Press Release

BALLET WESTERN RESERVE

Afro Caribbean Master Class Offering

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              CONTACT: James McClellan

January 19, 2010                                                         BWR Business Manager

                                                                                    PHONE: 330-744-1934

Ballet Western Reserve Center for Dance Education will be hosting an Afro Caribbean Master Class on Saturday January 30^th from

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM.  The class will be taught by Lindsay Renea Benton.  Lindsay dances with Garth Fagan Dance Company
located in Rochester, New York.  The cost of the class is $15.00 and pre registration is appreciated. Call 330-744-1934 to reserve a place in the class. The class is limited to ages 13 and up.

Afro Caribbean dance blends the qualities of traditional African dance (integrity, amazing power, precision, beauty and depth of feeling) with dances which belong in the European court dance end of the continuum; dances such as the Quadrille or the Calenda.  As the practices of African traditions were prohibited in the Caribbean, these traditions were combined with Christian practices to fool the slave masters, the dances became an integral part of public holidays and celebrations.