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Januka event

An evening with Januka – The Will to Survive Part 2

The Will To Survive – Part 2 Saturday, 10th September, 18:30 – 23:00 We tell an incredible story of our ancestors’ efforts to redeem their humanity, reconstruct their family structures and cohesive communities, post-emancipation. Entertainment include: Reflections on lived experiences of the freed slaves Quadrille and other cultural dances Audience participation in folk songs Celebration dancing […]

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JANUKA Summer events 2015

JANUKA QUADRILLE DANCE GROUP Invites you to our summer fund raising event at Trinity United Reformed Church Hall: Januka summer fund raising event 27th June 2015: 10am – 4pm Trinity United Reformed Church Hall Faversham Road (off Stanstead Road) Catford London SE6 4XE Table Top Sale, Jerk BBQ & other Caribbean delights as well as […]

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januka quadrille dancers

Our ancestors lived experiences through the quadrille dance: Pt 4/4

This is Part 4 of a list of 15 dance figures/sets.  You can read Part 1,  Part 2 and Part 3 for the full list. Part C continued. 14. Free Spirited Dances Free spirited dances are symbolic of our ancestors’ free spiritedness, inherent love of music and dance and freedom of expression. Dancing is choreographed to a selection of reconfigured quadrille […]

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januka jamaican quadrille

Our ancestors lived experiences through the quadrille dance: Pt 3/4

This is Part 3 of a list of 15 dance figures/sets.  You can read Part 1,  Part 2 and Part 4 for the full list. Part C 10. Vertical Maypole Couples join arms and hands to form the shaft of the Maypole, and dance in close proximity in ‘turnstile’ movements at centre stage, before returning to their base. Historical relevance The […]

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jamaican quadrille dancers

Our ancestors lived experiences through the quadrille dance: Pt 2/4

This is Part 2 of a list of 15 dance figures/sets.  You can read Part 1,  Post 3 and Post 4 for the full list. Part 2 6. Figure of 8 with a diamond in the centre Women move their bodies and feet to create a numerical ‘8’ pattern with a diamond at the centre. They pass each other courteously but do […]

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januka jamaican quadrille performance

Our ancestors lived experiences through the quadrille dance: Pt 1/4

In Blog Post 2, Post 3 and Post 4 of this series I described my search for more significant, sinister and justifiable reasons for my ancestors’ transformation and transfiguration of the European quadrille dance. This process uncovered sixteen coded messages summarised below: Music, singing and dancing can liberate your mind, body and soul. Develop a strong sense […]

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European Quadrille dance

Transformation and Transfiguration of the European Ballroom Quadrille dance

Although the enslaved Africans mastered the European ballroom quadrille dance and danced it exquisitely, they soon realised it was too formal and expressionless to fully achieve their goals. I surmise that their inborn spiritedness of freedom and defiance would have enabled them to cunningly transform and transfigure the European dance into a livelier, more relaxing, interactive and […]

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European Quadrille dancers

Jamaican Slave Exposure to the European Quadrille dance

When the enslaved African were forbidden to engage in their cultural expressions in music, singing and dancing, I surmise they were initially forlorn. The colonialists had publicly declared their African dances inferior, uncivilised and abhorrent. The only dancing genre exposed to them at the time was the European ballroom quadrille. The colonialists and their guests […]

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JANUKA quadrille dancers

Meanings underpinning Quadrille dancing by enslaved Africans

I started my search for significant, sinister and justifiable reasons for quadrille dancing by posing a similar question to that asked by some of our critics regarding JANUKA’s effort to keep quadrille dancing alive. The question state: What did quadrille dancing really mean to our ancestors? Although I believe our ancestors defiantly danced the quadrille, […]

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Beverley januka quadrille dancer

Dancing the Quadrille – A Celebration of Triumph over Oppression

JANUKA have been happily dancing the quadrille – Jamaican style – since 2005. We thoroughly enjoy dancing and take great pride in promoting what we strongly believe is our Jamaican cultural heritage. Why do I continue to dance quadrille? On a few occasions, I have been asked – Why do I continue to dance quadrille, […]

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