Getting insight into a country like Jamaica through dance may sound tricky. But the Stella Maris Dance Ensemble recently pulled it off in fine fashion.
The dance group was in Cayman last weekend performing at the Harquail Theatre. Every evening from Friday to Sunday the ensemble performed a three-hour routine split up into six acts. The segments focused on various aspects of Jamaican culture from its history and link to slavery to religion and its cultural legacy with tributes to the likes of Jimmy Cliff and Rex Nettleford.
Chief choreographers were Abeldo ‘Tokie’ Gonzales, Patsy Ricketts and Monika Lawrence. Music by Jamaican legends such as Bob Marley and Shaggy were also part of the performance.
Lawrence is the founder of the ensemble and a guest lecturer at the University College of the Cayman Islands (in the area of Cultural Studies). She says the group came in large part to enlighten the Cayman public.
“Culture and the performing arts are areas that the Caribbean has always excelled in,” Lawrence says. “We express ourselves through movement and dance. In the Caribbean it’s a way of entertaining people and making the performing arts accessible to the young people. From my experience it also helps students be confident, disciplined, more self-aware and academically successful.
“Our reason for coming here, aside from helping local netball, is we want to share some of our culture. We hope to bridge the gap between Caymanians and Jamaicans by showing how gratifying the performing arts are. Jamaica has a rich cultural heritage through music.”
The group was brought to Cayman by the Cayman Islands Netball Association to help with fundraising efforts. Youth, Sports and Culture Mark Scotland and wife Cindy were patrons of the event with sponsorship from a number of local entities including the Ministry of Health, Environment, Youth, Sports and Culture; Cayman Airways; Shopsmart and the National Building Society of the Cayman Islands.
While in Cayman the ensemble also led workshops with local students and dance groups. About 330 kids from Grand Cayman’s primary and high schools came out to see learn dance moves from genres such as mento, skat and rock steady.
Lawrence says the group tried to broaden horizons of Cayman residents.
“With the studio groups, it was about technique and competency. They are already classically trained so we assisted with their moves. Our choreographer Tokie is from Cuba and has worked with groups from Harlem. We feel that we were able to broaden horizons here.”
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