Disney’s Encanto, a story by Freetown Collective’s Muhammad Muwakil and two pieces by one of its own teachers will feature when the Caribbean School of Dancing (CSD) celebrates its 65th anniversary.
It will stage its annual show Fantasy in Dance on Saturday and Sunday at Queen’s Hall..
Principal Bridgette Wilson said the event will showcase the progression a student of the school goes through. The full school will be involved in the performance of Encanto, from the babies to the seniors.
[caption id="attachment_987394" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Students of the Caribbean School of Dancing during rehearsal for Fantasy in Dance '22. Photo courtesy Mark Lyndersay - Mark Lyndersay[/caption]
“We decided to do it because the students were begging for it,” Wilson explained. “It was about keeping the students engaged, and we felt strongly we could give them that. Encanto starts off the show, with a variety of dances, including ballet, modern, hip-hop, contemporary – that’s where you see the range of dance styles the school offers.”
Zion’s Heart, the collaboration with Muwakil, performed by the senior school students, she said, was symbolic of the many collaborations the school has done over the years with artists in different spheres, including painter and mas designer Carlisle Chang and the Lydians Chorale, among others.
[caption id="attachment_987393" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Isabelle Julien, student-teacher of Caribbean School of Dancing will star as Mirabel in the school's adaptation of Disney's Encanto. Photo courtesy Renaldo Ramos - Renaldo Ramos[/caption]
“Zion’s Heart is where we see the spirit of CSD and the stuff we’ve done through our 65 years. We’ve thrived a lot through collaboration, and they continue to push the school forward. We performed with Freetown Collective for their local Carnival tour, and this is like a return in kind. Lost Tribe’s Valmiki Maharaj designed the costumes for Zion’s Heart and all the music for this piece is by local composers and musicians Etienne Charles, Ron Reid, and Clive “Zanda” Alexander, as well as one selection from Freetown Collective.”
The school’s dance company, the Metamorphosis Dance Company, will perform Side A/Side B, which was choreographed by Wilson this year, and Somos Siete by teacher Terry Springer, which he developed during the pandemic in 2021.
[caption id="attachment_987392" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Prinicpal of Caribbean School of Dancing Bridgette Wilson. -[/caption]
The Port of Spain school was founded in 1957 as the Marcia Mose Ballet School, and later renamed the CSD. Students range from the age of three to 13 and over, both male and female, and have the option of joining the dance company.
Wilson urged audiences to come early on performance nights, as there will be a legacy exhibition in the Queen’s Hall foyer.
“I’d refer to it as a mini-museum. You’ll get to find out about the history of the school, and anyone who attended the school will be a
