M2 MARKETING & PROMOTIONS

DECADES OF DANCE 9-15th October 2011
DANCE FESTIVAL 2011-in Trinidad
In 2009, the Ministry mounted an exhibition entitled ‘Decades of Dance’ which featured Dance Companies of Trinidad and Tobago from 1968 to 2008. The exhibition was mounted on the exterior of the Culture Division office at 51 – 55 Frederick Street, which now serves as the head office to the Ministry of the Arts and Multiculturalism. It featured:
• Five Decades of Dance companies of Trinidad Tobago in performance photos
• A profile of the Company
• A profile of the founding Artistic Director

This was stage one of the Ministry’s strategy to bring dance back into focus and more importantly, support the development of the art form through workshops and seminars and contribute to audience development for this fine art.
The Ministry in conjunction with the National Dance Association of Trinidad and Tobago, “Dance Festival 2011” will provide dance practitioners in Trinidad and Tobago with training in dance techniques; exposure to dance forms traditional to these regions; an opportunity to share experiences, styles, choreography techniques and opportunities to promote and advance not only the art of dance but the Caribbean as the Mecca of Cultural Diversity. The Caribbean dance festival also gives Trinidad and Tobago an opportunity to increase audience appreciation and interest in the dance as an art form.

A FOCUS ON YOUTH
In recent years, dance in Trinidad and Tobago has been experiencing a surge in participation, through dancers and dance enthusiasts alike. Through the B’Mobile Dance Off Series, dance companies such as Elle Incorporated and Eclectic Dancers, to the Secondary Schools’ Dance Festival produced by the National Dance Association of Trinidad and Tobago; not to mention international programs like ‘So you think you can Dance?’, ‘Dancing with the Starts’ and ‘America’s Best Dance Crew’ the youth more now than ever are thoroughly involved in dance practice. ‘Decades of Dance; Dance Festival 2011’ does have a place for the youth, not only through the workshops that are designed to focus on technique and style and how dance and movement are key to a healthy lifestyle but the career opportunities that exist for young dancers both locally and internationally but also via the ‘Hip Hop Fest’ that will showcase the more popular genres inclusive of ‘dancehall’ and ‘fusion’.




OVERALL GOAL
1. To recognize and present a broad range of dance styles towards developing and improving standards in the field of dance in Trinidad and Tobago, through networking and discourse amongst dance practitioners, dance enthusiasts and cultural researchers of the Caribbean

OBJECTIVES
1. To revitalize dance as a dramatic art-form in the Trinidad and Tobago.
2. To expose the dancer’s too technically sound practices through workshops and performances that would encourage higher professional standards.
3. To provide young persons with the opportunity to participate in dance education and performance amongst regional practitioners.
4. To present three quality dance performances to the public of Trinidad and Tobago.



 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

It is proposed that the Dance Festival 2011 take the form of a week of dance activities inclusive of performances, workshops, symposia, film screenings and youth activity to be held at NAPA and Queen’s Hall in Port of Spain and Naparima Bowl in San Fernando.

Dance Africa and Of another Nature Dance Troupes from Barbados will perform.
L’Acado-a-united Caribbean Dance Troupe from Jamaica will perform.