The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

HAVING the opportunity to express herself through the performing arts over the years, be it dance or acting, has been a gratifying experience for performer Michelle Hudson.

And since taking on the role as educator and director at the Bahamas Dance Theatre (BDT), her joy comes from seeing students blossom in their chosen areas. Knowing she has a part in helping talented and creative youngsters come to love the arts is a thrilling feeling for her.

And just as she aims to inspire her students, so she herself was inspired by the late Shirley Hall-Bass, the first artistic director of the dance school, who introduced many in her care to the world of dance and theatre.

Mrs Hall-Bass was the one who trained Ms Hudson her in various dance forms and techniques, nurturing and helping to develop her talent. Other influential persons in her life include names like Cherie Pinder, the late Valerie Smith-Dean, Karen Moss, Denise Moss, Bud Cambridge, Hugh and Greg Tai, as well as Ted Levy.

While these persons all played a role in her dance education, Ms Hudson said it was Mrs Hall-Bass who was primarily responsible for her love of theatre; it was Mrs Hall-Bass who gave her an understanding of what it takes to make a stage come to life.

“I have been dancing for over 40 years. I began teaching around the age of 14, and then after returning from university in 1991 I took on more responsibility and a greater role in running the school, joining with fellow student teachers, Sonjia Adderley-Roberts, El’yanna Burrows-Mackey, Ralph McKinney and Gayle Outten Moncur. These persons today constitute the management team of the school. Along with a dedicated staff and supportive parent association, BDT continues to provide dance education and exposure to the performing arts to young boys and girls,” Ms Hudson told Tribune Woman.

As part of its annual musical production, the team at BDT recently presented an adaptation of Disney’s “Beauty and The Beast”, directed by Ms Hudson, assisted by Gillian Springer. It was called “Beauty and Her Beast”

Ms Hudson said the idea to put on this particular play came from the responses of children and staff at BDT. From the tots and teenagers to the adult performers, they all shared and displayed their skills and techniques in ballet, tap, jazz and modern dancing, as well as in gymnastics and drama.

“‘Beauty and The Beast’ is a Disney musical with singing and dancing, which is what we look for in our productions, plus it has many scenes so that we can utilise all our kids, from the littlest to the oldest; it was a great choice. This story tells us that we should not be deceived by appearances, for real beauty is found within a person. We ensure that there’s a life lesson embedded in all our productions,” said Ms Hudson.

This is not the first production of this calibre that the school has staged. They also performed “A Twist of Oliver”, “Tom Sawyer-Rolle”, “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves”, “Dah Udda Tom Sawyer”, “My Man Pan”, “All My Chir’en” and several more.

With ten weeks to prepare for the production, Ms Hudson said it was a whirlwind of activity at the school.

“Basically our production is a 20 to 30-hour intensive workshop in acting and dance, so our students get a crash course in how to stage a production. They learn at least two dance routines, lines, theatre etiquette, how to respond to cues and perform in front of a large crowd. But with all hands on deck and lots of shouting and late nights it all comes together somehow,” she said.