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Darshan Singh Bhuller

Ballet Nègres

The first British black dance company was Ballets Nègres. Its founder, Berto Pasuka was born in Jamaica and learned dancing from the Maroon Negroes, descendants of runaway slaves. He performed native songs and dances for tourists. In 1939, convinced he had to be a dancer, he came to Britain.

Ballets Negres Invitation

Ballets Negres

In 1946 Pasuka launched an eight week season of Ballet Nègres at a small fringe theatre. The first black dance company in Europe, it included British-born black dancers, a Canadian, three Nigerians, a Trinidadian, a German, a Guyanese, two Jamaicans and a Ghanaian. The five drummers were from Nigeria. The company rapidly won glowing reviews and toured both Britain and internationally. Pasuka created all four works himself, basing them on Caribbean themes from philosophy to the daily bustle of Market Day.

Read the programme from Market Day

Ballets Negres Programme

The company lasted for six years but failed to gain official subsidy. Without subsidy or capital, it was impossible to maintain the dancers and create new works from box office takings alone. The company closed in 1952 and Pasuka died in 1963.