Volume CXXXIII, Number 9 November 9, 2001 f

Dance performance brings island culture to campus
EKA THOMSON
STAFF WRITER

Do you like dance? Have you heard of the Caribbean island of Martinique? Have you ever seen traditional Martinican dancing? Well, if you caught Madame Suzon's dance performance on Thursday, you would have been able to answer "yes" to those questions. In residence at Bowdoin for a week, the Grand Ballet de Martinique, featuring Madame Suzon, performed traditional Carribean folk dances, songs and music.

Mme Suzon performed traditional Martinique dances with her troupe on Thursday. (Bowdoin Sun)

Madame Suzon, the country's most commended traditional singer and dancer, is the head of the Grand Ballet de Martinique. She will be leading four of the members of the dance troupe during the performance. Madame Suzon received La Medaille d'Or du travail in 1992, making her the first Martinican to be awarded this prize.

Le Grand Ballet de Martinique was formed in 1946 in an attempt to expose the rest of the world to Martinican folk dancing and music. The dance troupe has toured five continents and has performed in Japan, Israel, Venezuela and Yugoslavia, among other countries. The troupe performed at the opening of Kennedy Airport and, in 1967, opened the Olympic Games in Munich.

Each of the four members of the Grand Ballet de Martinique is also a musician. Max Cilla is known as the father of the Martinican traditional flute, and is the best living maker and performer in the country. Francisque Gustave is a specialist in saxophone, the drums and the Ti-Bwa, which is a traditional musical instrument.

Christian Vallejo is an expert in the dance and music known as Bele, an African-based dance and music passed on to him by the wise and elder men of Martinique. Christian Gernet is a traditional choreographer and dancer. He has performed at La Scala in Barcelona. He was awarded La Palme d'Or de la mise en scene (producer) in 1979 at the Festival de la Francophonie in Nice.

Martinique's heritage originates in both European and African cultures. Martinique, occupied and colonized by the French since 1635, now consists of the descendants of French colonists and West African slaves. The culture and history of these two groups are very much reflected in Martinican music and symbolic dances.

The performance, held on Thursday, November 8 in Dagget Lounge, was co-sponsored by the Departments of Romance Languages and Theater and Dance.