A construção da identidade histórico-cultural no espaço escolar: uma experiência de trabalho com a dança afro no ensino de educação física

Abstract

Afro dance has been present for a long time in the history of Espírito Santo and São Mateus until nowadays, composing an important feature in the affirmation of the identity of the black population of the region. However, it is clear that affirmative actions to support this practice are still few, which constitutes a challenge to be faced for the valorization of local history. This research presents a work with Afro-Brazilian dance associated with the processes of construction of the historical cultural identity, evidencing how we can approach this theme in Physical Education classes, integrating it with the curricular proposal and other disciplines, thus developing dance activities that can offer the student the possibility of expression. We investigate the conceptions and practices of Physical Education teachers regarding African cultural practices and describe the trajectory of Afro dance in Espírito Santo and São Mateus in the light of the narratives of pioneer dancers in this cultural practice. We approach the school and the discipline of Physical Education as a space capable of welcoming ethnic-racial issues and contributing to the enhancement of local history. We adopted Participant Research with the purpose of getting closer to the reality of these people in conjunction with the investigation of our own practice as a Physical Education teacher. Throughout the process, based on the analysis of the information recorded in the field diary, we observed as a result of this work the changes in students' conceptions about racism and African culture. We believe that by introducing cultural practices of African origin in the school, we are allowing subjects to have contact with part of their history, as well as enabling feelings of representation and identification. Thus, this dissertation evidence the possibility of using Physical Education classes to value Afro-Brazilian culture, with educational practices that contemplate racial issues and collaborate to eliminate racism, prejudice, discrimination and strengthen the construction of historical identity cultural.