in a particular pattern or holds a shield, but doesn't fold her hands to represent the face of a python.
In some videos of probate marches by historically Black Greek letter sororities, the women chant. These women may also perform rhythmic dips in their marches.
In videos of historically Black Greek letter fraternities that I have watched where the members (new and/or old) stand or move in this close vertical formation, the men hold on to the shoulders of the person in front of them and the person in front holds his hand in a certain pattern representing strength and determination. The men may be silent or may chant or sing while in those very close vertical formations.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/01/similarities-between-venda-python-dance_7.html for a 2013 pancocojams post entitled "Similarities Between The Venda Python Dance & Black Sororities Probate Line Formations". That post includes several videos of the Venda python dance as well as four videos of similar vertical line formation at the beginning of probates for each of the four historically Black Greek letter sororities that are members of the The National Panhellenic Conference (informally referred to as the Divine 9).
****OTHER VIDEO EXAMPLES OF HISTORICALLY BLACK GREEK LETTER SORORITIES PROBATE MARCHES THAT I BELIEVE ARE INSPIRED BY OR HAVE THEIR SOURCE IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN PYTHON DANCE
These examples are given in no particular order and were selected for their inclusion of the close formation march.
Notice the ways that the women hold on to the person in front of them and the different ways that they move into the probate, for instance, moving forward while doing a rhythmical dip.
Video #1
Geai_MUA, April 29, 2020
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Video #2: Delta Sigma Theta Lambda Psi 2010 Probate Part 1: Intro
The AngBee, April 11, 2010
****Video #3: Zeta Phi Beta Pi Epsilon Chapter Fall 2012 Probate UTK PART 1
Wally Taylor, Oct. 21, 2012
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Video #5: Domba
Bigbluemeanie, Nov. 9, 2006
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Video #6: Umoja- The Spirit Of Together 2
alfrheitta,
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The Venda's domba dance (python dance) is from the beginning of this video to 1:36.
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These are staged performances of the Venda (South African) python dance by South African dance troupes.
"Venda" is a South African ethnic group that are located near Zimbabwe. Traditionally, the python dance (also called the Domba dance) is performed by young females as part of their initiation and training into womanhood.
Here's an excerpt from Kent D. Fowler, University of Manitoba's 2008 pdf entitled "Social Memory and the Antiquity of Python and Crocodile Symbolism in Southern Africa":
"Pythons, on the other hand, are directly associated with leadership in Shona, Venda and Zulu cultures. In Venda court art, python and crocodile imagery are paired, with crocodile images in the centre surrounded by those of pythons (Huffman 1996:89). In the Venda “python dance”, the same structure is found. Initiates dance in an undulating line emulating a python encircling a pool represented by the central court. In this context, the python is the “snake of the water”, a metaphor for female fertility. Pythons are also paired with the mountain imagery of chiefs and referred to as “snake of the mountain”. On some hilltops, it is believed that pythons guard the entrance of caves that contain pools that are portals to the world of ancestors (Huffman 1996:91). When linked to chieftainship and hilltops, pythons are the “snake of the mountain” and invoke linked metaphors for rainmaking, young and junior men, and male virility."
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For more information about the South African Python dance, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/12/traditional-performance-and.html for the 2020 pancocojams post entitled "Contemporary Changes In Where and How The Venda (South African) Domba Dance (also known as the Python Dance) Is Performed".
Addendum:
That close formation is often performed by members of historically Black Greek letter fraternities at various times. For example, here's a link to a video of members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Inc. standing in close formation and singing their version of "Zoom Zoom": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdgwjN11AyY&ab_channel=KrystalMauri
KrystalMauri, April 3, 2010
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This performance takes place outdoors not during a probate and these men aren't necessarily new members of that fraternity.
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