Star of History of Black Dance show passes away

Day after a History of Black Dance in Canada exhibition came down, 92-year old pioneer dancer Ola Skanks passed away.

By Stephen Weir

Last month 92-year old dancer Ola Skanks was the star at the opening of an

Ola Skanks by Stephen Weir

exhibition about the history of the Black community and Canadian dance.  The show, Dancing Black in Canada, 1900 to 1970. “ was hung at the Ontario College of Art’s Ignite Gallery in Toronto’s Kensington Market.

Ola Skanks, told me at the opening that she hadn’t danced in public for twenty-years, but, there was no way that she was going to miss the opening of the show. Besides, she had contributed a number of photographs and artifacts to exhibition.

Born and raised in Canada, her Caribbean roots were important to her, and along with African influences impacted on her dance style.

“My father was born in Barbados in 1892 and his name was Ethelbert Shepherd,” wrote Ola Skanks in an email to me late last month. “My mother was born in St. Lucia in 1896 and her name Mae Moore. They came here in 1918 and married here in Toronto!”

Her attendance at the exhibition launch in July turned out to be her last public appearance.  The day after the exhibition closed – August 13th – the dancer passed away.

 York University’s Dr. Seika Boye curated Dancing Black in Canada. “This exhibition illuminates the largely undocumented dance history of Canada’s Black population before 1970” Dr. Boye told a packed Ignite Gallery at the July launch.

The exhibition was made up of photographs, media clippings and artefacts that detail how Black Canadians first got involved in dance – both professional and socially – beginning some 120-years ago. Featured were individual well-known dance artists such as Leonard Gibson, Ola Skanks, Ethel Bruneau, Joey Hollingsworth and Kathryn Brown.

“The exhibit exposes the representation of Blackness on Canadian stages, as well as audience and media reception of Black performance in Canada during this era,” said Dr. Boye. “ Put simply, dance is the history of our bodies!” 

Her exhibit was subtitled “About Time” because it explores how racism impaired the community’s ability to take to the stage. It also explores how government legislation had to pass to allow the community to take part in everything from dance lessons to taking part in social dances at mid-century. 

Ola Skanks and her sister learned how to dance in the 1940s by going to the movies in Toronto and watching actors’ tap dance on screen.  She then performed professionally at various venues and events around Toronto including the Elks’ Club and Home Service Association events in the 1940s.  She opened her home to visiting dancers from Africa and learned African choreography.
She danced in Canada’s modern dance movement back in the 70s and had her own downtown Yonge Street studio.

“The last time I danced professional was two decades ago, in San Diego,” the Caribbean Canadian dancer told the Caribbean Camera at the exhibition launch party. “But that doesn’t stop me from dancing at home.  Dancing keeps us all alive.”

A day after this exhibition ended (August 13) Ola Marie (SHEPHERD) SKANKS passed away at Baycrest after a short illness. A Memorial Gathering will be held on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at The Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, 16 Spadina Rd., Toronto.

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Ola was deeply honoured to have recently been inducted into The Encore! Dance Hall of Fame by Dance Canada Danse, in recognition of her lifelong contributions to theatrical dance in Canada.