On Monday September 3^rd Rolston Ryan welcomed dancers at the “Youth and Community Centre” on Victoria Road Basseterre St. Kitts to the first day of his one week dance workshop “I Am Dance” presented in collaboration with sponsor St. Kitts Department of Culture, which came to a close on Saturday September 8^th at 5:00pm with a special closing ceremony.  Teens from age thirteen and Adults were exposed to Modern, Dance Hall, Jamaican Folk, Zulu and Dance Improvisation genres.

Rolston Ryan followed his passion for dance in his early teens when he joined “Vivace Dance Company” – St. Kitts and trained with them for ten years honing his skills.  Mr. Ryan has been fortunate to gain experience with the “Christy Lights Dance Academy” in St. Lucia 2006 and the revered “Edna Manely School of Visual and Performing Arts” in Jamaica 2010.  Now he has returned to his roots to share what he has learned with others who have dreams of pursuing a career in dance.  His future plan is to secure a BFA in Performance and Choreography to take his career to the next level. To see high-lights of the "I Am Dance" Workshop by Rolston Ryan go to the following link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Kitts-Department-of-Culture/117273781646746?sk=photos_stream

St. Kitts Department of Culture plays an important role in developing the Creative Industry (performing arts, literary arts, visual arts, culinary arts…) and always gives supports to community activities that celebrate Arts and Culture.  Annually during the months of July and August specialist from St. Kitts Department of Culture participate in a number of activities organized to keep youths engaged during their summer vacation. At the “Youth Departments Non-residential Summer Camp” held at Beach Allen Primary School July 15^th to 25^th twenty campers were exposed to the art of drumming by Royd Phipps and taught music theory by Music Specialist Nigel Williams at his “Recorder and Fife Workshop”.

At the “Moravian Church Summer Camp” July 25^th to 27^th twenty young people between ages of seven to fifteen were exposed to Afro-Caribbean Folk Forms taught by Dance Specialist Lorna Ava Henry.  Support was given to the “Umoja Dance Workshop” July 20^th to 25^th, which attracted fifty participants including accomplished dancers from various dance groups in St. Kitts, instructed by Dancer Alphonso Henry who gained his early dance experience as a member of “Okolo Tegremantine Arts Theatre, then received additional training at the “Alvin Aley Dance Academy” in New York and the “Edna Manley Dance School” in Jamaica.

Dance Specialist Lorna Ava Henry also assisted Marcia Jeffers, a Dance Teacher in training at the “Edna Manley Dance School” to coordinate two dance workshops; the first June 25^th to 27^th and the second August 13^th to 17^th, which engaged thirty-six people in an introduction to Afro-Caribbean dance techniques and traditional Afro-Caribbean rhythms and songs on the drums.  Due to the success of the Workshop, Dancers from this workshop have been invited to perform a combination of drumming, singing, and Dance numbers at the “Gala Night of Independence” on September 14^th.

In addition to the many community activities that St. Kitts Department of Culture participates in they also actively create programs that reach out to the community.  One such program is the “Fusion Music Mentorship Project”, which targets vulnerable young men between the ages of nineteen and twenty five with the hope of engaging them in wholesome musical activities to divert their attention away from crime.  Creighton Pencheon, Director of Culture explained, “A core group of six of the most talented young men received six months of training in the rudiments of music theory conducted by Nigel Williams, Music Specialist of the Department of Culture, the group was able to secure funding through the A C F (Advancement of Children Foundation) to procure musical equipment to begin the practical music sessions at the Lodge Community Centre”.  During the week of July 9^th members received hands on training in basic arranging and orchestration of music from music icon Kenrick Georges.

Then during the week of July 14^th they received Listening and Ear training from well known Musician Gairy Knight at the St. Johnson Community Centre.  As a result of this program the band “Fusion” has been formed with members that includes; two keyboard players, a drummer, a bassist, and two vocalists.  Mr. Pencheon said, “A guitarist in training is expected to join this performing group later this year”.

What does the future hold for members of the “Fusion Music Mentorship Project”?  Mr. Pencheon further explained, “One of the objectives of the Music Mentorship Project is a commitment by these young men to fulfill an obligation by giving back to young boys of the Lodge and Ottley’s Community.  Accordingly, the Lodge Community Centre became the venue for a workshop from August 13^th -17^th targeting 20 boys between the ages of 9 to 15 along with 8 young girls who were allowed to attend.  This workshop was conducted by three of the most accomplished members of the group namely Raheem Thatcher, drumming facilitator, Verne Pemberton, bass facilitator along with Clelia Davis assisted by Javid Percival on keyboards.  The young men proved to be good instructors and were able to accomplish quite a lot in the allotted time.  It is important to note that fifteen year old Anshel Hines emerged from the workshop as an exceptionally gifted drummer.  A commitment was made to incorporate him into the group for follow-up training.  The “Fusion Music Mentorship Project”, has met its major objectives, which are; to occupy and gainfully engage young people in wholesome artistic activities, to provide opportunities to expose youths to various aspects of the performing arts, to impart knowledge and skills in the arts discipline and to identify and nurture new and emerging talent for follow-up activities”.

For more photos of the Fushion Music Mentorship Program go to the following link;
http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Kitts-Department-of-Culture/117273781646746?sk=photos_stream