By José Francisco Ávila
According to the candidature form for Proclamation of masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity, Garifuna dance is just as varied as the types of songs and music. Adding to the variety of Garifuna dances, is the Gari-Slide, a line dance set to Andy Palacio's song Lidan Aba, authored and choreographed by Mariano Martinez, as a “work made for hire” which I specially commissioned, as Chairman of the Garifuna Coalition, USA, Inc.
Background
During the initial preparations for the 2011 Yellow White Black Gala, I was trying to figure a way to generate the momentum that was generated during the 2010 Yellow White Black Gala by Mariano Martinez' specially commissioned presentation of the Gunchei Garifuna Dance.
On Friday, July 1, 2011, while on the New York City subway, on my way to the Garifuna Coalition's office, I was listening to Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collectives' Album "Wátina" on my iPhone and became fascinated by the song "Lidan Aban" and its innovative arrangement, I played it over and over all the way though the 45-minute train ride.
At some point, I decided that this would be a great song to feature at the 2011 Yellow White Black Gala. When I arrived at the office, I shared the idea with Garifuna Coalition’s Executive director at the time and explained my idea.
I played the song for her since she had never heard it before, and the Executive director and we agreed that I would commission choreographer Mariano Martinez, who would be recognized at the gala, so he could develop a Choreography around it as a “work made for hire.”
I emailed the song to Mariano, and he created the Garifuna-slide, with the first rehearsal held on Wednesday, November 9 at 7 pm at the Executive Director’s residence in and the second on Wednesday, November 16 and its debut at the 2011 Yellow White Black Garifuna Settlement Day Fundraising Gala, on Saturday, November 19, 2011, at the Eastwood Manor's Crystal Room.