A 'Journey' complete Wolmer's Dance Troupe celebrates 20 years in fine style

Sean A. Bennett, Gleaner Writer

The Wolmer's Dance
Troupe's 20th season of dance proved many things - chief among them was
that the group had come full circle and shows no signs of slowing down.

For
if the true purpose of dance is to capture the spiritual and emotional
through brilliant choreography and creative costumes, then the Barbara
McDaniel-led group are masters at movement.

What's more, these
masters are no younger than three and no older than 17, which gives
testament to the discipline and determination that has characterised the
troupe over their 20-year existence.

Titled Journey and staged at the Little Theatre from September 24- 26, Saturday's showing was simply outstanding.

Like
most journeys, the season's relevance became clear as the night
progressed - both in the dances and division of the troupe - an eclectic
showcase of the past, present and future - tiny tots, juniors,
intermediate and seniors, even past members.

The first piece - Journey
described in the printed programme 'to-give-and-to-keep-to fulfil a
mission" was choreographed by Barbara McDaniel and Terry Hall and used
four older dances revived especially for this season.

McDaniel told The Gleaner
that this was deliberately done to show where the troupe had come from.
She also noted how proud she was of the troupe's 20 years.

The night's second and fourth pieces Replica and Pure Innocence were apparently chosen to show the transition between past, present and future. They were two of the more interesting pieces.

Replica
was choreographed by McDaniel and featured past dancers, (now members
of Dance Troupe Xaymaca [DTX]) salaciously strutting across the stage in
attention-grabbing garb to the Chicago soundtrack then being replaced
by the tiny tots in similar outfits doing the same routine.

Pure Innocence
was the fourth and most diverse piece. The movements (most modern and
linear), along with their costumes, shifted between sassy and cute duets
with junior and senior members and a salsa-carnival-cowboy-melting pot
of culture with intermediate and tiny tots.

In Glory to God and Folk-o-rama, the troupe paid tribute to two persons and an event.

The
first, to Judith Reid, mother of past member who passed this year, the
second to dance and cultural icon Professor Rex Nettleford.

DTX paid tribute to the Wolmer's Boys' School Track and field team for winning the 100th year of the annual Boys' Championship.

The third tribute was also an excerpt from their 2010 season set for late October.

Visually,
and sound wise, the group held nothing back. From lighting to music
selection, costumes and set design, all fit well with the theme of the
night.

The use of strobe lights, the Grease soundtrack, Whitney
Houston and Britney Spears' music, reggae and dancehall, sequins,
skirts, shirts and intricate drapery - all showed transition, a journey
complete.