Reading Religion and Spirituality in Jamaican Reggae Dancehall Dance

‘H’ Patten is the founder and Artistic Director of Koromanti Arts and ‘H’ Patten Dance Theatre Company. He is an experienced choreographer, filmmaker, visual artist, storyteller, and performer and has developed an international reputation in African and Caribbean arts for over 35 years. ‘H’ has worked with the Jamaica School of Dance, the Jamaica National Dance Company (NDTC), L’Acadco, the University of Technology (UTECH) and the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica (ACIJ). The recipient of several awards including the Jamaican High Commission 50th Anniversary Award for services in Arts, Culture and Entertainment (2012), ‘H’ has choreographed for Stella Maris Dance Ensemble (Jamaica), and the National Dance Companies of Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Malawi and Zambia, as well as UK companies: Kokuma Performing Arts, Irie! dance theatre and Adzido Pan African Dance Ensemble in addition to high-profile projects. Having authored a number of articles he is currently an Independent Social Research Foundation (ISRF) Independent Scholarship Fellow, hosted by Goldsmiths University and presently teaches African and Caribbean dance as well as popular culture at several Universities.

• AcknowledgementsThe Blessing – Illustrations/images, plates, and video stillsIntroduction: Sanctification Chapter 1. Warm up: Dancehall literature review Chapter 2. Old time story: The convergence of African, neo-African and popular dance in Jamaica Chapter 3. Come back again: Towards a definition of spirituality Chapter 4. The Massive arrive: The gathering and meshing together of knowledge Chapter 5. Party Time – Early Vibe: Thick descriptions/analysis of dance in the dancehall space Chapter 6: Party Hot – Man dem section: The corporeal dancing body creating ‘dancehall spirituality’ Chapter 7. Party Hot Up – Female section: Dancehall spirituality rooted and routed through African/neo-African practices and worldviews Chapter 8. Coupling Section: Male and female relationships Chapter 9. Signing Off/revelation: Findings and meanings Conclusion: Dispersal – recommendations Bruk Down – BibliographyIndex