8/2/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Happy Birthday Geoffrey Holder- Banda

By Walter Rutledge

Happy Birthday renaissance man Geoffrey Holder. The dancer, actor, choreographer, director, visual artist and all around force of nature was born on August 1st, 1930 in Port of Spain; the capital city of the Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago.

O&A NYC has chosen to honor this milestone with Holder’s ballet Banda (we credit him although his brother Boscoe created an earlier version). I remember seeing Banda for the first time with Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) ballerina Shelia Rohan, the ballet was performed by Dance Theatre of Harlem during what we refer to as their “Golden Age”. In true Holder form this dance theatre juggernaut had the audience holding their breath from beginning to the jaw dropping finale. Donald William as Baron Samedi and Karen Brown as the women were outstanding!

During the 2012 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater New York season the company revived Holder’s 1964 classic Prodigal Prince. The Caribbean tale with uncluttered (and bright) lighting and strong theatrical overtones was not only classic Holder, but one the best works presented that season. It still spoke to the audience in a clear strong dance theatre voice without tricks and gimmicks. The combination of good choreographic form and design, ritual, art, theatre and a dash of genius has allowed the work to remain powerful, defying time. 

Holder was sitting behind me as the lights came up a crowd friends and well-wishers gathered to congratulate him. I waited until everyone had left then congratulated him and ended our conversation by saying, “It was wonderful, but I like Banda better”. He paused then slyly smiled and said, “You have good taste”.  

Geoffrey Holder’s Banda debuted in the 1954 Truman Capote/Harold Arlen musical House Of Flowers. Holder the Baron of The Cemetery (based on the Haitian Loa of Death Baron Samedi) received both a performer and choreographer credit in the program. The Broadway musical takes place somewhere in the West Indies during Mardi Gras weekend.

The cast of the musical was a who’s who of African-American talent including Pearl Bailey, Diahann Carroll, Juanita Hall, Ray Walston, Carman de Lavallade, Alvin Ailey, Ada Moore, Arthur Mitchell, Walter Nicks Louis Johnson, and Glory Van Scott.  Oliver Messel won the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design, the show’s only nomination. The show closed on May 21, 1955 after an impressive run of 165 performances.

Geoffrey reprised his role as The Baron in the 1973 James Bond film Live and Let Die.  Banda was an audience favorite in the repertoire of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Donald Williams excelled in the role originated by Holder. 

Banda

On a personal note: fellow critics if you don’t understand a culture please research before writing. Many commentators have referenced Holders ability to seamlessly  integrate multiple large casts concurrently as pageantry. There is a vast difference between pageantry and ceremony/ritual- this was not the Thanksgiving Day Parade.