Freelance Writer
PANDEMONIUM, OR something quite like it, took control of the Little Theatre on Tom Redcam Avenue, St. Andrew, on Wednesday evening. It was during the final stages of adjudication in the National Finals of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's (JCDC) Dance Competition. Had there been a 'scream-o-meter' present, it would certainly have shattered by the end of the evening.
The competition had begun on Monday with performances from grade one (six years and under) entrants. Tuesday saw the juniors and several of the intermediate competitors. With only the popular dances to go after approximately four hours of competition, the intermediate winners were announced. The result was that Tivoli High School Dance Troupe had earned the trophy for the Most Outstanding Intermediate Group.
HIGHLY CONTESTED
The popular dance segment was highly contested, with 14 senior entrants (class five and six) in the category. St. Jago High started out the segment, igniting the audience with 'March Out'. Dressed in blue camouflage, the boys of St. Catherine's Vale, delivered jaw-dropping dance acrobatics.
But alas, it was not enough to bring them the trophy.
As the segment progressed, the question posed by Elephant Man "a weh di, weh di, weh di, weh di, weh di?" would bounce through the auditorium several times and it seemed a very appropriate question, what with some of the feats performed in the dances. Most of the dances in the category used a mixture of dancehall and hip-hop and while some merely concentrated on form, other groups would try to bring a bit of plot and drama to the story.
The performances of Knox Community College, West Portland Cultural Group, Mount Alvernia High, St. Mary High and the Denbigh Primary School Staff seemed to pale in comparison to the efforts of St. Jago at least, when judged according to the audience's screams. The Dirty Boys brought back some excitement, but it would take Star Boyz to send the scream-o-meter skyrocketing skywards once again. However their efforts would soon be obliterated by the Portmore Dancers Cultural Group, with 'The Challenge Part 2'. With the all-male group wearing either black or white gees, the dance presented a kung fu battle with some moves that could make karate movie makers jealous. The choreography also infused much humour in the piece.
But that too was also not enough.
The Portmore Dancers were followed by Excelsior Community College. For the past few years Excelsior has been wowing audiences and the judges with their choreographies, inspired by popular action movies. They have performed dances patterned first from The Matrix and later Charlie's Angels. This year, the title of the dance, 'Swat', suggested yet another adaptation. However, despite using the name, the dance was far more original in thought.
EXPRESSIVENESS
As the screams tested the foundations of the Little Theatre, Excelsior clearly had the edge in the fluidity of the choreography as well as the expressiveness of the dancers, who oozed energy. The efforts proved enough to edge out their competitors, as they earned the trophy for 'Best Popular Dance'.
However, they were not allowed to sit comfortably as the Arnett Gardens Dance Troupe followed them. Unfortunately, that troupe took the term popular just a little too far. The dance, titled 'Dance Hall Madness', seemed to invoke just that in the audience. When the all girl troupe stripped to bras and thong boy shorts the audience erupted. The result was that the troupe apologized for taking their outfit too far.
After that performance, the Chemical Boyz and Montego Bay Dance Ensemble seemed anti-climactic.
IAN ALLEN/Staff Photographer
Mount Alvernia High School performs their modern contemporary entry 'Dancing for the Lord'.
