Dancers attend 3-day workshop

The Peace Memorial Hall came alive with jumps, lifts and spins as students wrapped up a three-day dance workshop last week.{{more}}

The workshop, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with Invest SVG, came on the heels of the Business of Music and Entertainment Seminar held in November 2009.

The closing ceremony took place at the Peace Memorial Hall on Monday, January 11, 2010.

27 students were tutored in modern dance by Vincentian professional dancer Kerville Jack, originally from Penniston.

Jack is a member of the Martha Graham Dance Company, one of the oldest modern dance companies in the USA. Jack majored in dance at the Long Island University and specializes in dance techniques such as Hawkins, Limon, Dunham, Afro-Caribbean and West African. He was also trained at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance.

Students in the workshop represented modern dance groups, gospel groups, street dance groups and community groups in St. Vincent.

The closing ceremony featured dance routines done by a smaller group of the workshop participants and a solo performance by facilitator Kerville Jack.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT, Jack commended the work of the students. Jack said he was unaware of the presence of modern dance in St. Vincent and now that he has seen it here, it has encouraged him to return to do more workshops with dancers.

Cultural Officer Anthony Theobalds said that the workshop came at the right time for the industry. “It helps to build capacity within this sector as part of the ongoing work of development of the cultural and creative industries,’” he said.

The workshop was held from January 7 to the 9, 2010 at the Peace Memorial Hall.