The Way Forward

I have often felt like I'm in a maze but I can see the exit. I knew exactly where the exit was, and I knew the route in some areas, but many areas were still very unfamiliar to me. Every day is a learning process and an opportunity for growth.

For quite some time I knew that I wanted to be an Environmental Educator. I didn't know how I was going to achieve this but I knew it was my calling. I recently figured out that my next official academic step would be to pursue my Masters in Environmental Education and Communication at Royal Roads University. Figuring that out was such a joyous moment for me. The realization of this step also created yet another grey area which I had to shed some light on. How do I get from where I am now to Royal Roads?

Plagiarism is something I try my level best to avoid, hence I shall not claim this light bulb moment as my own thought process but as the resurfacing of an idea planted by my father. Many moons ago he suggested that I write for Saint Lucia newspapers, just little articles on environmental issues plaguing the country or region. I did not feel prepared to take on such a task because I felt very out of tune with what was going on in the country and region. However, in hind sight this, I believe, is going to be a valuable tool in securing a job and hence my spot at Royal Roads.

I have decided to build a portfolio of my own writing not just personal but educational. Surely this is an excellent way to work towards my goal.

As that light bulb came on, so did another. Although previously acknowledged it really dawned on me that I am losing my Caribbean culture. I dance with a close friend as part of a duo, Nafsi Dada, and looking back at the vast majority of our routines they have had a very Afrocentric aura. We are yet to do a Caribbean inspired routine. By Caribbean inspired I mean music and/or dance style.

The urge to develop my dance/choreographic skills has not been present until a few days ago. I began researching the "competition" if you may and I was not too impressed with that was available on Caribbean dancing. Jamaica has it on lock, yes, but that is with dancehall. In terms of southern Caribbean music i.e. soca there seemed to be only one woman who owned the arena. I'm not a hater. I'm just not fully impressed by her dancing. I shall spare you the details of my thoughts of her choreography and instead tell you about my personal challenge.

The desire to film choreography for Mongstar's Saint Lucia We Love has been steady. The problem was to develop the choreography itself. I struggled with getting something solid on the ground. I fiddled with the song for a month or two and still had nothing solid. I decided to listen to some other music from the region for inspiration.

I love my country but the truth is very little music produced locally has an international flare. Most of the music is thoroughly enjoyed and understood by Saint Lucians. I did stumble upon on song by Teddyson John (Take Over) that hit me the right way. I quickly got choreography done for the chorus of the song and knew this would be the one.

I think the choreography is not difficult or thoroughly challenging in the sense of learning it. For me it was a push out of my norm and into a combination of traditional/folk dance movements mixed in with a bit more modern moves. I am hoping to have the video recorded next month and possibly released in July. I believe the routine and subsequent video will be of an excellent quality and will be enjoyed by many all over.

The belief is that this will be a diving board which I can use to explore myself as a Saint Lucian/Caribbean women living overseas through dance, as well as hopefully bringing in a bit of revenue and an opportunity to perform for other Saint Lucians.