By Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Shelly-Ann Maxwell
THERE IS a saying that those who can do and those who can't teach. Apparently, whoever conceptualised the statement did not take into consideration teachers like those on the faculty of the School of Dance at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.
With 'Physical Labrish: The Body Speaks' the school's faculty will be demonstrating not just their skills as teachers and choreographers, but also as dancers. 'Physical Labrish' will take place at the school's dance studio Saturday, December 4 and Sunday December 5, 2004.
Chris Walker, artistic director of the production, explained that the name was selected because the show will highlight "the body as communicator". Additionally, 'Labrish' was deliberately selected because the body will speak in a distinctly Jamaican vernacular.
The dances promise to be as varied in expression as the Jamaican way of speaking and the choreographers themselves. Arsenio Andrade choreographs two pieces for 'Physical Labrish'. The Cuban trained dancer, who is also a principal dancer with the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC), will present 'Reflection' and 'Dimension'.
Speaking passionately about the destruction of the natural world with the depletion of the ozone layer and the effects of pollution and chemical weaponry, Andrade explained that 'Reflection' is about the environment. 'Dimension' on the other hand, he says is "about the human body as an instrument".
While Andrade deals with the physical world, Lisa Wilson will explore the spiritual realm. Titled 'Credo', her dance explores the encounter with the spiritual world, as well as how it has shaped Wilson. She explained that 'Credo' explores her beliefs in how she can approach God. Wilson takes the somewhat controversial stance of using the entire body to explore her spirituality. "I cannot understand how when it comes to expressing praise it has to be the hands in isolation," she says. "Dance is from your soul."
Walker will be representing the piece 'Urban Fissure', which is featured in NDTC's 2004 concert season. The dance has been extended, however, with a solo introduction and a tighter ending. Walker explains that the dance presents his investigation "into urban culture and how people cope". As such, the dance explores women's roles as support structures.
FUSING FOLK AND
CONTEMPORARY
Sherine Bailey, whose piece remains yet unnamed, explained that her piece, a trio, was about protest and fuses folk and contemporary dances. Oniel Pryce presents 'Stained Soul', which he describes as an exploration of love, hopelessness, homelessness and finding a place to belong. The quartet is autobiographical and is performed without music.
Shelley-Ann Maxwell will also be staging a remount. Her piece, 'Reverberations' was originally choreographed in 1999 and explores how music influences dance and dance influences music. The dance uses music from score of The Fifth Element.
'Physical Labrish' itself will be something of a lecture to the students of the school and the public in general. Walker explained that in coming to 'Physical Labrish' the audience will begin to experience the dance process from the point of entering the parking lot, until they get to the studio.
The production will also feature the skill and talents of Honore Van Ommeren, Neila Ebanks, Nicholeen DeGrasse-Johnson, Debroah Powell-Valentino and Alaine Grant.
As members of the dance academia, their choreographies also represent their research and theories, though, in this case, written with the body rather than the pen. The 'labrish' in question has no intention of being idle talk.
