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.
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 15th to 25th
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 25th to 27th 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 20th to
25th, 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 25th to 27th and the second August 13th
to 17th, 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 14th.
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 9th
members received hands on training in basic arranging and orchestration of
music from music icon Kenrick Georges.
Then
during the week of July 14th 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 13th
-17th 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
