Crowded Halls Cheering Crowds

The Barbados IndepenDANCE FESTival is the toddler in the family of local festivals, but if the crowds and fans keep feeding it with the kind of support just witnessed over the last five nights, then ladies and gentlemen we have a giant in the making. Twenty community based dance groups from around the country showed off their danced skills to judges, fans and the capacity audiences that came out to participate in the Zone Finals of this, the third year's Dance Fest.

Thursday 6th November was the beginning of an action packed mini-week. The Eastern Zone ran first and although only two groups performed, a blazing platform was set for those that followed. Dance genres ranged from African to fusions of modern and hip hop, group sizes from two to 30. Those attending witnessed genuine effort displayed by most performers, and all will agree that the Independance Fest is earning it's place as a must see Independence event.

Comment if you were at any of the Zone Finals lets hear what you think. Now here's a photo look at some of the action. I have included some short video clips which you may downloaded. Over the next few days I will be reviewing each final, and in the weeks to follow, present to you

those who work tirelessly to bring this festival to our communities.

Will Higher Level Empire Surf their way to the National Finals?

Powerful HIV Aids Message

The Race is definitely on for the Gymnasium

Maybe Divine intervention will be this group's winning tool.

The following videos may take a while to load, however quality would be compromised if they are made smaller. Have your say. How would you like to have your video posted?

Dance – moving a community closer

Dance generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting.

How many of you remember during the eighties, here in Barbados when groups of young men travelled around some communities armed with rolled up linoleum and a large “beatbox”? It was breakdance war in the streets back then. Clashes between Webopp 2 in St. Michael and … in the famous Studio 10, or on Combermere home turf. Young men, some educated, some not walking around looking to share some serious dance licks.

In fact, some names at that time became household names – Fonzie, Jamal, Ramoun, Ricky Taylor and others not to mention, earlier dance heroes from the funking seventies like Brazain, Sheriff, Ghost, I C & I am. Some of these names when called today still ring “sweet” of the good old party days at Skate on, Rendezvous Room, Unicorn 1 and the Djs that made feting the necessary weekend activity. The dancers of these times, the fete venues and the Djs – Anthony lowhar, Franz Phillips, Eddie Cheeseman all rightfully called “old School” bring to mind an era when dance was a great binding force that held some of communities together.

Today, the scene has changed a bit but dance is still very much alive around Barbados. The difference maybe the amazing widening of dance genres. In the seventies and eighties there were three main groups of weekend dance activities. The late thirty and older group worked up their sweat at “Dances” – Socials where mostly music of the fifties, sixties and early seventies (oldies) was played. Couples danced to the music Sam Cooke, Brooke Benton, Skeeter Davis, Paul Anka…you get the picture. Under thirties were split into two groups – those that partied to the latest (now old school) r&b, pop and funk, with a little reggae and calypso thrown in. The other group was the roots group, they flocked the “dub outs”. Dances where “dub”, hardcore reggae was played for the entire “session”.

Young dancers from competing groups at a recently organized Inter-community Social

The scene is way more varied today. On the social scene you can find clubs and night clubs where the hottest dances from around the Americas and further world are performed. Everything from professional ballroom and Latin to Jamaican Passa Passa. During this years Independance Festival groups are even competing with their versions of line dance. Many young men still want to do dance battle, and popping, waving, head spinning and scrambling are still moves in their repertoire, but gone are the "congoleum" and big radios, and now there are opportunities (at least once a year) where these skills can be put to use on a national scale for big prize monies. Dancers, young and old from across the island, can participate in the annual Independance Festival, a great outlet for their skills and talents and a powerful tool that can bring communities closer.