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In Clarendon, running roughly from Kellits to Crofts Hill there is an area known as Old Woman's Savanna. It appeared so on earliest maps and apparently the old woman was a Spaniard -who refused to leave Jamaica when the English captured the island in 1655, even though her house and property in Spanish Town were seized. She received permission to retire to her hato in the country thus giving the name to the area |
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 There is a well-known adage asserting proudly that the heart of the Jamaican people has never ceased to dance. It’s true – dancing is an integral part of everyday Jamaican life. We dance everywhere and for all occasions – for worship, cultural celebrations, formal events and social gatherings. Once there’s music, hips gyrate, hands start to clap while round buttocks roll, and everyone – old and young alike – finds himself or herself moving to the infectious rhythmic beat.
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Shaped by a mixture of European and African influences, Jamaican dance forms have evolved. From the ‘jonkonnu’ steps practiced by slaves at Christmas time, to the post-Emancipation ‘bruckins’, the liberating ‘ska’ of a newly independent nation to the vibrant, sometimes challenging choreography of the dancehall – our heritage in dance reflects the evolution of our cultural identity.
We have ‘Jamaicanized’ traditional European dances, such as maypole and quadrille, performing them to the sounds of our homegrown ‘mento’ music. Similarly, dances such as the ‘gerreh’, the ‘dinki-mini’ and ‘ettu’ reflect our African heritage, but are also satirical commentaries of plantation life. These dances form the backbone of modern Jamaican dance forms.
Today, our people use everything – comedy, tragedy, or social and political scenarios at home and abroad, to create new dance moves. Some of the more recent dances include the butterfly, log-on, Jerry Springer, Steve Urkel and the talaban. Jamaicans and visitors alike are barely able to keep track of the many new dances that surface at a rapid pace. Local clubs and HQs, reverberating with pounding beats of dancehall music, are breeding grounds for new dance moves. You can bet that almost every month there will be a new style, with an equally amusing name to learn, no less exciting, entertaining or exhilarating than the previous.
From the dancehall to the stage, hip street styles give way to elaborate contortions and clever choreography. The Edna Manley School of Dance, the National Dance Theatre Company and other recognized groups also keep Jamaica’s dance tradition alive with regular shows. The themes of these performances sometimes explore the issues facing the nation, or reflect the artistic expressions of the performers with well-rehearsed and synchronized formations. These Jamaican ensembles have received both local and international acclaim, exposing our dance forms to our people and the world.
Dancing is a vital part of the Jamaican lifestyle. Whether as a means of enjoyment, entertainment or expression, the ability to move the body freely is essential to our identity as a people. As effortlessly as we breathe, so do we dance…spinning, twisting, shaking… To experience Jamaica is to dance with us. Leave your inhibitions and let the music set you free. May we have this dance? |
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