Mark Daniels (front centre), of Praise Academy of Dance, re-enacting a slavery scene where he encourages fellow slaves, ‘Not to give up. Take a stand for freedom.’
By:
Terissa John
IT was a riveting evening of drama, dance and singing on Sunday evening in the Combermere School hall with the dramatic presentation ‘Road To Freedom’, celebrating 50 years of Independence.
Written and directed by Marcia Weekes of Praise Academy of Dance, the play featured a cast of 70 persons comprising dancers, stage hands, a ministry team and the NIFCA award-winning Coleridge and Parry School Choir accompanied by Musical Director and Composer, Marlon Legall.
The audience was taken on a spell-binding journey from slavery to Emancipation. It was a play that captivated and took you into that era, as one experienced the highs and lows of slavery, the turmoil, the pain, the fight, the determination and the celebratory joy of freedom.
Weekes told The Barbados Advocate after the show, “I found inspiration for this play after watching the Errol Barrow film. I felt it was something good for young people. A way of bringing our history to life on stage.
“An opportunity for the students and participants in the play to learn more about their history than what has been taught to them at school on persons such as Bussa and Clement Payne, amongst others. Persons who played a key role in our Emancipation today, more relevant as we get ready to celebrate our 50th anniversary of Independence.”
She pointed out, “As we approach our Independence, we must use this time to reflect and examine where we are as a nation. Are we happy with Barbados? Fifty years ago when we fought for independence, are we happy on the eve of 50 years of Independence? Is this true independence? Are we independent in spirit, soul and mind or are we still attached to the navel string of all that happened during slavery? Have we accomplished our goals?”
On a final note, Weekes revealed, “On October 23rd Praise Academy of Dance, partnered with the Coleridge and Parry School Choir, will be taking the show ‘Road To Freedom’ to Queens, New York, for a one-night only performance at the Jamaica Performing Arts Centre, where we hope to bring a piece of our history to others as we celebrate 50 years of Independence.
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