Respected Jamaican Dancer Develops New Contemporary Caribbean Dance Technique
When trailblazing Jamaican dancer, choreographer, and L’Acadco founder Dr. L’Antoinette Stines first developed her L’Antech dance technique over 20 years ago, she aimed to create a contemporary training method that blended classical European dance with the rich movement heritage of the African diaspora.
Drawing on diverse influences from Africa, India, China, and beyond, L’Antech incorporates the technical rigor of ballet and modern styles with the pulsing hips and grounded steps of traditional Caribbean dances.
As Stines describes, “You see Indian movement, you see Chinese movement. But it is happening on the body simultaneously – while Africa is happening and Europe is happening.”
This pioneering fusion has allowed dancers to connect deeply to their ancestral roots while mastering acclaimed techniques.
L’Antech Becomes Caribbean Education Standard and Global Phenomenon
After years honing her signature technique with L’Acadco dancers, Stines’ creation has become an acclaimed standard for contemporary Caribbean dance. L’Antech is now taught widely in schools across the region as part of standard dance curriculums and exams.
“To know that it’s now textbooks and that it is codified as examinable, that it’s on exams… it went in the field,” says a proud Stines of her technique’s educational influence. “It is the only technique out of the anglophone Caribbean, so I am really proud.”
The technique has also drawn global recognition, with dancers from the U.S., Canada, India, the Congo, and more traveling to train with Stines and become certified in L’Antech. As the technique spreads, it serves as a vibrant ambassador for Caribbean culture.
Inspiring Connections Across Borders and Generations
After recent thrilling performances in New York, Dr. Stines says her ultimate hope is that L’Antech and L’Acadco’s dancing fosters “connection and storytelling” within the African diaspora and globally.
By training the next generation of dancers in her pioneering technique that bridges modern styles and ancestral roots, Stines has ensured her positive impact will reverberate for years. L’Antech is shaping dancers and choreography worldwide while passing on the pulsing heartbeat of Caribbean culture.
“We are connecting the diaspora, one movement at a time,” says the inspirational dancer. Thanks to her vision and dedication, barriers continue to fall as Caribbean dance steps forward on the global stage.
