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Members of Jamaican Folk Singers Published September 30, 2012 Sunday Gleaner “Folk songs are all about the life of Jamaican folks and valuable life lessons,” says Christine MacDonald Nevers. “And through folk music, we are passing these lessons to the people.” MacDonald Nevers, the musical director of the Jamaican Folk Singers, believes this art form is a mirror reflecting the Jamaican society, its culture and people, and is constantly evolving. “Change happens, and we should evolve with change, and through folk music, we are passing this message of change, (and) at the same time, emphasising the need to preserve our heritage,” she informed. From deep-rooted traditions to the modern paradigms, folk music and musicians are striving to weave a storyboard that intricately interlaces the two in a mix of music. This is reflective of the Jamaican Folk Singers, which is a non-profit singing group founded in 1967 by Dr Olive Lewin, whose members come from diverse

Humayun Tomb, Delhi Published September 23, 2012 Sunday Gleaner Under a starlit, cool night, beats of Bollywood music filled the air, as the dancer took centre stage, exuding neatly choreographed moves complete with the telltale fluid movements of the body, leaving those present in awe. It was a commendable effort by self-taught Je'Ann Murray, a student of Hindi Club, who went on to complete the show by doing a medley, dancing on  Jump for Jamaica , a Jamaica50 song from Canada. She was among numerous others, who received accolades for their efforts at the Hindi Day celebrations at the Indian High Commission in Kingston. "I watched a Bollywood movie, and I was inspired to do a dance. I got both the songs from YouTube and practised," said Murray. The participants exhibited their talent and, above all, enthusiasm and zeal to showcase what they have learnt in the Hindi Club by singing songs and dancing to the tunes of popular Hindi film music. Spices

Mathew Williams, Nicholas Lyn (partially hidden) Maya Curtis in the background  Victoria Lyn, 9 plays a tune on the piano. “Music and children are my passion,” says Andrea Curtis, a visionary whose dream is to operate an early childhood institution where children learn through and about music. While that dream is  yet to be realised, Curtis has set the wheels in motion with the establishment in 2003 of Pianoprep. Through this venture, she teaches children how to play the piano, preparing them for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of  Music (ABRSM) examinations and, in the process, instilling within them a deep love and passion for music, country and self.   Maya Curtis (front) and Victoria Lyn dabble with the piano keys. Maya Curtis (right) and Victoria Lyn dabble with the piano keys. From left: Maya Curtis, Anthony Lyn, Nicholas Lyn, Andrea Curtis, Mathew Williams  & Victoria Lyn “At heart, I’m a Jamaican girl,” quips Curtis with a sm

Published September 16, 2012 Sunday Gleaner “Dance, when you're broken open. Dance, if you've torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you're perfectly free," said Rumi, Persian poet, jurist, theologian, and Sufi mystic. Transcending boundaries, centuries fast forward, Monica Campbell McFarlane, artistic director of Movements Dance Company of Jamaica, is living the emotion to this creative form of expression, weaving the intricacies of dance as a living art form. She explained the various elements through the numerous productions that her dance company has done over the years, combining the eclectic mix of movements, lights and sound to etch an everlasting memory. MATRIX "There are so many elements that go into dancing - it is scientific, it can be a crossword puzzle, religious connotations ... . It is a matrix of culture," Campbell McFarlane said. According to her, as the first building block, pr

Published September 9, 2012 Sunday Gleaner   Amitabh Sharma Contributor “This is the needle that I am going to use,” announces Candice Davis, pulling out a long fine metallic needle from a sterile pack, and inserts in the machine as she revs the motor from a foot pedal to check its speed. As whir of the motor resonates, Davis meticulously, with steady surgical glove covered hand, gets down to work. Candice Davis This is no teeth grinding or cavity-filling scenario; Davis is a tattoo artist, she uses her skills, imagination and creative acumen to etch a piece of art. Only that the medium is the dermis of human skin, which is transformed into myriad of abstract designs, words of wisdom or calligraphy in Persian and scriptures in ancient Indian language, Sanskrit. “Tattoos do carry some form of stigma,” says Phillip Shaw, aka ‘Tattoo’ Phillip. Shaw, who has been a tattoo artist over 12 years, believes that tattooing involves the same nuanc