Inaugural Caribbean Music & Dance Lectures

For the first time in the US, the Institute of Caribbean Studies of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Jamaica in collaboration with the Palm Bay United Methodist Church, Palm Bay (PBUMC), Florida, will conduct two free workshops on Caribbean Music and Dance on Saturday July 31, 2010 at the Church. Dr. L’Antoinette Osun Ide Stines will deliver an interactive lecture/demonstration on Caribbean Dance and Dr. Howard Dennis will focus on contemporary Jamaican and Caribbean Music as an art form. Dance teachers, and students and others with an interest in Contemporary dance and music will find the sessions educational, entertaining and memorable.

The Director of the Institute Professor Claudette Williams indicated that “The Institute is one of UWI’s newest and most exciting departments. It is dedicated to the study of different aspect of Jamaican and Caribbean culture. We attract many scholars and students from all over the world who are attracted by the vitality and power of our creative expressions. They come to the source in search of authentic information and greater understanding of our music, dance, and traditional religious practices.”

The two presenters are outstanding practitioners in the cultural arena in the Caribbean and internationally as well as academic trailblazers in their area of expertise. Ms Stines is the founder of Miami’s first primarily black dance company L’Acadco, Her training in the United States included the Martha Graham School, Pepsi Bethel Authentic Jazz Dance Company and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Her Company now known as “L’Acadco – A United Caribbean Dance Force” is regarded as one of Jamaica’s leading contemporary dance companies. She is highly regarded as an expert in popular and folkloric Jamaican dance and she holds a PhD. in Cultural Studies.

Howard Dennis is a music historian who has worked in the music industry as a Grammy nominated producer, artist manager, and publicist and production manager. He currently teaches a course in record industry dynamics at the University of the West Indies. He also holds a PhD. in Cultural Studies. The Caribbean Music and Dance workshops will form part of the Jamaica Emancipation and Independence Heritage Celebrations which will be held at the PBUMC July 28-31, 2010 in honor of the Caribbean nation’s 48th Independence anniversary. Other events for the day will include performances by local artistes, children’s activities, and other cultural activities which depict the Jamaican culture.