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.