The Black Dance Movement in England 1940 - 2000

This book is the first written history of the development of African dance in the UK covering the last sixty years of the 20th century.

This study introduces a parallel concept within the British and European exploitative ‘triangular slave trade’, by showing how powerful cultural heritage circles were being nurtured to enrich popular culture globally. Of necessity therefore, the reader is introduced to the continent of Africa and their religious principles and practices; the Caribbean and the creolisation of African culture and finally to the UK, where continental Africans met kith and kin from the Caribbean and distilled British African dance. Information relating to key individuals (e.g., Berto Pasuka, Boscoe Holder, Allister Bain, Jeanette Springer, George Dzikunu, Peter Badejo, Barry Anderson, Chester Morrison, Angela Anderson, Beverley Glean, Greta Mendez, H. Patten, Hermin McIntosh, Jackie Guy) who developed the infrastructure to underpin African dance development over those decades are acknowledged and explored. The final section, Women pioneers – In Their Own Words – facilitates Lorna, Angela and Pauline Anderson (Ekome), Patricia Donaldson (Mystic & The Israelites and Kokuma), Beverley Glean (Irie! dance theatre), Greta Mendez (MAAS Movers) and Judith Palmer (Afrikan Calabash and Adzido) to share their personal journeys in African dance and the significant contribution they made within the Dance Movement.

This study is a valuable resource for students and scholars in performance studies and dance studies.

Author Biography

Robert (Bob) Ramdhanie is an arts activist. Born in Trinidad, he has been a pioneer supporting the development of ‘black arts’ for over 40 years. He co-founded and managed Mystics & the Israelites, Kokuma Dance Company and Danse de L’ Afrique between the 1970s and 1980s and was appointed the first Director of the Black Dance Development Trust. Bob established The Handsworth Cultural Centre and The CAVE Arts Centre and researched, edited and published three Black arts directories. He also co-founded and managed Black Voices for over 22 years. In 2011 Bob was awarded the 1st Arts and Cultural Entrepreneur Lifetime Achievement Award by the Drum Arts Centre and in 2018 he was awarded an MBE for his contribution to dance.