BARBADIAN DREAM

It’s ironic for a citizen of the United States of America to talk about the Barbadian dream. To make sense of this, I would have to take you back almost 30 years ago when I was born.

To make a long story short, I was born in North Carolina (USA) by two immigrants from Barbados. When I was a little over 1 years old, my grandmother wanted to raise a child. Since I was the youngest of 3, my parents both agreed my grandmother could take me back to Barbados and raise me. While living in Barbados my family back in the states moved from North Carolina to California and my dad was deployed overseas in Kuwait. I have little memory from this early childhood but what I do remember is watching VHS tapes of cartoons my mother recorded and photos of my dad from his deployment in desert storm with a note on the back reading “I love you son”, all sent by post mail.  You must remember this is the early 90’s. There isn’t a computer in every household, no iPhone, no Facebook, WhatsApp etc… Another vivd memory I have is my grandmother. She loved to dance and have a great time. She was the 1st person to teach me to “wukk-up” (A local dance in Barbados and similar in the Caribbean region that involves the movement of the pelvis). Looking back I would say she was my 1st best friends. When I was 6 years old, I return back to my parents in the states. The next thing I recall hearing is my grandmother passed away.

6 years passed and my family and I moved from California to New York. It was in New York where I was introduced to formal dance training. One summer I took my 1st trip to Barbados since my grandmothers passing. I recalled something a family friend told me when I arrived, “You were Eliane’s boy… You broke her heart…” . I learned the reason why I lived with my grandmother all those years ago was because she felt there was no point living without raising someone. And as soon as I left, she passed. I still remember the last time I saw her.  She stood on the veranda, waving goodbye as I drove away in a white car up the gap (equivalent to a street). Even though people told me my grandmother passed due to health problems I couldn’t get that phrase out of my mind. I took it seriously and personally for years I felt guilty and wishing I didn’t leave her side. 

My visits to Barbados became more than just visiting family and friends. Between 2011 and 2013, I traveled to Barbados as a guest tutor under the National Cultural Foundation teaching various dance techniques to the local Bajan community. I received grants from U.S. Embassy to continue my work and spread the awareness of dance. Suddenly my travels came to a halt due to the economic crisis. The government decided to drastically cut funding for the arts and as a result I was no longer sponsored as a guest tutor. But the work I had done in the community was not finished. It was devastating and sad for me to no longer have access to spread dance.

While in the mist of my professional career, I decided to create the Barbados Dance Project. It’s mission is simple, to educate, collaborate and engage with the Barbadian community. A two-week summer intensive was created and since it’s inception in 2014, BDP has given over 150 students access to free dance education from techniques ranging from ballet, modern, contemporary, improvisation, body conditioning, and dance history by guest tutors from around the world. An annual dance showcase allows participants to learn excerpts of works from guest tutors as well as world renowned choreographers. The Barbados Dance Project Ensemble is a small group of dancers who throughout the year perform in Barbados and regionally in the Caribbean. These three pillars are at the root of BDP to spread awareness and excellence of dance. But more importantly the excellence of Barbadian dancers.

A good friend of mine once said “Just because it’s free, it doesn’t mean it’s free”. I never experienced fundraising or building capital for a project. All I knew was I needed to give the best to Barbados. But at the core, the only way I could operate BDP was if students are able to attend tuition- free. So this meant I had to raise money for air travel, housing, honorarium and per diem, local transportation, rental of studio space and performance space and many other things. And we achieved our goal. For the past 3 years we have been able to make this project hold true to it’s mission with thanks to crowd surfing platforms, friends, families, dance education enthusiast and organizations from around the world believing in giving students the access and opportunity.

  This to date, is the most ambitious project I have ever been apart of let alone at the helm as founder. But to be honest, this project was created because I heard the needs of the students in Barbados. Imagine for a second living on a small island where your only access to dance is on shows like “So you think you can dance” and YouTube videos. No actual theater that presents works by professional dance companies. So over night I became founder, artistic director, presenter, marketing and development director.

As I sit thinking about 2017 and the 4th summer of Barbados Dance Project I am constantly energized by the students I have had the great honor to work with. Students who are continuing their studies in Barbados year round as well as regionally in the Caribbean, the United States, Canada, and Europe, being accepted into dance institutions worldwide.

It is a proud moment and made me realize the Barbadian Dream is within each of them. I remember my grandmother and I dancing together, laughing together enjoying being together and I see now years later being on the island working with the students, I carry my grandmothers with me. Taking her joy and love of dance everywhere. I never thought I would be the person to offer this opportunity to many in Barbados. I am honored that through my dreams, I have given access to others to fulfill their dreams, the Barbadian Dream.