| Jamaican culture represents a rich blend | | | | Baxter formed the National Dance Theatre |
| of cultures that have since inhabited | | | | Company in the 1960s. Other important |
| the island. Spanish and British | | | | Jamaicans in dance theater have included |
| settlers, and West African slaves | | | | the Tony-award-winning choreographer |
| brought cultural elements, as did East | | | | Garth Fagan (The Lion King on Broadway). |
| Asian and Indian immigrants who came to | | | | Dancehall, or ragga, music has inspired |
| the island as indentured servants. | | | | a number of dance styles as well. To |
| Tainos | | | | understand the evolution of popular |
| The biggest areas of influence of the | | | | dance, it helps to understand the |
| Taino Indians on Jamaica was in language | | | | musical progression. Ska music, with |
| and foods. In fact, Jamaica's name comes | | | | fast beats, also had fast dances. The |
| from the Taino name for the island, | | | | slow to rocksteady also developed slower |
| Xaymaca: the "land of wood and water." | | | | dances, allowing dancers to stay on the |
| Other words include: | | | | floor longer. Reggae is associated with |
| Cohiba - the Taino word for tobacco. | | | | many things, including the Rastafarian |
| Tabaco - the Taino word for the pipe | | | | movement, but influenced the newer |
| from which they smoked. | | | | styles. Dancehall music often creates |
| Hamaca - the Taino word for hammocks, | | | | its own dances based on moves in the |
| which they used as beds. | | | | lyrics of the songs themselves. |
| Foods included cassava, maize, | | | | Theater |
| waterfowl, and, of course, seafood. The | | | | Jamaica's earliest theater was built in |
| Tainos' diet became the diet of the | | | | 1682. Several more theaters opened in |
| early Spanish settlers, and the native | | | | the 1700s and 1800s, attracting |
| plants have remained over time, though | | | | performances by both professional |
| iguanas and manatees are not a part of | | | | touring companies and amateur groups. |
| the current Jamaican diet. | | | | But performances weren't limited to |
| Rastafari | | | | official venues. Many took place in |
| The best known side of Jamaican culture | | | | houses, stores, court houses, and any |
| is reggae music, and the Rastafarians | | | | other space large enough to hold them. |
| who are recognised all over the world | | | | During this period, classic plays such |
| for playing what is a distinctively | | | | as Shakespeare were most often produced. |
| syncopated style that arose from another | | | | However, the Jewish and French |
| Jamaican sound, ska. Bob Marley, from | | | | communities became large enough to merit |
| Kingston, is doubtless the best known | | | | productions aimed at them, too. |
| performer of this style.[citation | | | | After the abolition of slavery, black |
| needed] But not every Rastafarian plays | | | | Jamaicans began exploring their roots, |
| reggae music, and not every reggae | | | | fusing music and dance into theatrical |
| listener is Rastafarian. | | | | performances. Although it took many |
| Rastafarianism is a religion based on | | | | years for true Jamaican styles to |
| the Christian King James Bible. The | | | | develop, eventually they became more |
| Bible is read in an Ethiopianist | | | | prevalent than Western works. Today's |
| fashion, and adherents believe in the | | | | most popular theatrical form in Jamaica, |
| Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia as an | | | | pantomimes, began in the 1940s as a |
| avatar of God, or Jah. Marcus Garvey and | | | | fusion of English pantomimes with |
| a back-to-Africa movement both inspired | | | | Jamaican folklore. Another popular |
| this religion. | | | | style, "roots" theater, evolved in the |
| Some "rastas" wear their hair in | | | | 1960s and 1970s. These bawdy tales full |
| dreadlocks. Others only eat food that is | | | | of sexual innuendo remain crowd |
| I-tal, which is somewhat similar to a | | | | favorites. Contemporary playwrights |
| vegan diet where certain foods are | | | | write in Jamaican patois, catering to |
| avoided. However, there is not a | | | | all Jamaicans rather than an elite |
| well-defined dogma in Rastafarianism. | | | | audience. |
| Dance | | | | Literature and writing |
| Dance has always been important on | | | | Derek Walcott, a Nobel prize laureate, |
| Jamaica - from colonial times until the | | | | attended college in Jamaica. Other |
| present. Early folk dances often served | | | | significant writers from the island |
| religious purposes, or were associated | | | | include Claude McKay and Louis Simpson. |
| with religious holidays. More recently, | | | | Plays and works in Jamaican English, or |
| dances have become associated with the | | | | patois, attract special attention. |
| music of Jamaica, particularly dancehall | | | | Louise Bennett, Andrew Salkey and |
| styles. | | | | Michael Smith have contributed to this |
| More than 30 distinctive Jamaican dances | | | | phenomenon by writing works in patois. |
| have been identified, with seven main | | | | Ian Fleming wrote his famous James Bond |
| styles. These styles are Maroon, Myal, | | | | novels while living in Jamaica. Jean |
| Kumina, Revival, Rastafari, Jonkonnu, | | | | Rhys is also well-known for her novel |
| and Hosay.[1] Jonkonnu and Hosay are | | | | Wide Sargasso Sea, which was set in |
| considered secular dances, despite the | | | | Jamaica. |
| performance of Jonkonnu around Christmas | | | | Film |
| time. Possibly the best-known Revival | | | | Jamaica's film industry is not widely |
| (religious) style is Pukkumina, which | | | | known, but it is growing. The Harder |
| still exists today. | | | | They Come and Dancehall Queen are two of |
| Dance theater is also growing in | | | | the best-known Jamaican movies. However, |
| importance. Rex Nettleford, Eddy Thomas, | | | | many popular Hollywood movies have also |
| and Edna Manley are three Jamaicans | | | | been filmed in Jamaica. A short list |
| whose influences on the arts - and dance | | | | includes The Blue Lagoon, Cocktail, Cool |
| in particular - has been extremely | | | | Runnings and Bond-flick Live and Let |
| important. Nettleford, Thomas, and Ivy | | | | Die. |