Caribbean
An archipelago of rhythm codes
and creole creativity
bomba
Drum-dance through Space-Time
drum-dance dialogue
Bomba is an African diaspora dance code from Puerto Rico. An example of how the Africanist ritual circle calls for individual expression within a code of drum-dance dialogue: by her movements the soloist “makes the drum talk.” Female costume combines Euro-colonial style skirts with African head wraps. Male and female dancers take turns to dialogue with the lead drummer. In this video, Bombazo Dance Company director Ms Tucker shines.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Ms. Tucker holds degrees in Dance, Biology and Chemistry, and a Masters in Dance Education from New York University. Filmed in 2018, in The Bronx, by the author. Source: Bombazo Dance Co. website.
dancehall
Dancehall rhythms grew from Jamaica across Afro-diasporic language regions into worldwide popularity.
French youth flock to learn Dancehall codes.
Dancehall Kreyol choreo
<< Video 1: Diane Eliot choreographs a crowd to the Kreyol lyrics of 'Debrouya' by Admiral T (2004), one of Guadeloupe's most successful dancehall artists.
Video 2: (coming soon) demonstration of Old School dancehall steps by Diane.
Dancehall in the streets
Two choreographies by Bibiw.
<< Bad is a New School tune, fresh from January 2021. Musician Blaiz Fyah is 'mainly' from Paris, according to an interview in 2017. This choreo to Bad got 15,000 likes on Instagram in June 2021.
Bogle is classic Old-School dancehall from 1992, by the Jamaican superstar Buju Banton. >>
Thanks to Motion Lab for closeup footage, from their 2021 summer workshops.
Don't miss the interviews with Diane and Bibiw on the Homepage