Charlestown-Nevis- Two local dancers recently benefited from advanced training in dance techniques in Jamaica.
Mrs. Tamicia Lestrade along with Mrs. Diana Pemberton travelled to Jamaica for the EDNA Manley College Summer Intensive Workshop. The workshop commenced on July 6th and climaxed on the 31st July 2015.
During the period, the participants were exposed to several dance genres. These included:
Traditional Cultural Dances such as Maypole, Quadrille, Jonkunnu, Kumina and the like.
Other Genres included: Caribbean Folk dances, Modern dances, Jazz, Umfundalai and dance hall.
Both Mrs. Lestrade and Mrs. Pemberton are founding members of the popular dance group known as the SHEKHINAH DANCE THEATER. However, due to the fact that she now works in St.Kitts, Mrs. Pemberton leads out with a segment of the group from that end, while Mrs. Lestrade leads out with the major portion of the group from the Nevis end.
In the last massive production held by the group, which incidentally was a huge success, both ladies and the dancers from both islands, collaborated to thrill the huge audience for two consecutive nights.
According to Mrs. Lestrade: ‘The training session in Jamaica was an awesome experience. Any dancer who can seize the moment should definitely do so.”
The Trip was sponsored mainly through fund raising efforts by the Shekhinah Dance Theatre; contributions from family members and friends; the Newcastle Wesleyan church and a contribution was also received from the Nevis Island Administration, through the Ministry of Social Development.
Mrs. Lestrade indicated that in the coming weeks, Mrs. Pemberton and herself would be making arrangements to pass on some of their newly acquired skills to interested members of the general public.