Jamaica & the Performing Arts

Jamaica has made great strides in the area of the performing arts.

Jamaicans have a rich traditional cultural heritage.  Out Folklore has enriched the performing arts: dance; theatre; music, paintings and designs. We draw inspiration from the stories we heard growing up as well as the saying our parents and grandparents use to chant when correcting us:

‘Hard ayse pickney nyam rackstone”; translated – ‘children who do not listen learn the hard way’.

Or ‘Chicken merry hawk deh near’; translated – ‘excessive exuberance invites trouble’.

Our theatre sector has evolved from the 1600s Shakespearean plays of the colonial era to authentic Jamaican plays fusing our traditional folklore; storytelling, music, humour and dance such as ‘pantomime’, traditional Jamaican plays, and ‘roots theatre’. The crowd favourite ‘roots theatre’ is often riotous, bawdy, and full of sexual innuendo.

An important part of Jamaican theatre is the Jamaican Language. An evolution from the African Twi language mixed with the European English language and our own creativity.

The performing arts industry is supported by entities such as: the little theatre movement, the Pantomime Company of Jamaica, Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), Creative Production Training Centre (CPTC), and Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts.

Individuals like: Wycliffe Bennett, Trevor Rhone, Hon. Louise Bennett Coverley, Oliver Samuels, Trevor Naire, Leonie Samuels, Fae Ellington, Glen Campbell and scores of others have given years of yeoman service to its development.

The Honourable Louise ‘Miss Lou’ Bennett-Coverley will always be remembered and cherished for her work in promoting Jamaica’s indigenous language . The playwright Trevor Rhone will also be remembered for his work in exploring issues surrounding racism and classism in Jamaica.

Our Dance...

The unfamiliar movements of African dancing was rejected by the Europeans enslavers who considered them crude and graceless. The National Dance Theatre Company was formed in 1962 by the late Professor Rex Nettle at the time when Jamaica was celebrating its independence from 300 years of British rule. The company of dancers decided to base their choreography on traditional Jamaican ceremonies and dances such as ‘Kumina’; which became one of the company's most successful performances.

Scenes from 'The Crossing'

Choreography by Rex Nettleford

Although the dance sector as grown many in the industry feel that in terms of funding and a police framework dance is seen at the bottom of the totem pole.

L'Acadco Dance Ensemble, ASHE and Praise Academy are all professional dance companies helping artistes to develop their craft and performances. Entities like the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, Digicel Rising Star and Dancing Dynamites are helping to unearth local talent in the performing arts industry.