Breath of Dance to make stronger return at Queen's Hall

AFTER a four-year hiatus, dance group Breath of Dance Theatre (BODT) is returning with an in-person show entitled Celebrating a Stronger Return.

The show being held on October 21 at Queen's Hall, St Ann's, is the group's first time performing live at the venue.

BODT director and founder Precious Cornelius told Newsday in a phone interview the company had a virtual showcase last year, but the live performance was the fulfilment of a long-held desire.

"It was always our intention to showcase there. It is like one of our accomplishments on paper coming to life."

Cornelius, a 32-year-old social worker, has been dancing since the age of ten and has been part of several professional groups in Trinidad. Her decision to create BODT in 2012 was out of a desire to have a dance school run under her own rules.

"With experience, you see certain things take place and you see how you could take it up a notch and have different ideas."

She began her school with just two students and incorporated flexibility training, partly for stress relief. She has a BsC. in psychology and decided whenever she had her dance school, she would intertwine therapy and dance.

"I have always said, 'To dance is to breathe, and dance equals life.' I find it a therapeutic medium for expression."

Due to her love of working with children, she began with two year olds, though she eventually increased the age to three, as they were better able to take instructions.

After she began promoting the school on social media, teenagers and adults started attending.

BODT incorporates several genres: TT folk dance, modern contemporary, and urban styles, including, hip hop and afro. The group has grown to 30 members, and has three tutors on board, Cleavand "Arlington" Serries, Matthew Mcclean and Shawna Mitchell.

The school was based primarily at the St James Youth Centre at George Cabral Circular Road, St James, but after its closure for the past three months the group has had to move around to different places.

BODT has successfully participated in dance competitions both locally and abroad.

The group has held annual showcases but experienced downtime during covid19. Last year's virtual showcase at Queen's Hall was to raise funds for a member to attend university abroad, but this year's concert marks a full return to a live showcase, hence the theme, Celebrating a Stronger Return.

Cornelius and the tutors will join their pupils on stage for the showcase.

"For the celebration, we will collaborate with students after not being able to have a physical show for such a long time."

She reported the group has had a lot of productive practice sessions and coming closer to the date, the tutors will be working with the girls to condition their facial expressions and theatrical expressions while still embodying the music and the moves.

The showcase will feature 39 performers, including nine from the performing arts group, Chaguanas Women and Youth Group. Cornelius said it was not challenging combining the two groups, as the youth group dancers were very mature and at an intermediate level of dance.

"It was not hard to work with them."

She added that BODT is a "family structure" and tried to make the new dancers comfortable.

"A few of them (from the two groups) became friends in a short space of time."

For the showcase, Cornelius promised those attending they would be treated to a celebration of different styles of dance, a lot of youths on stage showcasing their talents, and a lot of creative aesthetics.

"There will be a lot of originality and freedom on stage, and youths expressing themselves in a positive way."

She said the Dance Moms Committee has been working behind the scenes to raise funds for students' costumes as well as offsetting expenses to host the show at Queen's Hall.

Cornelius said BODT is an NGO and is getting support for the show from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. She added the showcase seeks to raise funds to help keep the company afloat.

"We are hoping persons come out and give us that support."

Tickets for Celebrating a Stronger Return are available at the Queen's Hall box office or from members via Facebook at Breath of Dance or Instagram @breathofdancett.