The older generation may not readily realise it, but among the younger generation, and onlookers, dancing is rapidly becoming the major activity and pastime in the development of the performing arts in Anguilla.

Some of the more mature members of Klassique Academy of Dance and Performing Arts

The Klassique Academy of Dance & Performing Arts is only one of a growing number of dance groups on the island which even, in some cases, include religious organisations. The Klassique group has however gone on to win some well-needed support from Government through the Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture and Sports.

One of the Ministry’s areas of assistance has been the funding of a wooden floor at the Scouts and Guides Ruthwill Auditorium to enable the group to engage in their practice sessions. It proved its worth at an intensive five-day workshop which was conducted by Betsy-Ann… a dance trainer from Los Angeles, California, and which ended in a show of talent on Monday evening this week. The show was witnessed by a large and appreciative audience. Among other skills Ms Woyach practiced the participants in jazz, modern ballet and tap dancing.

“I think the kids have grown tremendously from what they learnt about different forms and techniques of dance as well as growing in the forms they are already working on,” she said. “They can practice now for the remainder of the year. We went all the way from the 3-year-old to the 20-year-old age range. All of the kids are very passionate about what they do and there are no boundaries to what they can achieve.”

The training is seen as “a shot in the arm” for the Klassique Dancers are eagerly looking forward to representing Anguilla at CARIFESTA next year.

Valencia Prentice-Connor and Betsy-Ann

Valencia Prentice-Connor, who grew up in St. Kitts, is the local Artistic Director for the Klassique Academy of Dance and for one year has been the group’s sole tutor until two additional teachers became available. She always had a passion for dance and when, at age 18, she went to Lindenwood University to study accounting, she signed up for the dance programme there. She majored in dance, having learnt some useful and teachable techniques. She is currently a Finance Officer in the Ministry of Finance in Anguilla and devotes her spare time working with the Klassique Dancers.

She said there were over 80 young male and female dancers in the Academy divided into six different age groups. Asked about the involvement of the Government, she stated: “We were lucky enough to get into an agreement with the Government which started in June this year. We were able to have a few of our workshops and dance programmes funded by the Government. The newly-constructed dance floor was actually funded by the Government of Anguilla, and the workshop was partially funded by the Government of Anguilla.”
Asked about her work with the dance Academy, she replied: “I basically wanted to expose the students to dance and to show them that there are positives they can get from dancing such as self-discipline, respect for others, tolerance and other principles you learn outside of the normal academic curriculum. We started in October 2007 so we are two years old now. We had a few regional performances including CARIFESTA in Guyana last year, and we performed at Haynes Smith Digicel Caribbean Talented Teen [show] in St. Kitts in December. We are looking forward to going to CARIFESTA next year and to start up an exchange programme with some of the dance studios in the United States.”

Linda Lake, Deputy Director of the Department of Youth and Culture expressed thanks to Betsy-Ann for coming to Anguilla to have conducted what was normally an extended course of tutoring in just five days, and commended the Klassique Dancers for their classical dancing. She was delighted that the ministry and her department had provided the dance floor and assisted with the workshop.

Applause from appreciative onlookers

“I thank the Klassique Academy of Dance and Performing Arts for being committed to the development of arts in Anguilla,” she said. "On behalf of the Department of Youth and Culture, I wish you every success as you expose our youth to the arts.”
The brief closing ceremony was followed by displays of some of the performing skills taught at the workshop, to the applause of the audience comprising mainly the parents of the children.

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