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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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, […]