Dance world mourns Pansy
published: Saturday | January 7, 2006

The Editor, Sir:

The dance communities both locally and internationally are mourning the loss of one of its pioneers, Pansy Hassan. For one who was privileged to know and perform with her, and be from a different generation, I am choosing to celebrate the legacy that she left with me and so many others.

I cannot help but remember an enthusiastic spirit, sitting down in front of class watching with critical eyes, the future of the dance company, as we ­ the new generation of dancers ­ trained in the style of the National Dance Theatre Company. She was always willing to assist me, whenever I asked, and when I chose to study at the Ailey School, she was one of the persons who gave me a thorough motherly talk about study away from home. And as such, whenever I perform or simply dance in a class, I embody all the training and experience of all the dancers and dance-experimentalists of Caribbean dance theatre, of which Mrs. Hassan played an ineffaceable part.

Mrs. Hassan, didn't just aid me in my dance development, but along with 12 other members, created a national institution and legacy where other companies, dancers and dance-theatre practitioners, could live through both directly and indirectly. This is the legacy I chose to celebrate, our Kumina Queen ­ our Cultural Queen. Thank you Pansy Hassan.

I am, etc.,

JERMAINE ROWE

jermainerowe@hotmail.com

Manhattan, New York

Via Go-Jamaica