Maxine Browne – ‘firm advocate for arts integration’

Ever since she can remember, Maxine has always been drawn to dance and anything dance-related. However, it was a past teacher at her alma mater, the Lowmans Leeward Anglican School (LLAS), who lit the flame under her passion.

“I credit Mr Kenelm Beache for being instrumental in bringing out the dance in me as a student at the Lowmans Leeward Anglican School, and beyond,” said Maxine. “Mr Beache saw something in me and he did everything he could to bring it right out!”{{more}}

But not only was Maxine a keen dancer at a young age, she started choreographing dance routines then, too! Over the years, these skills weren’t just limited to the dance groups she was a member of and those she founded, but also extended to doing choreography for school choirs, individual dancers, choral speaking groups and for pageant contestants.

“All this exposure was working for me, because I became rather good at the teaching,” she recalled. “They loved it and I loved it even more!”

Currently, Maxine is not only the lead choreographer of the Lowmans Leeward Anglican School’s dance group, but also a Qualified Assistant Teacher and a dance development officer with the Department of Culture.

With almost 50 registered members currently, the LLAS dance group is one of the longest standing in the country, and is well accustomed to taking home awards at the various festivals and competitions.

In addition to the awards racked up at this year’s KCCU Dance Festival, the group has also won Most Outstanding Dance 2010 and 2013 (Ministry of Education Christmas Music Festival), Best Tourism Choral Speech 2013, several gold and silver medals at the KCCU Dance Festival 2010, and numerous individual wins at the Primary School Performing Arts Festivals in 2011 and 2012.

“I am very proud of their achievements – they worked hard and their hard work paid off!” enthused Maxine. “In 2016 [KCCU Dance Festival], the Lowmans Leeward Anglican School will again bring you great dancing of the highest quality.”

In her personal life, Maxine is also a high achiever. She holds a Master’s degree in Performing Arts, a Bachelor’s degree in Dance, has racked up a string of awards over the years, and participated in countless dance festivals and programmes – both regionally and internationally.

In addition to all of this, she has ambitions of establishing a National (Junior) Dance Company, and continues to rally for dance to be incorporated within the national schools’ curriculum.

“I plan to not only conduct/teach dance for dance’s sake, but use it as a tool to, make teaching and learning more fun,” she insisted.

“These young dancers can further develop their technique from a young age. The primary schools in St Vincent and the Grenadines have a multiplicity of talents and it is our duty to discover these talents, and provide opportunities for them to be showcased locally, regionally and internationally.”

As well as her work with the LLAS dance group, Maxine founded the popular La Gracia Dance Company, which is based at Lowmans Hill (Leeward).

The group was founded in August 2002, and currently has over 100 dancers, accommodated in five different sections (according to age).