Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

AT THE Dance and the Child (daCi) Conference 2009 in Jamaica, children will not only be taught how to perform, but also how to use the art form for educational purposes.

Nicholeen DeGrasse-Johnson, chairperson of the steering committee for the 2009 daCi Conference, and director of School of Dance, Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts, said the aim of the conference was not just to entertain, but to educate participants about dance.

"I want us to sensitise the Jamaican and Caribbean people to the other components of dance, to develop more writers and teachers, to develop dance education," she told The Sunday Gleaner.

"We need to start looking at art as a major part of educating our children. Dance is what we see a lot of, but not the one that we spend a lot of our time on. But it can be a major part of how we educate our children. The conference can be an eye-opener to the importance of dance as a holistic part of education."

Developing self-esteem

She said dance education would ultimately help in the development of the child's self-esteem and make him or her a "stronger, more creative individual".

The theme for the 2009 conference, 'Cultures Flex: Unearthing Expressions of the Dancing Child', is "a celebration of expressions of culture ... its rhythms, movement, irrepressible vibe, space and spirit; and the flex which, metaphorically, represents, inter alia, dynamic social interactions and the hoe - (a garden tool used to unlock the soil's potential for growth, which is a significant characteristic of dance when experienced by our children)".

It will be hosted at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts and the University of the West Indies (UWI) from August 2 to 8.

At the conference, the children (up to 18 years old) and adults will participate in dance classes, papers, workshops, lecture demonstrations, panel discussions, and performances. They will also take field trips to a mento yard and other cultural/national locations, the theatre and museums and participate in 'Passa Passa' (a street dance).

DeGrasse-Johnson has been to five conferences, in Utah (United States), Finland, Canada, Brazil and Holland. She said they have been wonderful for the participants over the years.

Great experience

"They enjoy it immensely. By the end of the conference, they are always bawling and behaving as if they have known each other forever," she said.

Twelve-year-old participant in the 2006 conference in Holland, Geneille Williams, said her experience was great.

"It was exciting. I got the chance to experience different cultures, interact with different people, taste different cuisine and do different types of dancing - ballroom, Latin and dance in clogs," she told The Sunday Gleaner.

"We taught people dancehall moves, which was a big hit there. We also got to meet kids our age. It's really nice."

Debra McDonald, a chaperone from the Holland conference, also enjoyed participating.

"It was wonderful to sit in the stands and watch all the children. They were not speaking the same language, but they were communicating through dance," said McDonald, whose two young daughters participated in the conference.

"A high point was going to the workshop that we presented at and see how well we were received. All the Jamaican workshops were oversubscribed. The lecturers always give us good responses."

The conference is also a good opportunity for persons interested in dance to do research and get scholarship through the art.

Unsure of public's response

While the conference offers many wonderful opportunities for learning and entertainment, DeGrasse-Johnson said she was not sure how the Jamaican public would embrace it and what it has to offer.

"I am not quite sure (about the response). The concept that we are not understanding in our region is dance education. Most of what we experience is from performance and competitions," she said.

DeGrasse-Johnson said more emphasis should be placed on using dance for self-development.

Nonetheless, many plans are being made for the more than 1,000 youngsters from the 35 daCi member countries who are expected to visit. DeGrasse-Johnson said they would be exposed to Jamaican dance forms, go on tours and be part of the Independence Day celebrations August 6.

DeGrasse-Johnson said she wanted more groups to send in a proposal for partici-pation. In addition, she urges corporate Jamaica to support the initiative, which will benefit the country in the long run.