Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
Synchronised movement was displayed throughout the production.

Carolyn Johnson, Freelance Writer

The Wolmer's Dance Troupe has gambled and won.

Barbara McDaniel, in the artistic director's message for this year's production, said the 18th season was a process, moving from a slow start and a position of comfort to taking on some risks as they redefined themselves and their product.

Themed 'Links' and staged at the Little Theatre from September 26-28, the gala night on Saturday, September 27, was exceptional. One could also state that all the performances were the same - explosive.

The first dance, 'LINKS', choreographed by McDaniel, featured pieces from four movements, which included the tiny tots, intermediates, seniors and juniors. While all the groups moved well and set the stage for an entertaining production, the tiny tots stole the hearts of the audience. A true reflection of their name, the group was little and cute. Its moves were synchronised and clean. An even more heart-tugging sight was the three young men in the group, two juniors and a tot.

The second dance, 'Broadway Jamaica - The Art of Dance and Theatre Fuse and Become One', lasted for the remainder of the first segment. And the fusion came with performances in 10 movements and choreography from McDaniel, Cheryl Waite and Onaje Bell. Bell also made an appearance in the ninth movement, much to the glee of the girls in the audience.

Emotional roller-coaster

During this piece, the audience was taken to the 1950s and back as the performers moved to jazz, rock and roll, and pop. They met Lola at the Copacabana, went on an emotional roller-coaster with Vicki Carr in Let It Be Him and came to Rihanna in Please Don't Stop The Music. The dancers were precise in their movements and interpretations, with costuming complementing the effect.

There were many beautiful dresses with layered cuts, sequins, gloves, feathers, masks, bows in hair and Mary Janes, with suits and vests for the boys.

The second half of the show crossed over to the Caribbean and featured guest dancers Spongebob and Flabba Dabba. With movements of the arms, legs, pelvic, feet and the rhythm driving them, the performers obviously enjoyed themselves.

Movements

Again, they made the link from retro to modern and from the wider Caribbean to Jamaica. After Indian and soca dances the final dance, 'Step-by-Step', in eight movements, outlined the growth of music in Jamaica. The bright colours of the Caribbean were also evident in their costumes and backdrop. There were bell-bottom pants, straw hats, hot pink, aqua, orange and purple outfits. The juniors' performance of the West Indies cricket theme song saw them toting bats and dressed in the West Indies uniform.

The stage was transformed into a Jamaican dancehall, with zinc fences and sound boxes. I Can't Help Falling In Love With You, Oh Carolina, Butterfly and a dancehall medley of No Linga, Gully Creeper and Dance outlined the transition, step by step.