Dance can be found in most cultures of the World and can be considered a universal language. The majority of the dances done in the Caribbean were brought over from other countries. Some of these dances include bachata, Bellaire and East Indian dancing to name a few. In modern Caribbean society, individuals have greater opportunity to travel throughout the region and experience the culture and dances. Additionally technology today has played a key role in educating persons on traditional forms of dance as well as introducing new types in the global community. 

Dance has arrived, survived and strived from the past to the present through transportation and technology even when faced by numerous language barriers in the Caribbean society.

 

The Caribbean region is a diverse melting pot of people whom arrived to its shores through the use of canoes and ships. They were not able to bring all of their belongings with them and in many cases none at all. Areas from which came include the American mainland, Spain, France, Africa and India. Their vessels of knowledge, culture and experience of dance however, stayed with them. They danced as a past time activity to entertain themselves, on special occasions and as a form of resistance. The limbo and masquerade came from Africa and France but have been adapted due to the influence of other dances in the Caribbean.

The Caribbean region is made up of the Lesser and Greater Antilles but also includes Belize and Guyana. This definition however, varies based on what aspect being addressed but generally describes as an area washed by the Caribbean Sea. The nations which make up this grouping, while collectively defined, don’t all utilize the same language. This in turn has formed a language barrier, which can has the capability of isolating its people from one another. Some of the languages spoken in the Caribbean are English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Haitian Creole and Papiamento. 

Dance is a form of movement and a type of communication that does not need to be spoken but expressed by use of the body as an instrument.  Overtime many of islands blended different kinds of dance together to make something unique or influenced the creation a new kind of dance. Examples of these are merengue and bachata from Dominica, mambo from Cuba, dutty wine from Jamica. 

 

Technology has evolved over the years and allows for interaction throughout the world without traveling to another place. Most of the Caribbean has access to the internet and communication devices such as laptops. This gives individuals the opportunity to learn about new dances through the use of social media such as Youtube. It has been beneficial in linking different parts of the Caribbean together, would not have been able to in a short space of time. 

Caribbean dancing has influenced dancing overseas as well. Dancehall as a form of music and dance was formulated in Jamaica and has become popular worldwide.  

In Calypso Rose’s latest song, “Leave me alone,” it pinpoints underlying areas of concern relating to women’s dancing. This is especially heightened during Carnival time when locals and foreigners come together to participate in the partying. The rhythm of the music moves masqueraders, most of whom are on vacation from their busy lives, to dance freely. Female dancers are faced with a series of unfavorable behaviour from their male counterparts. Males ignore boundaries and encroach on their physical being by touching them inappropriately. This takes away from the enjoyment the females experience and in some cases have led to fights in which people have gotten hurt or seriously injured.

In Caribbean history males have dominated the decision making process on the plantations and in most households. However in today’s society through education and media, women have been taught that they have a choice and it is their right to practice it. This has causes disaccord in society at times and demonstrates differences in the mindset of Caribbean as a whole. It also reflects on the reality of change from past to present which is a slow yet continuously ongoing process. Dance was actively practiced as a form of resistance and while modified in its intention in current society, can still be viewed as a tool for change. 

The Caribbean Civilization course allows students to go back in time by use of both modern technology and as well as within the context of classroom environment.  The breaking down of material, evaluation of the parts and rationalization of experience from various perspectives, has led to the discovery that not all things that were viewed as facts are. Columbus did not discover the Indies, since it was already populated by the Taino and the Kalinago. The Kalinago, were considered to be warlike and cannibals by the European settlers but this was not so because they arrived in region during a time of expansionism by the Kalinago who kept and used bones to make zemis. 

The concept of there being a pre-history was found to be a falsehood since pre-history is also history. The term was not accurate in what it referred to, since history did occur. What was different was the fact that the written language was not invented and so they is little record as to what happened during those times. However the finding of artifacts and of use of technology individuals can now gain some data as to how they lived.

Enlightenment made Europeans to come to the realization that the world was not flat and the advancement of nautical equipment allow for the building of ships, which could sail far distances and return to port safety. Unfortunately the Amerindians suffered because of this, since the Europeans brought diseases that were foreign to their immune systems and enslaved them for gold and under the pretense of them being barbaric and uncivilized. 

As the amount of gold being found was small, the lands were then used for agriculture. Sugar derived from sugar cane was in demand in Europe and became a cash crop. However with a depleted population of Amerindians there was a need to find new sources of labour. Prisons from Europe and the poor looking for new opportunity sailed for the Caribbean, these white indentured servants were mistreated resulting in death and some going back to Europe.  

Slavery in Africa did exist before chattel slavery started but were very different from one another. Slaves in Africa were respected, had a position and did not necessarily have to work as a slave for their entire lives. In chattel slavery however, the children of slaves were also considered slaves and were treated as livestock that could be easily replaced. 

Chinese and Indian labours also came, but were given compensation for their work. The Chinese leaders put a stop to the migration of their people when the Europeans were not able to follow the terms which included passage back to China. The ratio of male to female indian labours was unbalanced which lead to women being sold for a bride price to multiple males, this caused disharmony and resulted in some women being killed.

The Caribbean is a mixture of different religious, music, dance and art. Most individuals see in today’s society see themselves as disconnected from the past since they have not experienced it themselves. However this does not mean that the events in history did not occur. In fact the Caribbean society is the way it is because of its past.