Spirit of The Dance Conversations Continue This Thursday

The third installment in the Doongalik Studios’ Jackson Burnside Conversations on Culture relating to the ‘Spirit of the Dance’ Exhibition, will take place this Thursday from 6-9pm and focus on Bahamian Dance Legend Hubert Farrington. Hosted by Charles Carter, guest speakers for this session will be Mr Farrington’s niece, Shelagh Farrington-Pritchard who looked after him before he died and became the keeper of his memorabilia, as well as Attorney Dr Peter Maynard, author of the biography: ‘Great Awakening: Meta Davis-Cumberbatch, Mother of the Arts’. Mrs Cumberbatch, Dr Maynard’s grandmother, was Mr Farrington’s music teacher, associate and mentor.

The Exhibition, which will be on display until February 16, follows the stunning careers in over a century of dance by three world famous performers: Paul Meeres, Hubert Farrington and Shirley Hall Bass all of whom made a positive impact on The Bahamas and the world. The Conversations are an integral part of the event that allows the public to receive invaluable insight into the lives of these famous dancers.

Last week’s Conversation focused on the dance career of Shirley Hall–Bass and was hosted by former students, Dr Keith Wisdom, along with the present Dance School administrators and teachers, Sonjia Roberts, Michelle Hudson and Ralph McKinney who also treated the audience to a lively tap demonstration! (see video above)

The public is invited to attend this free event and learn more about these fascinating segments of dance history in The Bahamas. We hope that you will join us.

Male Dancers Challenge Gender Stereotypes

Read the article in The Tribune here!

Dr. Keith Wisdom to Speak on Shirley Hall Bass

Please join Doongalik Studios, Carter Marketing, the Endowment for the Performing Arts, and Dr. Keith Wisdom this Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 6pm, to discuss the life of the late ICONIC Shirley Hall Bass.

To read more about this event, please view the article on Bahamas Weekly here.

Ralph McKinney and Sonjia Roberts at Shirley Hall Bass Tribute from DoongalikStudios on Vimeo.

The Spirit of The Dance is Featured in the Nassau Guardian!

View the article here.

Thanks Sonia Farmer!

Jackson L Burnside III's Annual Conversations on Culture

Doongalik Studios, in conjunction with Carter Marketing, and the Endowment for the Performing Arts, announces the beginning of this year’s Jackson L. Burnside III Conversations on Culture Series as a part of their ‘Spirit of the Dance’ Exhibition presently on display at the Art Gallery on #18 Village Road. The Exhibition follows the stunning careers in over a century of dance by three world famous performers: Paul Meeres, Hubert Farrington and Shirley Hall Bass all of whom made a positive impact on The Bahamas and the world.



The first Conversation will take place this Thursday at 6pm and will consist of a panel discussion moderated by Orchid Burnside entitled “Men In Tights: the Gender Disparity in Bahamian Dance’ with Bahamian dancers Robert Bain, Lawrence Carroll, Roderick Johnson and Mervin Smith.

Robert Bain is the Executive and Artistic Director of The National Dance Company of The Bahamas. He has spent more than 30 years in dance, beginning his training at the Vera Allen School of Ballet in Freeport Grand Bahama, and then The Dance Theatre of Harlem, New York. He obtained his Bachelors of Fine Arts degree (BFA) in dance education from New York City College. He has studied and worked with choreographers and teachers such as Karel Shock, Arthur Mitchell, Patricia Wilds, Tanaquil Le Clercq, Billy Wilson, Katherine Dunham, Geoffrey Holder, Cleo Parker-Robinson, Loise Johnson and Walter Rains.

Mr. Bain has taught dance in the government system of The Bahamas since the early 1980s. He is presently dance education teacher at the Ministry of Education, C.V. Bethel Senior High. His vision is to develop a world class institution of dance and promote Bahamian dance. Mr. Bain's first book “Profile on Bahamian Dance Artists” will be released this fall.

Lawrence Carroll is the Founder/Artistic Director of The Lawrence Carroll Dance Academy and he is a Professional Dancer, Dance Teacher and Choreographer. Mr. Carroll holds curriculum certification from The Royal Academy of Dancing & Imperial Society of Teacher of Dancing (London, England) as well as a degree in Theatre Arts from Ryerson University, Toronto Canada.

Roderick Johnson received his early training with the New Breed Dance Company under the direction of the late Alex Zybine. He earned a B.F.A in Dance teaching and an M.F.A in dance history and criticism from York University.

Through his career, Roderick has trained, performed and conducted dance workshops, lectures and seminars throughout the United States and across Canada, Europe, South America and the Caribbean. His performing experience includes dancing with: Ballet Folk of Moscow, Idaho, Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, Theatre Ballet, and Opera Atelier Baroque dance companies of Canada.

He has received choreographic awards from the Canadian Arts Council, Toronto Dancers Transition and Resource Center, York University and the E. Clement Bethel Performing Arts and the Danza Award for Best choreography. Presently, Roderick is a full time dance teacher at C.I. Gibson and L.W. Young High School and lectures part-time at the College of The Bahamas.

Mervin Smith is the youngest member of the panel. He is pursuing his Bachelors Degree in Dance at Hunter College in New York and is the Founder of the Bahamian Dance Theatre Company which presented a fine performance of work this past weekend along with another Bahamian dance student, Denton Gay and Mychal Bryan from Jamaica at the National Centre for the Performing Arts on Shirley Street.

The Conversations for the rest of the series will consist of Shirley Hall Bass on January 26 with Dr Keith Wisdom who has also produced a documentary of her life for the Exhibition; February 2 on Hubert Farrington with his niece Shelagh Farrington-Pritchard who looked after him as he got older and provided his vast array of dance memorabilia for the Exhibit, and Attorney Dr Peter Maynard who wrote the biography of his grandmother, the world famous classical pianist, Meta Davis-Cumberbatch who was also Hubert’s mentor. The final Conversation will take place on February 9 when Charles Carter will discuss Paul Meeres with several of the dancer’s colleagues and friends, Peanuts Taylor, Errington Watkins and Keith Aranha.

The public is invited to attend this free series of lectures and to engage in dialogue with the speakers. It promises to be another exciting learning experience. For more information about the Exhibition and the Conversations please contact the Gallery at 394-1886, email them at doongalikart@batelnet.bs or check the website www.doongalik.com.

Roderick Johnson Performs at Doongalik Studios Art Gallery from DoongalikStudios on Vimeo