Tivoli Gardens Dance Troupe's annual season of dance, held at The Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Avenue on Sunday, July 12. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

After months of rehearsals and various stages of competitions, members of the Tivoli Gardens Dance Troupe revealed its latest production, 'Showtime'.

'Showtime' is a Tivoli High School-organised annual dance extravaganza featuring the best entries from the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Festival of the Arts Competition. Eighteen years ago, at its first staging at the Ward Theatre, it was viewed by approximately 100 persons. But on Sunday it was a full house at the Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Avenue.

The dancers varied in ages, from 'The Tiny Tots' to 'The Adults'. Aided by colourful costumes, props, lights and set, they danced with authority. They captivated the audience with dances from different categories (popular, modern contemporary and folk) performed to music of different genres - reggae, jazz and pop.

Range in the ages

The range in the ages of thechoreographers for Showtime also provides an insight into the depth, commitment and talent of the Tivoli family.

Subernia Gabriel was one of the young choreographers of Showtime. Her dances were the very entertaining Circus Dolls, the gold medal-winning Gospel Vibes, performed by the Tiny Tots, and the award-winning best duo popular dance, Playmate. Playmate is a dance drama that features two female characters. Dressed in peach and a shade of blue, the dance was engaging and well-executed by the two dancers. Gabriel's Braggin', also awarded best popular dance, was a display of trust by the dancers as they taunted and cajoled each other.

One of the most outstanding dances of the programme was Robertha Daley's Submission, performed by past members of the Tivoli Gardens Dance Troupe. This gospel dance was reflective, slow and the movements were very controlled. There was good use of extensions and beautiful formations. Other dances choreographed by Daley included Sunday School, danced by Tiny Tots, and Redeemed, a modern contemporary dance performed by Nickeeta Johnson. The highlight of this dance is the creative use of costume and set.

Spirits of Our Heritage utilised some of Jamaica's folk dance such as dinki mini and bruckins. It was performed by seniors who wore colourful costumes that reinforced the festive nature of the dance.

Jazz on show

In the segment of the programme titled On Broadway, jazz was on show. The dances included Jazzy, performed by the adults; Pretty Maidens, performed by the juniors and What's That Sound, choreographed by Daley. In What's That Sound, Daley seemed to pay homage, not only to the style of jazz dance, but also the instruments, mainly the saxophone. Performed by the black clad seniors, Daley creatively incorporated the use of the saxophone through the playing of the instruments and by having the dancers playing with the instruments. The formations and use of levels added dimensions to the dance.

The curtains came down on Showtime, as it went up, with spectacle. However, whereas the opening was a show of controlled Chorus Line dance movements, the closing was Fanfare in the Square, with emphasis on the use of UV lights and fluorescent apparatus and costumes that created the illusion of space characters, of which some are headless, all moving to one accord.

It was a grateful artistic director, Jennifer Morgan Garwood, who addressed the audience before they dispersed into the night. In thanking the dancers she said, "Young people, you are a part of a beautiful thing and you should continue". She also thanked the duo Robert Rhoden and Kawane Leslie, finalists in the 'Dancin' Dynamite' competition who "come from the other side of the fence" and performed on the show. She described them as the "love story out of festival".

Showtime began as an avenue for youths of Tivoli Gardens to express their artistic side. It also serves to help the young girls to stay focused and not fall into the pitfalls of social ills, such as teenage pregnancy.

Members of the Tivoli Gardens Dance Troupe perform in their annual season of dance, 'Showtime', at the Little Theatre on Sunday.