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In the last thirty years black dance companies have developed
a strong repertoire of work in the UK. Black British dancers have
made their name internationally in Ballet
Rambert, London
Contemporary Dance and a host of other national and internationally
renowned dance companies both modern and classical.
Adzido
Adzido presents classical African tribal dance adapted for stage
performance, moulding traditional dances around selected themes
and poetry. It was founded by George Dzikunu in 1984. After founding
Adzido he toured many African countries researching dance for
Adzido’s repertoire. Adzido’s first full length piece was Coming
Home, with 28 dancers and musicians telling the story of
the son of an African chief who returns home to Africa from the
West and discovers he has forgotten his tribal dances. The show
was performed at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in 1988.
Irie!
Irie! Dance Theatre was founded by Beverley Glean in 1984. Born
in the Caribbean, Beverley Glean trained at the Laban Centre for
Movement and Dance in London and then worked at the Albany Empire
as Dance Development Officer. Irie! Dance came out of a project
to celebrate Caribbean culture in Deptford in South East London.
Irie’s first major production was a reggae production of the Orpheus
myth, Orfeo in a Night Town, set in the Caribbean. It
opened at The Place in 1989.
Phoenix Dance Company
Phoenix Dance Company was formed in 1981 by Leo Hamilton, Donald
Edwards and Villmore James. They all attended Harehills’ Middle
School in Leeds, where, unusually, dance was a compulsory subject
for boys and girls, taught by Nadine Senior. By 1982 they were
performing outside Leeds and the number in the company had risen
to five. By 1989 the first female dancers were under contract
and in 1990 Phoenix was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award
for the most Outstanding Achievement of the Year in Dance.
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Introduction
Harlem Renaissance
