Madras Cloth Worn By Traditional West Indian (Caribbean) Dancers

Traditional Dances of Dominica, August 3, 2021

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams post about the cultural history of madras cloth in Africa, the West Indies (the Caribbean) and among some enslaved women in antebellum  United States.

This post showcases seven videos of  traditional dancers from Dominica, United States Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Martinique, and Guadeloupe who are wearing fashions that, in part, consist of madras cloth.        

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/10/excerpts-comments-about-cultural.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II showcases a YouTube video of contemporary madras cloth fashions that are manufactured in Nigeria and sold by a company in the United States Virgin Islands.

Part II also presents several article excerpts and comments about the cultural history of madras cloth.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the producers of these videos and their publishers on YouTube.

Disclaimer: The dances that are shown in these videos aren't the only folk dances in these Caribbean nations. Also, dancers may also perform these dances wearing cloths that don't include madras. Madras cloth may also be used by other people in these nations and may also be traditionally worn by folk dancers and by other people in other Caribbean nations.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: We Deh Yah Cultural Dancers - Sashay (Whim- July 2015)

We Deh Yah Cultural Dancers, July 21, 2015

We Deh Yah Cultural Dancers St Croix US Virgin Islands Quadrille

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Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnA17KPV-c8&ab_channel=WeDehYahCulturalDancers for the related YouTube video entitled "We Deh Yah Cultural Dancers - Explanation of Points on Head Ties (Whim - July 2015)"

 
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3:  St Lucia Folk music and dances

Ronnie Finn, April 16, 2020

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #4: The Legacy” Jamaican Quadrille Dancers



Kirklees Local Television, Oct. 24, 2014

Taking you back to 2012, never before seen footage this webcast celebrates Black History Month 2014 and proudly presents “The Legacy” 50 years of Jamaican Independence 1962 - 2012. Sponsored by Victoria Mutual Building Society. “The Legacy” brings you Quadrille Dancing which is a vibrant and joyous dance which originated in France and full of Creole flair. Quadrille dancing is all across the Caribbean and many Islands have their own styles of Quadrille dancing. **** SHOWCASE VIDEO #5: 



Zerina Phillip, August 1, 2013

Bélé (Belle Aire) Folk dance of Trinidad and Tobago. The dance we now know as the bélé, known to the French then as the Bel Air, was performed by women during social events in the planters' great houses. The slaves who worked in or around these houses quickly copied the style and dress, and later added the African Congo influence to reflect strong Congo overtones. The bélé strongly reflects influences from African fertility dances. The term bélé also refers to a kind of drum found on Dominica, Martinique and St Lucia. The rhythmic quality of the bélé drums add spicy and yet subtle sensuality to the movements. There are more than 14 types of bélé dances including the Grand bélé and Congo bélé, with each performed to its own rhythms and chants. **** SHOWCASE VIDEO #6: Kali - La grev baré mwen (Ballet Exotic de la Martinique)



The VideoSelection, Nov. 2, 2014 Le Ballet Exotic de la Martinique vous invite à découvrir l'île aux fleurs et ses danses traditionnelles -snip- Google translate from Fench to English: "The Ballet Exotic de la Martinique invites you to discover the island of flowers and its traditional dances

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #7:  Folkmoot 2011: Guadeloupe



Art Hoffman, August 2, 2011
 
Drumming and dancing from the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe performed at the Folkmoot Festival in Maggie Valley and Haywood Community College, North Carolina, July 29-30, 2011
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This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.

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Visitor comments are welcome.