Ballet Creole celebrates over 30 years of artistic excellence

BY PAUL JUNOR

Ballet Creole has contributed significantly to the artistic community in Canada and the world since it was launched in 1990. The showcasing of “Naningo Calling” during its anniversary celebration at York University’s Sandra Faire & Ivan Fecan Theatre from October 27^th – 29^th was a fitting tribute.

Ballet Creole is one of Canada’s first professional dance companies and showcases the best of traditional and contemporary dance which is grounded in African and Caribbean forms. Its performances and professional training programs involve “creolization,” which celebrates the rich heritage of African and Caribbean cultures as they interface with European traditions.

In presenting this creative work, Patrick Parson, the founder, artistic director and choreographer of Ballet Creole continues to mesmerize us with his creative genius. He has propelled Black dance to the mainstream Canadian stage and showcased the diversity of the African-American community.

He writes in the program, “Dance has always been one of my strongest modes of self-expression. Each dance that I have choreographed is for me, a story told through dance; whether it be about my culture, others’ cultural traditions, world events, or human interactions and sentiments.”

With respect to Naningo Calling, he notes it is “A call to people everywhere to gather to be free to share their unique stories, to listen, and to be heard. As we share our unique stories we grow in understanding, appreciation and compassion for one another and become more unified. In these turbulent times, this unity will make us stronger.”

Ballet Creole is committed to these three things as part of its mandate:

1. Preserve and perpetuate traditional and contemporary African culture and increase awareness of the rich African culture that exists in Canada.
2.  Establish a dynamic new Canadian artistic tradition based on a fusion of diverse dance and music traditions.
3.  Promote multicultural understandings through education and quality entertainment to national and international audiences.

The showcasing of “Naningo Calling” was the most daring and boldest of Patrick Parson’s productions. It was conceived in the aftermath of the racial reckoning that resulted after the death of George Floyd in May 2019.

The anniversary production showcased samples of previous works, such as Dancing Spirits and Congolaye, which are a celebration of the evolution of African roots in the Diaspora. The piece, “WOKE” was created as a platform to emphasize the importance of “Speaking out, being heard and questioning practices that suppress us.”

The first piece in the show was “BREAKIN OUT,” which was originally created in 2006. It featured four dancers and was choreographed by Patrick. It features the creative infusion of many exciting Afro-Caribbean dance styles. It speaks to the power of joy.

The second piece in the show was “WOKE” which was created in 2022 and featured three dancers from the company as well as four additional dancers. The costume design and choreography were done by Patrick, and it featured Maya Angelou reading her “And Still, I Rise” and the song “Strange Fruit” by Nina Simone. It was an emotionally riveting and spiritually moving piece as it projects images of Black males who died at the hands of police brutality.

The third piece in the show was “CONGO LAYE,” which was previously shown in 2001 and 2019. It was choreographed by Arsenio Andrade and featured music by: Asikan Bata of Toque de Obatala, Compania Folklorica Cutumba and the musician Amado Dedeu Garcia.

The final piece “DANCING SPIRITS” was created in 2004 and featured dancers from the company as well as a special appearance by Yuhala Muy Garcia and five musicians.

For information about Ballet Creole check the Website: www.balletcreole.org