By Foresee Foundation
National Institute of Arts (NIA) soared to higher heights this month at the first Inter-Caribbean Dance Competition hosted by the Regional Federation of Dance of Guadeloupe (FRDG) on Monday, February 20, on the French side. This event gave different dance schools on the island and in the region the opportunity to present their students in the styles and age categories of their choice, such as ballet, jazz, modern, world dance, hip hop, and other styles.
The competition took place on the stage of “La Chapelle” in Orient Bay, and the jury consisted of Odile Carls-Cau, President of the Federation of Dance of the Occidental Region; Marco Cattoi, contemporary dance choreographer; and Barbara Schwarz, classical ballet choreographer from Toulouse, France.
NIA entered six different dance pieces with seven students in total, and the overall results were fantastic. Five of the entries won first place, and one entry won second place. The students received several accolades, including scholarships to attend summer dance intensives.
One of the winning entries – “Strange” performed by Ray Angel Boasman and Xavier Carty – won 1st place in category 5, with the judges unanimously agreeing. The entry also won 1st place in the Teacher Nomination category, and the performers were each awarded a six-week summer scholarship in Miami.
Other winners included Xavier Carty, who won 2nd place in category 4, with his performance of “Puppet,” and the group Shiloh Bedminister, Florianthe Boasman, and Amalia Rodriguez, who won 1st place in category 2 with their performance of “Afro Caribbean”, with the judges again unanimously agreeing.
Tais Andrew and Lya Hennique won 1st place in category 2 with their performance of “Soca,” and Shannell Bucknor won 1st place in category 5 with her performance of “Mirror”. Shiloh Bedminister also won 1st place in category 3 with her performance of “Queen,” with the judges unanimously agreeing. As a result, both Shiloh and Shannell were awarded scholarships to attend summer dance intensives in Miami.
The event was a huge success, and four students were awarded six-week summer intensive scholarships to Armour Dance Theatre in Miami, Florida, from June 15 to July 29. NIA is now planning fundraising efforts to cover the cost of travel and lodging for the students attending the summer program. NIA’s participating teachers/choreographers are Kimberly Milan, Jonathan van Arneman and Arlene Halley Newhouse.
How can the community get involved?
NIA’s students won scholarships to train at Armour Dance Theatre in Miami, but they need your help. Your contribution can make a huge difference in helping these talented dancers reach their full potential. Invest in the future of the dance industry and support these students as they pursue their passion and strive for excellence. Every donation counts. By supporting these students, you are not only helping them achieve their goals, but you are also investing in the future of the dance industry. These students have worked hard to earn these scholarships, and with your support, they can make the most of this opportunity and come back to their communities with enhanced skills, knowledge, and experience that they can share with others.
To someone contact NIA to help; visit NIA at Long Wall Road 20; send email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 1 721 543-0600.
