Jamaica_music and dance

Jamaica_music(Maypole)

In Jamaican schools, the Maypole dance is kept alive because many of these schools enter Jamaica_music and dance in the yearly traditional dances competition held by The Jamaica Cultural Commission, the organization responsible to for the continuance of Jamaican cultural traditions

Traditionally the Maypole dance was a celebration in dance on the first of May to fertility and originated in Europe.

Coloured ribbons are attached to a standing pole about 6-7 feet tall. Each ribbons is held by a dancer sometimes all female,sometimes a mixture of male and female. There can be as many as sixteen dancers. These dancers dance in an in and out pattern that result in the ribbons wrapping the pole forming weaves of various patterns. These could be a grand chain, basket weaves or candy stripes dependent on the skill of the dancers and their willingness to employ and experiment with their creative skills

Sometimes the dance is done so that a part of the pole is wrapped and the rest of the ribbons are woven to form a spider like web away off from the pole Later the dancers dance in an opposite direction which unwraps the ribbon This Jamaica-dance is usually danced to the Mento music live or recorded. Of late the reggae is also used to add the real Jamaican flare Jamaica_music


Jamaica_music and dance(quadrille)

The Jamaica festival held in august of each year is aim at keeping alive the Jamaica traditional as it show case and boast the Jamaica culture in dance and music.

The quadrille is one of Jamaica cultural heritage passed on to Jamaica from the European plantocracy who settled in the island. The quadrille is traditionally a ball room dance copied by the slaves from their masters.

There are two styles , the ballroom and the camp style. The camp style is more a styleInspired by the slaves. These dances are accompanied by the Mento music there is a pattern of figures danced to European music, however a fifth figure was introduced by Jamaicans and was always danced to Jamaican created Mento music.
Quadrille came out of the French and English popular dance some time between the 18th and 19th century and was a popular dance after emancipation Quadrille is performed in 4 distinctive movements, called figures, a fifth or brawta was later added referred to as the Mento,

The square way set which was later referred to as the ballroom quadrille was performed mainly in towns by the eliteThe long way set which is also called camp style and was performed mostly in the rural area. Both styles today includes African elements.The dance contains five African feature namely the spectacular footwork’s, bent knee quality, Throw back,, and use of hips. The music was played by Mento bands.

Jamaica_music and dance Myal
This is one of Jamaica’s oldest dance and associate with certain religious practices..Found mostly in St Elizabeth . It is believed to be associated with obeah or witchcraft.But the practitioners believe that obeah is of the devil because it uses evil powers but Myal is God like because it uses good powers.
A myalist is said to be able to capture the Ghost of the dead and uses them to perform their healing Myal is banned in Jamaica, A Myal ceremony is done in an open field or under cotton tree, The dance uses a wide range of body movements and include a lot of acrobatic feats, It incorporates the use up lots of space by rolling on the ground ,using vibrating movements.

Jamaica_music and dance Gumbay This dance is seen as an element of the cult of healing, from which it got its name. It is also perform in the parish of St. Elazabeth and is a derivative of the Myal The maroons aralso acquainted with this dance.. The dance incorporates a chain of long step vibration sideways movements , wheel and turns backward and forward tilts. bending ,rolling somersaults and climbing of trees.

A Gumbay healing ceremony usually last way into the night. The square drum was the basic instrument that supplied the music. This drum specific feature was a four legs like those of a stool and was beaten with two sticks.

Jamaica_music and dance Ethu
The Ethu is a traditional dance that is mostly performed in the parish Of Hanover. It is regarded as the social dance of Africa. The dance is done by lifting and dropping hands and shoulders..The instrument used for this music is drum and the katta. The dance has two basic steps simple and compound duple. Ethu songs are short and built on four repetive notes.