ABSTRACT
After the development in the mid-1960s of contemporary dance, inspired by American dance pioneer Martha Graham, black dancers began to be employed by the mainstream contemporary dance companies, such as Rambert Dance Company and London Contemporary Dance Theatre. However, the lack of black directors and choreographers interpreting the Western technique was not directly addressed again until 1977 with the formation of a new company, MAAS Movers. Under the instruction and artistic direction of American dancer Ray Collins, MAAS staged its first production at the Oval House theatre in South London. Its fusion of classical ballet, contemporary, jazz and Afro-Caribbean dance was greeted as indubitably worthwhile by critics, though the technical standard of the dancers was imbalanced.
