Michael Reckord, Contributor
This trio of youngsters do a dance piece during the recently-held Children's Expo at the National Arena in St. Andrew. The two day event attracted many patrons islandwide. - COLIN HAMILTON/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
"WHERE ARE the children?" is the question asked in Praise Academy of Dance's 12th season of dance which was held at Little Theatre last weekend. The answer suggested by the choreographers and the 120 dancers performing was that Jamaica's children are in trouble.
Themes addressed in the dance dramas, which were interspersed among the 11 dances making up the production included sexual abuse in the home, and violence in the wider society. The choreographers attempted to link the two issues.
The titles of the dances give a good idea of the production's scenario. Act 1, the titles were 'Picture Perfect' (with the characters being father, mother and daughters), 'Behind Closed Doors', 'The Real Secret', 'Again', 'Exposed', 'Shattered Lives', 'Today's Playground', 'Hope in God,' and 'A Journey of Faith.' In Act 2, the family is together again and all is well, as indicated by the dances, 'Restored', and 'God's Way.'
As is usually the case with theatrical productions featuring performances by children and teens, the quality of the dances in this show varied from 'cute' to good. There was one outstanding dancer, though, Patrick Earl, who danced the father. He was particularly expressive in his solo as a prisoner in a cell.
Earl, a professional dancer, was one of the many choreographers of "Where Art the Children? Part 2." (Part 1, produced in 2002, focused on the plight of street children) the other choreographers were Pat Noble (the academy's artistic director), Andrea Plunkett (asst. artistic director), Lisa Wilson, Dawn Walker, Trisha Lindsay, Nicole Bain, Sharon Gordon, Roberta Daley, Marcia Bailey and Sharma Harding.
One might think that these heavy themes would manifest as a gloomy show. Far from it. For one thing, the choreographers touched lightly on the issues. That was not surprising, in view of the ages of the dancers, two to 18 years.
SOLUTION
Secondly, even as the family and societal problems were raised, the solution was given, so the audience didn't have time to dwell on dismal matters. The answer to problems, according to the choreographers, is always there, always Jesus. Praise Academy of Dance's motto is, in fact, "Blazing a Trail with Jesus the Lord of the Dance."
One of the pleasures of the production was the beauty of the costumes. Designed by Pat Noble and Maxine Buntam for many different characters, groups and ages, they possessed all the colours of the rainbow, and them some. Their impact was strongest in large-group dances and at the end when the entire company of dancers were on stage.
Imagine 100 dancers, from tiny tots to young adults dancing in multi-coloured costumes on a small stage. It was a glorious sight. But a blind lover of gospel music would have enjoyed the production, too. The music, the songs of a dozen or so top gospel singers, was delightful.
One unusual component of the production was a 'testimony' by an unnamed man associated with Praise Academy. Just before the final dance, he went on stage, described his experience as he watched his daughter being born in 2004, his conviction that she had been given to him by God and his consequent promise to God to bring her up well. He then asked the fathers in the audience to stand and then he prayed to God to 'heal' their wounds and for Jesus to 'enter' the hearts of those present.
There was then a collective "Amen" from the audience, which, ten minutes later, enthusiastically applauded the production as a whole. Clearly a good time had been had by all.
