Dance Grenada Festival Returns for Fifth Season
The Dance Grenada Festival returns for its fifth season on the beautiful island of Grenada. Under the theme “From the Ground Up 5 Years and Beyond: Promoting Resiliency, Sustainability, & Freedom in the Arts,” this year’s festival honors this monumental milestone and the tenacity of dancers and creatives globally.
Dance Grenada Founder and Artistic Director Shola K. Roberts (center) joins teaching artist Keith Williams (fifth from right) and performers during the vibrant opening ceremony of the 2023 festival.
Five-Day Festival Highlights
From October 17-21, 2024, Dance Grenada will mark its five-year anniversary with a vibrant five-day festival featuring eight immersive workshops and two engaging panel discussions led by renowned dance professionals. This year’s special events include the debut of the inaugural Dance Grenada concert and a tribute to Veni Vwai La Grenade, a revered Grenadian dance company celebrating its 50th anniversary. Attendees can also enjoy the return of the popular international vendor’s marketplace and the annual island tour, offering a rich fusion of culture, artistry, and authentic local experiences.
Festival Objectives
“As I reflect on where we started five years ago to now, I’m grateful to have created a community that can gather and exchange culture, creativity, and connectivity through dance. This festival brings together talented artists from across the globe to engage in and share the value of African diasporic dances, which are often overlooked and rarely viewed as serious art forms when compared to their Western counterparts,” said Founder and Artistic Director Shola K. Roberts, a Caribbean dance expert and professor at Arizona State University.
Festival Significance
Dance Grenada is crucial to uplifting and preserving African diasporic dance forms such as Grenadian Folk Dance like Shango, Afro-Cuban and Grenadian Masquerade. Through thoughtfully curated programming, the festival hosts international dancers to not only study these dances but also to partake in additional learning opportunities that speak to the importance of the creative economy in Grenada, the Caribbean, and beyond.
Festival Highlights
Dance classes will be led by renowned dancers, including Grenada’s own Keith Williams, who has led international masterclasses across the Caribbean and the United Kingdom; Grenadian Broadway star Oneika Phillips; Rene Arneaud, who has toured with soca music superstars Machel Montano and KES the Band; and Otis Donovan Herring, who just returned from a nationwide tour with R&B groups Xscape and SWV. The festival preserves the intangible cultural heritage of dance and attracts new travelers to the island who seek creative outlets alongside the island’s beauty.
Conclusion
The Dance Grenada Festival is a central hub for dance innovation, scholarship, and entrepreneurship. It celebrates its fifth season at a pivotal time for the cultural and creative industries sector with the recent creation of the Grenada Office of Creative Affairs. The festival is a celebration of the island’s vibrant culture and a testament to the power of dance in bringing people together.
FAQs
Q: What is the theme of the 2024 Dance Grenada Festival?
A: The theme is “From the Ground Up 5 Years and Beyond: Promoting Resiliency, Sustainability, & Freedom in the Arts.”
Q: What are the highlights of the festival?
A: The festival features eight immersive workshops, two engaging panel discussions, a debut concert, a tribute to Veni Vwai La Grenade, an international vendor’s marketplace, and an annual island tour.
Q: Who are some of the renowned dancers leading classes at the festival?
A: The festival will feature Keith Williams, Oneika Phillips, Rene Arneaud, and Otis Donovan Herring.
Q: How can I purchase tickets to the festival?
A: For more information on Dance Grenada and how you can purchase tickets, please visit www.dancegrenada.com.