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 60 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 and Jackie Guy) who developed the infrastructure to underpin African dance development over those decades is 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.