Real men dance

Dancers take on stereotypes surrounding modern contemporary movements

Curtis Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Local dancer, choreographer and judge, Orville Hall, believes there is a stereotype attached to the practice of modern contemporary dance in Jamaica.

According to Hall, the stereotype is based on the cultural view of what it takes to be a man.

"The stereotype exists but it is not universal; it is only local. I think it's the concept that tights are worn by the male dancers. In our culture, tights are reserved for women so men will not wear it because they think it is not manly enough," Hall said.

Hall who danced with the Stella Maris Dance Ensemble for four years disclosed that he performed modern conceptual dances before, however, due to the stereotype attached to the style of dance, he refused to wear leotards (tights).

"I danced contemporary and I was also affected by the stereotype so I did not wear the tights, I wore jazz pants, its close fitted but not like the tights. I grew up in the inner-city so wearing tights wasn't an option for me. The general Jamaican population are inner-city people and they don't promote men wearing tights," Hall said.

Hall further stated that the contemporary dance closely resembles ballet, which is often practised by women. He believes this also contributes to lack of interest by some men.

"When Jamaican men see the dance, they associate it with women because they normally see women doing ballet. So because it was introduced to us by women some men think that it is too pretty," said Hall.

Hall revealed that the dress code used in contemporary dance, can be justified due to the aesthetics associated with the genre.

"Modern contemporary looks at the line and angles of the body, so you have to wear tight clothes to show that your body is executing the lines and angles of the body … . It deals with the articulation of the feet and it is basically a universal dance language," Hall revealed.

According to Hall, despite the stereotype, groups like the National Dance Theatre Company, Stella Maris, and the Tivoli Dance Troupe among others, have recruited new members and have hosted highly successful performances at the Little Theatre.

"From August to December the Little Theatre is booked out for contemporary dance performances, so it's definitely marketable. People like Stella Maris, L'ACADCO and Tony Wilson tour every year and are keeping Jamaican culture alive, plus more and more hard-core dancehall dancers are realising that having a bigger repertoire of dances actually helps. Nothing is wrong with modern contemporary dancing, and the strongest of men can do it. It has not been an uphill task to get downtown dancers to take on to it. The goal is not to force it, over time we will see improvement in terms of interest," Hall said.

similar views

Dancehall dance group Shady Squad shared a similar view to Hall's postulations.

However, according to group leader Matthew Richards, dancers are generally stereotyped.

"Dancing on a whole has a stereotype. Many dancers are believed to be homosexuals because of their different styles of dress and how they express themselves through their art, and they ignore what society dictates to be the norm," Richards explained.

"The younger generation is more expressive and accepting of dancehall, but less accepting of male contemporary dancers because we are a rough, more edgy society, and contemporary has a softer, more emotional feel to it, and some dancers disagree with the mode of dress of contemporary dancers," he said.

Richards said even though homosexuals might practise contemporary dance, it is unfair to label the genre as being for homosexuals rather than paying attention to the art.

"Shady Squad respects all styles of dance. We believe that contemporary practice will help to make us technically better as dancers, and we do practise the style of dance in an environment where we are comfortable and accepted as the urban dancers we are," Richards said.

Richards also disclosed that the local Pro Moves Dance Company teaches modern contemporary dance moves in an environment where dancers are allowed to dress comfortably, an environment, he explains, which is positive, healthy and free from stereotype.