(Eleuthera, Bahamas) – On Saturday evening, July 6, 2013, the Eleuthera Arts and Cultural Center in Tarpum Bay, came alive with an excited buzz of young and old coming together to display the modern dance and vocal techniques learned during a two week “Cross Cultural Dance Workshop”, in a grand finale performance.
The Eleuthera Arts and Cultural Center was the venue for the Cross Cultural Arts Performance, where participants presented to a capacity audience.
The “Cross Cultural Arts Performance” was directed and choreographed by International/Bahamian artist, Kelvin Cooper who also hosted the two week workshop. After an initial set of warm up demonstrations, the performance took on an Independence theme, in light of the surrounding Bahamas’ 40th Anniversary of Independence celebrations, and showcased dance and vocal numbers conveying the experience of ‘bondage’ in the first session, followed by a second session of performances conveying ‘freedom and celebration’.
Special guest artist, Asha Lindsey (right), joined Cooper during the two week workshop, bringing her incredible operatic vocal talents to the expanding program. During the performance, she demonstrated with her class of Teens and Juniors a technique taught to practice vocal scales, using hand signs which represented individual notes to sing and sign the well known tune of ‘Three Blind Mice’. Lindsey also performed an incredible solo, a negro spiritual called ‘I wish I knew what it is to be free’ as her students danced.
The evening performance was topped off by a junkanoo rushout.
International Bahamian Artist, Kelvin Cooper leads Adults, Teens and Juniors in a dance piece at the July 6, 2013 Cross Cultural Arts Grand Performance.
Three distinct age groups participated in the cross cultural workshop, with staggered class sessions held, from 2:00-3:30pm for 9-12 year olds, 4:00-5:30pm for 13-17 year olds, and from 6:00 to 7:30pm for adults aged 18 and up. Workshop sessions began on July 24th and continued daily until July 5th, 2013. Participants were introduced to a variety of dance styles, including Modern, Jazz, Afro-Caribbean, Caribbean, Latin and Hip-Hop.
The program was heavily supported by the Stephen Terrell Ingraham Foundation, in memory of young Stephen Terrell who passed away as a result of a heart condition as a young teen. Stephen Ingraham Sr. was a guest of honour at the performance, and was presented with a plaque by organizers of the workshop in recognition of his significant contribution to the annual program.
Participants of the Cross Cultural Workshop delivered high energy performances throughout the Independence inspired show.
