IN 1981, a group of dancers — former members of the defunct Eddie Thomas Company — decided to go on a hunch and start an outfit of their own. Today, 35 years later, that company is Movements, one of Jamaica’s premier modern dance companies.

Founding member and current artistic director, Monica Campbell McFarlane, recalls the conversation she had with Patricia Grant Heron, Michelle Tappin-Lee and Denise Desnoes, out of which Movements was born.

“I had been out of dance for sometime. This was about the time I was starting my own communications firm. I had heard that Eddie Thomas had disbanded his company. We were all together and I just kinda suggested: ‘Guys, maybe you should form your own company.’ It was said in a tongue-in-cheek way, but the suggestion was taken up and the response came back… Let’s do it.”

For Campbell McFarlane, the driving force of the company became providing a home and space for artists who were not attached to any of the local dance troupes, while contributing to the development of dance in Jamaica.

“We ploughed a lot of our personal resources into Movements, but we had a goal to set up an institution of the very highest level, providing an avenue for the development of artists — not only dancers, but sound and lighting technicians, costumers, etc; everyone that makes a dance come to life. And most importantly, something that would last,” she mused.

“If we knew then what this would entail, perhaps we would have had second thoughts. Running a company has become really difficult over the years, given the constraints of the economy. In order to reach this milestone we have had to improvise and innovate… as Jamaicans say, ‘tun yuh hand and make fashion’, in order to make it work for all these years. We have, however, been fortunate to have formed alliances with a number of dancers, choreographers, support staff, trusted sponsors, and patrons who have helped us to make a statement and carve out a niche for ourselves,” Campbell McFarlane continued.

Come October 7 to 9, Movements will stage its 35th anniversary season of dance at the Little Theatre in St Andrew. The performances will be under the theme ‘More Than Conquerors’.

“The journey has indeed been a very gratifying crescendo which has intensified with time and the replenishment of dedicated artists who have given generously of their time and talent. They have helped to build an important movement that reflects the energy and psyche of the Jamaican people; a people with the capacity to lead the world in so many different spheres,” said Campbell McFarlane.

She explained that for this season, the repertoire will be filled with dance works which are thought-provoking pieces of social commentary and represents a synthesis of modern contemporary and classical dance themes.

“We did not want to fill the show with too many old pieces. Instead, we are presenting some strong new works as well as some of our signature pieces over the years. One of the things we are proud of is the injection of young blood into the company. So there is a whole new generation interpreting the works. Mixed in with the young dancer is one of our stalwarts. Patrick Johnson is an original member of Movements, so he has been with us for the past 35 years. He says this is his final season, but we see him playing a major role this year, so we are yet to see if this will actually be his curtain call.”

The works being presented by Movements include four new works. Among those are Christopher Huggins’ Father Father and two pieces by Campbell McFarlane — Triumph in Gethsemane and Live Light, which features the music of reggae star Chronixx. These will be paired with remounts of Bread of Life, Wrath of God and Pathways among others.

Looking to the next 35 years and beyond, Campbell McFarlane is confident that the foundation has been laid for the younger crop of dancers to build on.

“I fully expect greater things from Movements in the future. The young artists we have nurtured, some from an early age, are grounded and more than capable of ensuring that the crescendo of the company continues. They have the training and the capacity to take the Company to another level.”