As a young girl attending Bath Primary School in St Thomas, Jamaica, I often watched the older boys and girls dancing quadrille to entertain on occasions like Independence Day and when we had important visitors.
I would watch mesmerised by their movements and obvious sense of enjoyment and longed for the day when I was in ‘big class’ so that I could learn. Unfortunately I was whisked off to England before I had the chance to learn. It was with great excitement when as an adult many, many years later, I had the opportunity to learn Quadrille.
I have learnt so much about myself, and my ancestors, through this dance, and I see it as a vital part of who we are as a people. My dream is that when people think of Jamaica, Quadrille will be synonymous with Reggae, Jerk Chicken and Dunn’s River Falls!
