had me moving in places I never knew could move and vibrate. I grew up in the Byron Lee and the Dragionaires era. School fairs were well received and soca kept the vibes alive from morning until night.
I remember the summer of 1995 while attending my mother's school fair I was told repeatedly by not to venture into the poorly lit dance room. Dance room in those days were constructed by the removal of the blackboards to open up an big area and patrons would pay to dance and gyrate to the music on the dance floor. Repeatedly she warned and repeatedly I would sneek away to peek through the cracks in the walls and watched my classmates having fun on the dance floor.
How much more could a teen endure? Eventually I succumbed to the peer pressure and was showing my moves on the dance floor with not a care in the world. The music on the inside sounded better than when you had to listen from outside the walls. When the selector started playing the song “Butterfly butterfly mek wi do the butterfly” I started to get down to business walking around in circles which gave the impression I was about to deliver a dance a unique dance move. Being the centre of attention this was my chance to prove that although a teacher’s child I could throw down some moves.
In the middle of routine I remember feeling a sharp pain in the back of my neck and a force pulling me from the back of my blouse directing me to the exit. My mother literally lifted me from the ground while i was being reprimanded. I could not believe how strong her 4 feet 2inch average size body was. Never underestimate the strength of an angered woman. I never received a scolding that day but i had to sit by her side at the ticket booth all afternoon and the embarrassment I felt for weeks at school was enough punishment.
ADMIRAL
Now this is a brand new style
with a brand new fashion
Byron Lee and the Dragionaires
come again !
Dedicated to my hero my mentor
My mother, Mrs. Iva Hunter
(Returning home from her morning walk/jog during one of her weekend visits)
Taken November 2013.
