Michael Reckord, Gleaner Writer

Members of the Spectacular Dance Troupe go through their paces at the Courtleigh Auditorium last Friday (July 11, 2008). - Colin hamilton/freelance photographer

Spectacular Dance Troupe's founder and artistic director Samantha Forbes is a likeable, energetic young woman. These characteristics were displayed as she chatted with The Gleaner backstage at the Courtleigh Auditorium on Friday night.

Perspiration was pouring down her face and she looked physically exhausted — and no wonder, for she had just finished dancing for more than an hour, nearly non-stop. But she wore a big smile.

No wonder — she had just realised a big dream, to launch her dance company. (No executive body is listed in the printed programme, and it is not clear if the "company" is a legal entity or just a group of dance instructors and dance students.)

The Heat

The launch took the form of the troupe's first concert, The Heat. Forbes could have few complaints about its success.

The audience was large and enthusiastic and the show proceeded smoothly. In her vote of thanks at the end of the two-hour long dance concert, she thanked those who help her organise the launch — the mothers of the nearly 30 performers.

"Thanks to all the mothers," Forbes said. "All these moms have helped so much. They have put out a lot of effort. I love you guys."

The thank-you is an indication of the amateur, parent-driven level the troupe is currently at. But Forbes is also ambitious; in her opinion, she has launched a "professional dance company."

The quoted phrase comes from her message in the concert's printed programme. It informs the reader that the troupe's mission is to "present dynamic works fusing classic and modern dance."

Now "modern dance" refers to a specific dance form, but Forbes apparently means contemporary dance, as the message also refers to a "focus" on traditional dance, hip hop and dancehall.

Begun in January this year as a group of nine members — so states the printed programme — the troupe has increased in the six months since to some 30 girls. The plan is to have an annual summer concert.

If the group is to last, one of the first things Forbes will have to do is get herself some choreographic assistance. In Friday's show, there were 15 dances, and Forbes partly or completely choreographed all but one. That one was choreographed by Patrick Green, one of Forbes' instructors and dancers. The other was Taheera, who also teaches and dances.

Forbes told The Gleaner that she received her dance training while with, first, Cathi Levy's Little People and Teen Players, then with Tony Wilson's Dance Company and later the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company (JMTC). This training was sufficient for the beginners forming the troupe, but if the dancers are to be taken to another level, Forbes will need much more training. A charming personality, energy and ambition are not enough to take her group into the league with Jamaica's heavyweights in dance - the NDTC, Movements Dance Company, The Company Ltd and L'ACADCO.

Most of the dances were similar in style, not surprising, considering the limited number of choreographers. They featured dancers ranging from five to mid teens — for the most part — in colourful costumes running, skipping, gyrating, and awkwardly extending their limbs in various directions.

Sometimes the music was American pop, sometimes dancehall, sometimes kaiso, sometimes African. All the dances were short, lasting only the length of the song being played as the accompaniment.

Cell Block Tango

Forbes took part in most of the dances, and less often her two instructors joined in. All three, along with three other older dancers, appeared in the most uncharacteristic of the dances, Cell Block Tango.

It was different because it was firmly based on a dance of the same name from the movie Chicago. The dance drama piece showed six women imprisoned for murder explaining how and why they murdered their men.

According to Forbes, the troupe's mission is to be the best. If the dedicated mothers continue to take their daughters to classes, Forbes will have made a good start.