Canadians Donnie Jordan, John Alleyne and Ola Skanks honoured for excellence in dance
February 27, 2023
It was not unusual for little Donnie Jordan to wake up in the morning and see the ‘Who is Who’ of Black jazz lounging in the family’s living room.
After a late-night gig, his father – trumpeter Buddy Jordan -- would bring Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Lionel Hampton and others to their New York home for an early morning breakfast his wife prepared.
Coming from a musical family, it was more than likely Jordan would gravitate to the arts.
Starting dancing at age five, he was the lead on ‘Like Young’ that transitioned from a variety show to a music video program aired on CFCF-12 in Montreal. Leaving six years later in 1972 after being the first Black performer featured on TV in Quebec, he performed on television specials and in theatres, choreographed TV specials and worked with major dance companies across the United States.
On his return to Canada, Jordan was a member of The Revue Theatre for seven years and Artistic Director of The Black Theatre Workshop.
In addition, he was the first Black model on the cover of Men’s Wear of Canada fashion magazine in 1969 and the first Black President of ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television & Radio Artists) Montreal from 2007 to 2016.
To recognize his artistic brilliance and remarkable leadership in the arts community, the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) honoured Jordan with the Jeraldyne Blunden Local Innovators Award during its 33rd annual convention in Toronto late last month.
The founder and artistic director of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company that holds the largest repertoire of classic works by African American choreographers, Blunden died in 1999.
“This day is one of the most memorable ones of my lifetime,” the multi-talented performer noted in his acceptance speech. “In my wildest dreams, I never expected to receive this illustrious honour and I will forever be humbled and truly grateful for this nomination.”
Starting his professional journey in the arts in 1966, Jordan feels fortunate to be still working in the arts industry.
“As we all know, this is a pretty difficult business and, believe me, I have seen so many people come and go over the years,” he pointed out. “You have to truly love what you do and be able to deal with all the ups and downs and the rejections and insecurities.”
Jordan, who appeared in movies and was featured in video games, thanked his parents for the life lessons they taught him about dedication, perseverance, honour, integrity and love of the arts.
“As you all know, you have to truly love this business to be crazy about making it your life’s work,” he added. “I carry all those lessons I was taught along with something my mother said which was to be very mindful of the people you meet and how you deal with them on your way up because they will be the same people you will meet on your way down.”
Choking back tears, Jordan acknowledged his mentor and partner, Phillip H. Cole Jr., who died seven years ago at age 71.
They co-owned and were co-artistic directors of Jazz Dance Factory Inc. that opened in 1978 and specialized in jazz, classical ballet, modern dance, tap and African Dance during its 16 years in operation.
“He taught me the meaning of true love in all of its complicated facets,” said Jordan who worked with many stars in the entertainment industry, including Patti Labelle, Stevie Wonder and Joe Tex. “He was my rock and he contributed so much to who I am today.”
American-born George C. Randolph Jr. met Jordan when he came to Canada in 1980 to join Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, an acclaimed contemporary repertory company, as a principal dancer,
George Randolph (r) presented the Jeraldyne Blunden Local Innovators Award to Donnie Jordan (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
“Donnie was the one that embraced me, took me into his family and showed me the community,” said the former Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble member and Randolph Dance Theatre and Randolph College for the Performing Arts founder who presented the award to Jordan. “He realized very early that art is not only a business, but a human necessity.”
Former Canada National Ballet School (CNBS) Resident Choreographer and Ballet British Columbia Artistic Director John Alleyne was the recipient of the Dunham/Primus International Acclaim Legendary Artist Award.
Leaving Barbados with his family in 1965 and raised in rural Quebec, he joined the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany 13 years later, developing several compelling works for the company’s repertoire and the Noverre workshop before returning to Canada in 1984.
“I feel blessed to have had over the last four decades, the opportunity to wear so many hats in the world of ballet and contemporary ballet,” said Alleyne, the recipient of the first Doctor of Fine Arts honourary degree awarded by Simon Fraser University in 2003. “It is even more meaningful knowing that almost every aspect of the making of ballet and its dances are done in collaboration and with teamwork. It does not happen alone. There were many others before who created pathways and possibilities and I understand it is my duty to make spaces, to listen and believe in those who are next.”
CNBS students Olivia Bourk and Roman Ho-Zimballati made the presentation to Alleyne.
“As a dancer, I often feel that my craft is not reflective of the society in which I live in and this is very difficult,” Ho-Zimballati said. “It is people like Mr. Alleyne who gave me hope by demonstrating that this issue can and must be addressed as a collective. I started working with him when I brought the issue of how Ballet History is taught at our school. This issue often left me feeling isolated, defeated and being down, yet he consistently showed me how to navigate the conversations we were having. This allowed me to stay true to what I believe in and embrace the challenges I face.”
Bourk said Alleyne is ‘a quiet force and true inspiration’.
“His integrity and fearlessness throughout his career and current work is a true representation of who artists like us should strive to be,” said the Math tutor. “Through advocacy work we have done within the school, Mr. Alleyne has been a guide and mentor, empowering us to have the courage to do what is right, to grapple with difficult conversations about racism and equity and to be artists and leaders who are actively working to understand and create a more equitable future.”
Canadian National Ballet School students Olivia Bourk and Roman Ho-Zimballati presented the Dunham/Primus International Acclaim Legendary Artist Award to John Alleyne (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
Watching Fred Astaire and other tap movies inspired Ola Skanks to pursue a dance career.
The pioneer in the development of African diasporic dances in Canada and an outstanding fashion designer was inducted into the Dance Collection Danse Ensemble! Dance Hall of Fame in March 2018.
Skanks, who died five months later at age 92, was posthumously recognized with the Dunham/Primus International Acclaim Legendary Artist Award for exemplary dedication to Black dance.
Dance Immersion Moderator Nicole Inica Hamilton accepted the award on behalf of Skanks who was the older sister of Zanana Akande, the first Black female Member of Provincial Parliament in Ontario.
Hamilton filled in for dance educator Dr. Seika Boye who was unable to attend the awards ceremony.
“While I am very sorry I cannot be with you today, I can tell you that wherever I am, Ola is with me,” said Boye who was the inaugural Dance in the Public Sphere 2021 winner. “I am still growing into understanding and I know she made an impression on many of the people in this room today.”
A few months before he died in 2015, self-taught drummer and Order of Canada recipient Archie Alleyne introduced Boye, who was then working on her doctoral dissertation, to Skanks.
“After I crossed the threshold of her home and sat down, she let me know she did not accept my invitation to discuss dance, but rather to share her first-hand experience of anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism that she experienced throughout the course of her life,” said the University of Toronto Assistant Professor whose practices revolve around dance and movement.
Skanks’ grandson, Julian Taylor, recalled the many stories she shared with him of challenges and hardships she faced.
“I knew that even through this, she would not admit that they hurt her,” said the singer/songwriter and Juno Award nominee. “It is what my grandmother did with that pain. She took it and channeled it into strength and determination. She was one of the strongest and most dedicated and determined women I have ever met. She put so much of herself into everything she did.”
Vivine Scarlett, the founder and Executive Director of Dance Immersion that collaborated with the IABD to stage the five-day convention in the city, accepted the Joan Myers Brown Keeper of the Flame Legacy Award for Senegalese dancer/choreographer Germaine Acogny who was on tour in Germany.
“While in Toronto a few months ago, I had the opportunity to sit down with her and her husband and we discussed dance and the many elements and challenges of what she went through and we all go through,” Scarlett, the 2017 Dance Ontario Lifetime Achievement Award winner, said. “However, it was our love for movement and what this thing call dance brings to us that stood out during that conversation.”
Toronto last hosted the IABD convention in 2007. That was the first time it was held outside the United States.
National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica founder Dr. Rex Nettleford, who passed away in 2010, was the guest speaker at that event.
