Rare encore for dancers

It is not unusual for an artiste to be asked for an encore after a particularly good performance. But have you heard a similar request at a concert put on by a dance company?

On Sunday, so good was the performance of the dancers in the Portmore Dance Theatre's Hands in Praise concert, that truth, once again, proved stranger than fiction.

The audience at The Portmore HEART Academy called it "brawta". For years, people in Portmore have been asking for a praise dance concert and so, the brawta, was warranted.

The Portmore Dance Theatre has been in existence for 10 years, with its sixth season held in June. Over the years, the dance group has included praise pieces in its programme and so, the request for that particular form of entertainment grew.

"This is the year. Let's see what happens," said Anthony Carson, founding member and artistic director of the Portmore Dance Theatre, after three years of contemplation.

The entertaining but passionate testimonial package of Hands in Praise was bolstered by the dance group's nine gold-medal and three trophy pieces at the 2011 Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Festival of the Performing Arts - Dance.

The dances were a fusion of traditional and popular or street movements, all choreographed by the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts-trained Carson.

When the 21-piece programme opened, the full dance company of seniors and juniors got the celebration going with the catchy track 'All Creatures, Praise the Lord'. And as was the case with a number of the dances on the programme, this dance bore the title of the track. Subsequently, the seniors returned to give a passionate prayer in 'The Prayer'. And in 'My Redeemer', the use of levels enhanced the spectacle of the dance.

Among the celebrated pieces was Kemar Francis' solo dance, titled 'The Robe'.

The very powerful dance had the very good-size audience praising the Lord. And it was not difficult to see why Francis was awarded the national trophy for best solo at the JCDC competition. Other festival-winning pieces to make it to the concert were the dances 'Incredible' and 'Psalm 24', all performed by the senior members of the company.

But the 22 junior members were represented. They, too, raised their hands in praise. Their well-executed and lovely costumed dances included 'Revive Me', 'Purity' and 'Give Praises'.

There was some drama too. 'The Crucifixion' was creatively choreographed and Carson's incorporation of the temptation of Jesus by the devil helped to make the story compelling. The group of talented dancers did well in bringing the story to life. They understood their roles and were passionate in their execution. Fortunately, the unattractive-looking costumes did not detract from the performances.

The dance 'Memories' also fell in the unattractive costumes category. The lovely colours of red and white were converted to frumpy by unpleasant-looking designs. The dance, however, executed by the duet of Carson and Deandra Smith, was beautifully presented. It ended with one of the choreographer's favourite street-dance movements - the lift.

The high-energy dance concert should have closed with the JCDC gold-winning dance, 'The Testimony', but the audience who defied the odds and showed up for the inaugural concert asked for brawta. The dancers obliged by repeating 'All Creatures Praise the Lord'. Only then did the fully satisfied audience begin to make its way out.

There are plans for another concert during Black History Month next year.