Teino Evans, Staff ReporterTHEY ARE the only all- female dance company in Jamaica and have continuously dazzled audiences not only through skillful execution of movements, but also the ability of members to display different styles and types of modern and Caribbean dance.
Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, Dance Theatre Xaymaca (DTX) is still dancing up a storm.
Having started in 1996 when founder and current artistic director for the group, Barbara McDaniel, sought to provide a means of continuity for Wolmer's dancers when they became adults, the group has evolved into a talented, distinguished group.
A founding member of DTX, Natalie Gallimore, says she will continue to offer as much support as possible, because dancing is her life. However, within the last three years, she has not been able to do what she loves most.
STOPPED DANCING
"I had to stop dancing three years ago because of medical reasons and it was as if part of my life had been missing; it's not the same. So I now channel my energies into helping 'Ms. B' (McDaniel) in staging her pieces of choreography, teaching classes, setting up rehearsal schedules and maintaining good dance morale and relations with the members of the company," she said.
Gallimore, who had been dancing for more than 20 years, first started out at the Jamaica School of Dance. "Patsy Ricketts and Barry Moncrieffe, who were members of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC), were good friends of my parents and inspired them to send me," she recalled. From there she went on to become a founding member of the Company Dance Theatre under the tutelage of artistic director, Tony Wilson.
DTX has represented Jamaica at various dance festivals around the world, in places such as Korea, Cuba, Suriname and Antigua, as well as the American cities of Atlanta, Boston and Miami.
The theme for their 10th anniversary celebrations is 'Retro' and a production that will be staged at the Little Theatre from October 28-30 under the patronage of the artist, Mrs. P.J. Stewart. "We have chosen some of the most impacting dances spanning our 10 years and have remounted same. These include 'Motherland', 'Emanon', 'Freedom Song' (choreographed by McDaniel) and 'Destiny' (choreographed by Arsenio Andrade). 'Motherland' has become one of our signature pieces which explores African genres, the first section of which was performed as a part of the Wolmer's Dance Troupe's season of dance when DTX was launched 10 years ago," Gallimore said.
TWO NEW PIECES
In addition, there will be two new pieces of choreography done by Kameica Reid/Onaje Bell and Christopher Walker.
Kameica Reid, choreographer and principal dancer of DTX, says that her contribution will be a dancehall piece. "It's a hot mix of both retro vibes and current dancehall music and it promises to be a major crowd pleaser with interesting twists and turns," she said.
Reid, who started dancing at age four at Wolmer's Prep, became a founding member of the Wolmer's Dance Troupe under the tutelage of McDaniel.
"I have always been proud of the fact that the group has always stood out tremendously, not only because of the strong technical ability that we possess but because of our innate stage presence and versatility in different areas, from ballet, jazz, Afro-Cuban and African to hip hop and dancehall," Reid said.
MENTORS
Reid, who has been dancing for over 20 years, credits McDaniel, one of her mentors, for her success as a renowned choreographer. Reid, who now works both in front (as dancer) and behind the camera (as film and television production co-coordinator and choreographer) said, "I have had the privilege of both choreographing and performing (which she absolutely loves) with a wide array of artistes on various productions, namely music videos such as Wayne Wonder's No Letting Go, Wayne Marshall's Marshall Town, Left Side and Esco's
Tuck Een Yuh Belly, Elephant Man's Signal Di Plane and Higher Level, Cecile's Do It To Me, Baby Cham's Vitamin S, Onaje's Made Me Realise, Bling Dawg's Stress Free, Beenie Man's Dancehall Queen, Patra's How Do You Love, many more ... and many more to come.
"This is an all-female group, that is extremely articulate
with their bodies, strong enough to perform spellbinding lifts
and sassy enough to thrill any crowd."
