Since she was a teenager, Toinette Mackey took the steps to hone her craft into a memorable theatrical experience.

Published On:Tuesday, July 27, 2010

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

SHE'S bashful, yet her favourite thing to do is get on the stage and wow a crowd with phenomenal performances. It doesn't phase her if the room is filled with hundreds of people, because she can hide behind her white mask and costumes.

It goes beyond moving back and forth on the stage. It goes beyond simply telling a story with silence. Mime art does something for Toinette Mackey that is inexplicable in words. Only until one sees her in action, and the crowd's reaction will they understand the impact of this theatrical experience.

She was first inspired by a performance in 1996. And after watching that touching performance by the Reborn International Ministries, the first mime group in the Bahamas, she decided to enter the world of "silence."

Though this was her starting point, as a little girl she always found it amusing to put together dance moves. She even enjoyed doing short mini dramatisations even if only her family members where in attendance.

Starting Point

"I have always enjoyed dancing. It's in my blood. When I was a little girl I would choreograph dances to songs I loved for my mother and sometimes even dramatise them as if I was creating my own production. But my interest in mime came when the very first Bahamian mime group, Reborn International Ministries, was participating in one of BFM's conferences in 1996 and I saw them minister for the first time. It was different, it was anointing, they were on point technique wise as they all brought their own flavour to the group, grabbing your attention from the start because they felt the message behind what they were dancing.

"At the time I was trying to figure out where I wanted to place myself in the scheme of things in terms of impacting the world for God and when I saw them, I just knew that was it and it suited my personality because I was extremely shy but I could hide behind the mask. So I became the only girl in an all boys mime group a year later," she told Tribune Arts.

The decision to delve into the arena of mime came instantaneously after that experience. She brainstormed trying to find ways to perfect her craft and make her performances exciting and heartfelt like the one she witnessed.

Creativity

Toinette channels her creativity and presents a memorable experience for her audience. Many things have become the inspiration for her choreography. She finds inspiration in past experiences, and in the world outside. Cirque Du Soleil, a multifaceted artistic creative entertainment company has for many years been her inspiration.

"Outside of theater and dance productions of every genre, if I could name one thing that has inspired me to want to take mime to another level in terms of its excellence in the Bahamas it would be Cirque du Soleil. When I think about their costuming, the colours, the precision of the routines done, the characters, the music, the illusions, the make-up application, the scripts of each unique production it blows my mind, and that is the type of flair I want to see mime become here in the Bahamas," Ms Mackey said.

Ever since she started mime art she has been on a mission to provide hope, inspiration and encouragement, because leaving an emotional imprint on her audience makes her act unforgettable.

"When I began miming as a teenager people would always comment about how touching the song I ministered was or how they could feel the emotion behind what was depicted in the mime or how impressed they were with the imagery or illusions being used. I take the time to choose songs that allow me to deal with the issues and struggles we face every day and dramatise the source to finding the answers to our problems and the motivation to handling or coping with the vicissitudes of life," the artist explained.

'Sparkle'

She is always trying to take her mime to the next level. For that matter she is creating a mime character called Sparkle who will make appearances to children's parties. Sparkle will entertain kids with face painting, games, skits, and ballooning.

Other plans for her mime work includes introducing Mime Tyme as a new ministry which will showcase mini productions. She also wants to continue training persons in mime and host workshops and seminars on the Family Islands. And sooner than later she will form a mime network to produce DVDs and recordings for television programs.

Toinette Mackey hosts mime workshops and seminars that teach the basics of mime technique. In 2009 she implemented a mime summer camp for children.

She has traveled to several of the family islands to minister, as well as various states like California, Ohio, Cincinnati, New Jersey and Florida. She has also traveled to Paris, London, and St Kitts.

For more information contact 422-1122 or mime_tyme@yahoo.com.