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FRESH PERSPECTIVES
DANCE PASSION 2022
LAYING THE GROUND
A NEW FILM PROJECT PROFILING BLACK DANCE ICONS
BY YASSMIN V FOSTER DANCE ARTIST, RESEARCHER AND BBC DANCE PASSION COMMISSION RECIPIENT WWW.YASSMINV.COM
There have been a number of Black and British dancers who have significantly broadened the horizon for other Black dancers on London’s West End stages and through their touring work. Namron OBE, whose passion for dance has conquered immense obstacles, is just one of them. Laying the Ground will challenge, circumvent and redress the unfortunate but reoccurring pattern of omission, partial visibility and mis/representation of Black dancers in British dance history. In 2012 I was introduced to Namron amongst many other Black and British choreographers, dancers and performers, including Jackie Guy MBE and Greta Mendez MBE. Although inspired by this knowledge I questioned why my dance education did not celebrate their contribution to the British dance landscape in relation to their white and British counterparts. In the last 100 years this country’s arts education and entertainment sectors have greatly benefited from the expressionism and dedication of Black performers and efforts to correct this omission need to be actioned.
Yassmin V Foster © Lightcapturer Photography
As the late Thea Nerissa Barnes wrote, in 1946 Jamaican born Wilbert ‘Bertie’ Passley, aka Berto Pasuka, with confidant Richie Riley debuted Les Ballets Nègres in London. The company went on to tour their full-length dance dramas across Britain and Europe (Barnes: 2018). It has taken some 70 years after their first appearance for a comprehensive excavation of their contribution to dance in Britain to be recognised.
