A full stage with individual expression. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Music and movement by the Thabisong Youth Club crossed and recrossed barriers of language at Emancipation Park, New Kingston, on Wednesday evening, as a huge audience turned up for the South African Freedom Day celebrations.

Unlike the South African cricket team which suffered a miserable defeat to Australia earlier in the day, the limber, but not lissome bodies on the stage were all black, a sole large screen to the right, rear of the audience accommodating those who could not get a proper peek at the stage.

Swathes of coloured cloth decorated the stage and the performers, dancing and sometimes singing before the band of musicians, were colourful themselves, costume changes as the band kept the music going being the order of the evening.

There were cheers for high leg lifts from the women in the early going, their male counterparts in leopard print soon following suit. 'Mama' was discernible in the singing in the uptempo song which followed, rhythmic 'heys' coming from the audience as three young men in black loincloths high stepped at the front of the stage.

There was some effective oral communication among the visual treat, though, as after a particularly extended music break one young woman advised, "Never think negative in life. Let the past be your guide to defining your future." Another said, "You won't change anybody unless you change yourself first. So I believe as Africans we can stand." And a man defined the stance, encouraging all to "stand against crime, stand against poverty," to cheers from the audience.

Fluid movement

The dance that followed ended with one woman cradled in the arms of a young man, legs glowing from under her mid-thigh skirt.

The women did one routine in track suit pants and abbreviated gym tops, dropping to one knee, then both, spinning around and standing in a coordinated, fluid movement.

And the men followed in torn jeans and high work boots, the music soon stopped for them to provide their own beat from slaps on the sides of the boots and handclaps in intricate, rapid patterns, at one point accompanied by shouts of 'woah'. Members of the audience duly 'woahed' back, the piece ending to very strong applause.

From vests and shirtsleeves for moves that would not have been out of place for a Jamaican ska song to long red dresses for a solemn piece from the ladies, the combination of attire and dance continued to delight the large audience. An especially appreciated moment came when the young women, in single file and dressed in black, touched arms to send a ripple from front to back along the linked limbs, then huddled over to scamper off to a rapid drum beat.

Not all the dancing was from the Thaibong troupe, as for a few minutes the cameras focused on a girl doing a few moves just in front of the stage. She was joined by an even smaller boy, chuckles rising as she attempted to instruct him and he ran off after a brief attempt. He came back, only to fall flat on his back, the adult in his care hurrying over to lift and soothe.