E-mail page
|
|
|
|
Gombey Dancers
Gombey Dancers
The Gombey dancer is one of the island's most enduring and uniquely Bermudian cultural icons. The Gombey (pronounced gum-bay) tradition here dates from at least the mid-18th century, when enslaved Africans and Native Americans covertly practiced a unique form of dance incorporating West Indian, British, and biblical influences. Nowadays, Gombeys mainly perform on major holidays. The Gombey name originates from a West African word, which means rustic drum. The masked, exclusively male dancers move to the accompaniment of Congolese-style drums and the shrill, whistle-blown commands of the troupe's captain. The dancers' colorful costumes include tall headdresses decorated with peacock feathers, and capes covered with intricate embroidery, ribbons, and tiny mirrors. It's traditional to toss money at the dancers' feet. Performance times and locations vary, but check out the No. 1 Shed on Front Street on Tuesday around 3 PM, or consult the visitors bureau.
EXPERIENCE BERMUDA
- Bermuda Dining Help
1 responses; most recent on 09/04/2008, 11:13 pm - Bermuda Dining
1 responses; most recent on 09/04/2008, 08:48 pm
Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip
- The Best of the Cruise Industry One of the most helpful features of our new book The ...
- Bermuda's Best Beach Resorts Not all beach resorts in Bermuda are created equal....
- 8 Tips for Cruising with Your Teenager As any parent will tell you, teenagers aren't the easiest...
- more >>
Connection Timeout