The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

AS they learned to refine their skills, young Eleutheran dance enthusiasts also got the chance to showcase their enhanced abilities during a cultural workshop last week.

The week long cross cultural dance workshop was held under the direction of Kelvin Cooper, dance instructor at the Ailey Arts in Education and Community Programme, New York City.

Mr Cooper has performed with numerous dance theatre companies including Elizabeth Streps at the Joyce Theatre, Joan Peters and Roots of Brazil at Symphony space and two different projects for Douglas Dunn at St Marks Church, New York.

Everyday for six days, students attending the Eleuthera Arts and Cultural Center (EACC) in the “Lil Prep” Studio to learn dance styles that included: Modern dance, Jazz, Afro-Caribbean, Caribbean, Latin, and Hip-Hop dance.

The age groups in the cultural workshop ranged from 9 years to adults.

Audrey Carey, Executive Director at the EACC said this is the first time the cultural dance has taken place on the island of Eleuthera and she hoped the program was a source of inspiration and creativity for the participants.

“Here on the island, we have a lot of young persons who participate in Junkanoo and all they really know is the Junkanoo dance. We wanted to give them the experience of dance on an international level so that is why we brought an artist here. All of them came in and were uncertain as to what the dance workshop was all about, but they succeeded in their classes. “ said Ms Carey.

Mr Cooper told Tribune Entertainment after his experience in Eleuthera, he can definitely see the workshop as an opportunity to visit again.

Even though Mr Cooper resides in the United States, he said he was born in Nassau, which made it so easy for him to say yes when asked to come.

“I was like wow, of course I wouldn’t mind. They contacted me to come and work on a more rounded dance level, because I don’t believe in just doing dance for just commercial or for show sake, but really to bring people together,” said Mr Cooper.

He said the most important lesson he taught the students, was to understand dance from a more broader perspective.

“I don’t think a lot of times dance is really respected here that’s why I had to really grow and enhance my skills on the US side. There is quite a bit of talent here, but we don’t get as much as exposure. I am grateful that Eleuthera is really pushing for the technique and doing an all rounded programme,” said Mr Cooper.

He said a huge part of the cross cultural dance workshop was getting the students to understand dance, not just for a performing purpose, but also educational. So there were students that were learning vocabulary, as well as body alignment and dance that has to do with social awareness.

“ The younger kids in the play ground, they were doing Bob Marley’s “Don’t worry about a thing.” So we focused on the social awareness as far as that is concerned. The other thing, we were looking at was dance fitness, so we are talking about certain body parts that are being worked on for the older group. Then also too, we focused on the dances being intercultural, so what I covered is some salsa and some of the Latin style dances,” said Mr Cooper.

Keeping the Bahamian culture alive, Mr Cooper said he decided to include Junkanoo dance in the workshop as well. “ It was more in terms of relief and just letting go and not thinking so much, while getting that full work out, which is apart of the culture,” he said.

Mr Cooper said he believes that dance is for everyone. He said the power to identify, understand, create and express through movements can open doors to growth in all aspects of life.