Dance Grenada Founder and Govt Creative Director Dr. Shola Okay. Roberts (seventh from left), together with contributors of the fifth annual Dance Grenada Pageant and the Ousoo Drummers, pose for a bunch picture following a vibrant and immersive Shango dance class led by famend Grenadian dancer Keith Willams.
Picture by Reginald Joseph
The Worldwide Dance Pageant, hosted by Dr. Shola Roberts, marked a triumphant return earlier in October, drawing a vibrant crowd that celebrated Grenada’s wealthy dance heritage and group spirit. Working from October 19-21, the pageant coincided with Grenada’s fiftieth anniversary of independence, making it a milestone occasion in each cultural and nationwide significance.
Dr. Roberts, founder and creative director of Dance Grenada, not too long ago defended her doctoral dissertation whereas embracing new motherhood’s joys. Regardless of these private milestones, her unwavering dedication to bop and cultural preservation has remained on the forefront of her endeavors. “The stability comes from having a group and a village that believes in your work… It’s actually distinctive to see how folks present up for you, and once they do, you don’t have any alternative however to point out up for your self and your group, “she famous.
Now in its fifth yr, the pageant has change into a vital platform for native and worldwide artists. This yr’s programming honored Benue La Grenade, Grenada’s oldest dance firm, celebrating its 5 a long time of contribution to the island’s cultural panorama. “We honor those that have created areas for youthful generations to follow dance,” Roberts famous, emphasizing the significance of recognizing the pioneers of Grenadian dance.
All through the pageant, attendees participated in dance programs, panel discussions, and cultural exchanges, fostering a multi-generational group of dance practitioners. The occasion additionally offered scholarships for aspiring artists, permitting them to proceed their research and have interaction in significant creative exchanges. “Since 2020, we’ve provided full scholarships, and this yr, we’re providing each full and partial scholarships,” Roberts mentioned, highlighting the initiative’s function in supporting the subsequent era of dancers.
As an assistant professor at Arizona State College, Dr. Roberts is keen about integrating dance into tutorial curricula in Grenada. Her doctoral analysis revealed a big hole in instructional platforms for dance within the nation. “There is no such thing as a area for dance artists to proceed their coaching at greater training ranges,” she defined, hoping her work will pave the best way for future generations to view dance as a authentic profession and tutorial self-discipline.
Enthusiastic contributors’ turnout and the wealthy range of attendees — from college students to established artists — all gathered for what Roberts described as a “multi-generational cultural change” marked the pageant’s success. “This isn’t simply in regards to the youth; it’s about studying and rising throughout all generations,” she added.
Together with her dedication to sustaining and increasing Grenadian dance tradition, Dr. Roberts continues to encourage and unite communities by way of the facility of dance, reinforcing the island’s cultural id and creative traditions. Because the pageant concludes one other profitable yr, the dedication to uplift and have fun Grenada’s vibrant dance heritage stays extra important than ever.
