Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Carl Campbell

The 30 year-old Carl Campbell Dance Company 7 (CCDC7) was the vision of a determined dancer, who wanted to show that young black youth in London could reach their full potential with dance as their aid.

Carl Campbell, who started the company on May 21, 1978, is in Jamaica celebrating its anniversary. He said he started the company by "taking a leap of faith", as he had no funding from any organisation, private or government, until 1984.

He studied at the New York School of Modern Dance, the London School of Contemporary Dance and the Central School of Speech and Drama. During his time in the professional dance world, Campbell has performed in West End musicals such as Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar and Black Mikado.

a break of 'hair'

It was during the break of Hair, in 1974, that Campbell went to South Africa during apartheid. He faced extreme racism, but in many instances his life was saved by the fact that he had a Jamaican accent.

"My spiritual belief in God pushed me in the direction to start a company. There was cruelty in South Africa, so I wanted to create a company that would enable young black youth to see their potential and not be hampered by the racism that was in England at the time," said Campbell, who left Jamaica in 1965 for England.

He added: "I don't teach people to dance. I use dance as a means to educate. It (CCDC7) was set up to empower black youth to look at themselves meaningfully. I got to use something to pull them to the understanding that they can be anything they want to be. Dance should be seen as part of every other part of life."

He said this drive to help young black youth realise their potential was derived from his own experience, as many people doubted his abilities to dance and start his company. It is for this reason, also, that Campbell said he was so proud of the company's accomplishments in its 30 years.

25th anniversary tour

In 2003 Campbell was in Jamaica conducting CCDC7's 25th anniversary tour dubbed 'Respect: Jamaican Youth', at the invitation of the British Council in Jamaica. It involved various schools in Kingston and St Andrew and St Mary. The schools from the Corporate Area that were involved were the School of Dance at the Edna Manley College of the Performing Arts, Excelsior Community College and Tivoli Comprehensive High. The two St Mary schools were Clonmel Primary and Junior High and Epsom All-Age.

Campbell was in Jamaica as guest speaker for the Jamaica Cultural Development's (JCDC) Deaf Dance Competition, held on June 3 this year. He said this competition was part of a project that he came up with and pitched to the JCDC in 2006. However, the initial project was not limited to dance as it included drama, music, dub poetry (using sign language) and writing.

Recently, Campbell started a 'Recycle Teenagers' programme in Jamaica, in collaboration with the National Council for Senior Citizens. It is a programme that was implemented in England since 1999 with senior citizens. In this programme, the elderly are taught dance, drama, music and how to use the computer. After training is completed the over 60 year-olds do performances and go on tours. Campbell said he wanted 'Recycle Teenagers' in England to perform in Jamaica next year.

faced various problems

While the company has achieved a lot, Campbell said it has faced problems.

"In 30 years, the company has had its own disadvantages, pain and conflict that will come into being. The envy is also there," said Campbell.

He added: "There are loads of companies that started before me and have gone down. If the funding is taken away, I won't go down because I was running the company from 1978 to 1984 without funding. The only person that can close the company is God."

Members of the Carl Campbell Dance Company 7 during an open-air performance at Belair Gardens in England.

'Boys Rhythm' was a performance by youth in England done by CCDC7.

Members of Carl Campbell Dance Company 7 perform 'The Path', his first choreography.

'Recycled Teenagers' in England during a music session. - Contributed Photos