The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

JUNKANOO’S artistry and musicality is hailed, recognised and rewarded. However, often overlooked when it comes to Junkanoo is the extreme physicality participants must not only endure to the finish line, but to put on a world class performance on Bay Street to bolster their group.

It is indeed a cultural spectacle - but it is as “intense as any professional sport”, said Dr Kent Bazard, of Empire Fitness, who is working on releasing a fitness manual specifically for Junkanooers to prepare them for the parades.

It’s an undertaking Dr Bazard said he will complete next year.

In the meantime, the fitness instructor has been experimenting and fine tuning activities perfect for Junkanooers. Some of that experimenting took place this past Saturday at Empire Fitness, Seagrapes Plaza, where groups engaged in a Junkanoo-themed circuit-based workout contest.

Among other activities designed to test strength and endurance, participants had to lift weighted Junkanoo bells, carry a Junkanoo drum, and complete a certain number of reps.

Then, to cap off the contest, participants were directed to Percy Vola Francis station, where participants had to do their best imitation of that Shell Superstar Saxons leader’s dance.

“We host these kinds of challenges every year. But this is the first time we have done a themed Junkanoo challenge. We did it for carnival before.

“I tried to make it as interesting as possible and take elements from Junkanoo that require you to be fit,” Dr Bazard told Tribune Health.

Dr Bazard said in hosting this challenge he is now able to make adjustments to the fitness manual.

“You can consider Junkanoo as intense as any professional sport especially because of the length of the parade. But the last thing you should do - especially if you are someone over 30 years old - is wake up Christmas morning and say you are going to rush and you have not been doing any kind of fitness throughout the year.”

Those people as well as the seasoned Junkanooers will be the target of Dr Bazard’s Junkanoo manual.

“If you are a drummer, beller, or a person who carries a costume, you will have a certain kind of workout. If you are a part of the brass section, you need a lot of stamina, of course. You have to have good lungs. You have to be able to blow. If you are a dancer, you have to have good stamina as well. So I am experimenting with certain things,” he said.

“Again, each position is very specific as far as the physical demands. The bellers, for example, need shoulder, back and arm strength. You have to have good grip strength to be a beller. So it’s something I think we can target.”

Comparing Junkanoo to Carnival, Dr Bazard said the local parade is unique because it requires a lot of strength and stamina.

“And there are different positions. There are different functions in Junkanoo but Carnival there are few. You just dance. In the case of Junkanoo, you have choreography, free dancers, off the shoulder dancers, ballers so it’s a whole lot of stuff going on.

“I have not approached the groups yet. A lot of people do not want to do much more than practice. But the Junkanooers who train with us understand that there is much more to it. Hopefully next year I can make a formal presentation and encourage them to give it a shot.

“I think their performances will improve. If the musicians get tired then the whole group is not going to do well. It’s extremely taxing. So it requires them to be in tip top shape.”