Into The Light celebrates 25 years of dance theatre excellence
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Friday, October 27, 2006
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A quarter of a century of top-class dance theatre culminates on stage next Thursday, when Movements Dance Company of Jamaica mounts Into the Light, its 2006 Anniversary Season of Dance at the Little Theatre in Kingston.
In a season that promises to be the most stellar of its consecutive annual performances, Movements has captured the best of its unique brand of modern contemporary dance for four nights of solid entertainment.
For the company that has strived on the contribution of various local and international artistes, the 2006 repertoire offers an impressive thematic mix and features the works of international choreographers Christopher Huggins out of the United States and Jackie Guy, now based in the United Kingdom.
A performer, tutor and choreographer for the past 26 years, Christopher Huggins premieres his work Tears of War in the new season. Huggins, a former member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and recipient of the Black Theatre Alliance of Chicago's coveted "Ira Aldridge Award" for Best Choreography in 2002, has entrusted the Jamaican company with his reflection on casualties of war.
Founding Tutor and Choreographer of Movements from the 1980s, Jackie Guy returns with a tribute to the life and work of the late cultural icon Dr Louise Bennett-Coverley. Only fi yu, continues on Movements' homage to Jamaican culture and heritage as reflected in its distinctly Jamaican take on modern contemporary dance. A cultural activist himself, Guy is now one of Britain's leading authorities on Afro-Caribbean dance forms.
Artistic Director Monica Campbell McFarlane introduces her latest work, Ushindi, this season, in which she expresses triumph of the spirit through movement and music. Ushindi features the music of Jon Williams and includes a drum symphony specially created for the work. Campbell's Baraka of 2004, a celebration of God's blessing and a favourite among audiences here and overseas, Desert Heart (2004), weighing the insights of introspection and Flashback (1993), her treatment of then dreaded AIDS, are all featured in this year's programme.
The other revivals are Patrick Johnson's tussle of two lovers in Pathways (2001) and Neville Black's classic tale of a rainforest, its hunters and its snake goddess in Ceremony (1989).
The Company is staging its silver jubilee season under the distinguished patronage of Joan Myers Brown, founder and honorary chairperson of the International Association of Blacks in Dance.
Esteemed as a living legend in dance, Myers Brown is a 50 year veteran of the arts and founder and executive artistic director of the celebrated Philadelphia Dance Company (PHILDANCO).
Strong performances from the 13 members, Movements' thought-provoking choreography and high level production, with inputs from the likes of Jon Williams, Grub Cooper and Lighting Director, Franklyn St Juste, come together for a night of dance excellence not to be missed.
Movements Annual Season of Dance runs from November 2 to 5 at the Little Theatre. Showtime is 8:00 pm and 6:00 pm on Sunday.
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