Sharon Knight, Contributor

Members of Praise Academy dancing in the streets of Cape Town. - Contributed

It's been often said that wherever in the world you go you will find a Jamaican, and that Jamaica is still seen as an exotic destination. The 17 Jamaicans and 13 Bajans from the groups, Praise Academy of Dance Jamaica and Barbados, were to find that out for themselves on their recent 'Speak Life' tour of South Africa, Mozambique and London.

The trip to South Africa came at the invitation of Barbadian Kim Osabe who has made South Africa her home. Working in the townships of Cape Town where millions of black South Africans live, she saw the opportunity to show solidarity and support for their struggles through sharing the common love that Africans and Caribbean people have for dance and music.

From the moment the plane landed in Cape Town, the tone was set. The dancers were met by a group of almost a hundred orphans, singing and waving banners welcoming them to South Africa.

Overwhelmed

Children welcoming Praise Academy of Dance on arrival at the airport in Cape Town.

Everywhere they went, they were overwhelmed by the welcome given to them, and the shouts of "Jamaica!", "We love Jamaica!" that greeted them. The people could not get enough of the reggae music, the Jamaican accent and in particular, the Jamaican patois.

One memorable event happened during their last two days in Africa, when Jamaica's acting high commissioner to South Africa, Joan Thomas, heard that they were there.

She had once been a member of Praise Academy Jamaica, and she insisted that they couldn't come to South Africa without visiting Soweto. In addition, the group needed somewhere to stay on their way back from Mozambique, and the folks in Soweto were only too happy to help.

One call to the head of the Anglican Church in Soweto, and everything was set. His immediate response was, "How can I not help Jamaica?" He recalled that when he was in prison with Nelson Mandela, Jamaica was the country that always supported them. An appeal to his congregation that Sunday morning led to housing, transportation and accommodation for all 30 members of the team.

The Praise Academy dancers were only too happy to bless them with an impromptu performance of their 'Speak Life' musical, performed to a packed church hall. The musical was written by Jamaican Marcia Weekes, artistic director of the five-year-old Praise Academy of Dance Barbados. Based on Ezekiel 37, it delivers a message of hope - God is able to breathe new life into seemingly hopeless situations.

It was a timely message for the poor and downtrodden whom they ministered to in Soweto; for the hundreds of orphans whom they worked with across Mozambique and even for the disillusioned whom they shared with in Brixton, England.

Experience of the arts

Children of Kaylisha Township in Cape Town dancing in the street.

It was a message of hope well received at all locations as they taught workshops, visited schools and churches, and gave communities an experience of the arts that had never come their way before.

According to Cynthia 'Pat' Noble, "When the Lord led me to found the Praise Academy of Dance almost 15 years ago, I had no idea where He would take us. I just knew He would surpass our expectations." And surpass their expectations He has.

Praise Academy has ministered across the Caribbean, North America, the U.K. and as far away as Africa and Australia. They have won many awards locally, including more than a dozen gold medals over the years in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission festival competitions as well as the Rex Nettleford Trophy for Excellence.

They have worked with such recognised groups as the Alvin Ailey School of the Performing Arts and the Imani Dance Studio out of New York. Their concert season plays to a full house each year and they are constantly in demand to perform at various functions here and overseas.

And it all started when Pat Noble obeyed the voice of God to stop performing with a secular dance troupe and dance in a way that gives him glory and brings change to people's lives. And 15 years on she is doing just that - giving praise to God in the dance.