“TRIBUTE”
Choreography: Robert Bain
Music: Dizzy Gillespie
The Work pays tribute to the late Shirley Hall-Bass whose contribution to dance in The Bahamas has impacted a generation of Bahamian dance artists. Her distinct style of Jazz captures the uniqueness of Chicago of the 30’s & 40’s. In remembrance of her, the NDC presents this new work to the music of the great American Jazz legend, Dizzy Gillespie.
“CUBAN SUITE”
Choreography: Maydi Bacallao-Williams and Robert Bain
Music: Gidon Kremer (Oblivion)
Ruben Gonzalez (Cumbanchero)
This exciting work is a collaboration of Cuban born Miydi Bacallac-Williams and Robert Bain. “Cuban Suite” features the “Conga” an aspect of Cuban Dance and music culture. The style captures the unique passion of Cuban Culture.
“FLAMINGO”
(Bird of Passage)
Music: Syrinx – Claude Debussy
The Flamingo captures one’s imagination. Its majestic colour, long limbs and graceful movements suggest a creature of time, a bird of passage.
“FREE YOURSELF”
Choreography: Robert Bain
Music: Robert Nesta Marley (Bob Marley)
The work speaks of life’s entanglements. The levels of one’s emotions are dictated by our environment which feeds our emotions— our emotions feed our belief— our belief feeds our will and— our will feeds our existence.
“KNOCK DUH CONCH STYLE”
Choreography and Music by: Robert Bain
Music Performed by: NDC Drummers
“Knock Duh Conch Style” is a high-spirited dance of African influence.
A dance based on a traditional Bahamian folk step.
“BLACK BIRD” 2007
Choreography: Robert Bain
Music: Nina Simone
The Voice of Nina Simone captures the struggles of African-Americans in the south: The struggle to be validated as a human being of equal intelligence, aspirations and dreams.
“FOOT STEPS”
Choreography: Patricia “Patsy” Ricketts
Music: Jamaican Traditional
Patsy Ricketts creates “FOOT STEPS” using Kumina rhythm and basic steps of the Kumina dance of Jamaica merging it with contemporary style movements.
“LUCAYANS”
(Island People)
Choreography: Robert Bain
Music: The East-West Ensemble
This work depicts the essence of an aspect of Bahamian history. Its focus is on the aboriginal people that once lived on these islands some 200 hundred years ago. They were robbed of their cultural and social identity, enslaved, displaced, exploited and exposed to diseases that led to their demise.
“AFRO-JAZZ”
Choreography: Robert Bain
Music: Manu Dibango (Ca Va Chouia)
A fusion of Afro-Jazz, Contemporary Modern and ballet technique.
“IN THE SPIRIT”
Choreography: Robert Bain
Music: Marian Anderson, Region Bells
Introduction
“I’ve Been Buked”
“Rain”
“PARLIAMENT”
Choreography: Robert Bain
Music: Bartok: Viola Concerto: Allegretto-Finzi: Clarinet Concert: Allegro Vigoroso –Allegro lirico
This piece is symbolic of an event in Bahamian history known as “Black Tuesday”. On 27th April 1965, Lynden Pindling delivered a speech in the House of Assembly accusing the government of the day of gerrymandering.
In a calculated move to drum up popular support and shock the establishment, he took the Speaker’s mace and threw it out of a window onto the streets where supporters had gathered exclaiming, “This is the symbol of authority, and authority in this island belongs to the people... Yes! The people are outside, and the mace belongs outside too!
“THE SEA & SUN”
Choreography: Robert Bain
Music: Sergio Vitier
The Bahamas is well known for its natural beauty. Its environmental attributes is enhanced by two powerful forces of nature: The Sea and Sun. In this abstract work, just like the painter paints from an idea, we imagine the creation of the sea from one drop of water and the radiance of the Sun that overlooks like a big brother to provide its magical beauty. The work is set to music by Cuban composer Sergio Vitier (Liricas, Ritmos y Cancion).
"CARIBBEAN ODYSSYS"
Choreography: Robert Bain
Music: Ralph MacDonald, Andy Norell, Gume
The spirit of the Caribbean is captured through dance and music. One of the greatest denominators that we share is the heart beat of Mother Africa through the pulse of the drums. From the African Diaspora came many and now its rebirth as a people symbolizes hope, and freedom
We now take you on a journey to parts of the Caribbean, the story is remembered by one we call “Titter” (Sister). “Titter” remembers the first journey.
Introduction -“Below The Dark”
"First Movement"
“Journey of Hope”
“Over the Sky”
“Junkanoo in The Moonlight”
“A Caribbean Party – A Celebration of Life”
“MARY DON’T YOU WEEP”
Choreography: Robert Bain
Music:
Rachmaninoff Concerto N0. 2
The Ballet speaks of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ from another perspective: the perspective of his mother as prophesied by the Prophet Simeon in the book of Luke 2:35(NIV). Mary experiences the pain of losing her dear son.