Antigua Dance Academy
Profile
Antigua Dance Academy is a Dance and Drum Academy based in Antigua.
The School was established in October 1991, by Veronica Yearwood, where students from across Antigua attended. A Performing Company was officially launched in December 2000, where performers were auditioned from the School. The Company includes dancers, drummers, singers, poets, makeup artists, stage technicians, actors, script writers, personal stylists, costume designers etc. with a total of thirty-eight (38) members. To date, the youngest performing member of the Company has been two years old.The Company consists of Junior and Senior Dancers and a Junior and Senior Drum Corps.
The Company is directed by critically acclaimed Choreographer and Dance Educator, Veronica Yearwood, a native of Antigua, who was also the Artistic Director of the National Dance Theatre of Antigua & Barbuda for twelve years between 1989 – 2001, an advisor to the Regional Dance Association from 2002 to 2005, a member of the Board of Directors for the Antigua Carnival Festival, a founding member of the Caribbean Folk Arts Association (CARIBFOLK), based in Philadelphia, USA, whose sole reason for existence is to document and preserve Caribbean Folk Art and Culture, a member of the International Dance Council (CID) based in Greece among other dance and culturally related activities, guest choreographer and teacher for groups based in various islands of the Caribbean.
National, Regional and International Performances have been undertaken by the Company since its launch to much acclaim in both the print and electronic media. The Company has received letters of recommendations by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, the Government of Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados among others, giving much credit to the choreography and their pursuance in excellence in the field of dance and commended them for their ability in continuing the traditional culture of Antigua and Barbuda and their excellence in being good ambassadors for the country of Antigua and Barbuda on many occasions.
The Performing Company specializes in both Performing and Teaching: Antiguan Folk, Caribbean Folk, Traditional West African, Modern and Jazz and original Percussion Compositions/ Drum Scores. In their quest for the continuance of the Traditional Dances of Antigua and the Caribbean, the Company has facilitated workshops, lectures and symposiums in traditional dance and dance in general to a wide and varied audience, which included all ages. In May 2004, the Company along with the School undertook what was the brain-child of the Founding Director, Veronica Yearwood, a first ever Caribbean Folk Dance Festival entitled: “Out of the Drum”, held in Antigua. Several dance companies within the region that are proficient in Caribbean Folk Dance, were invited to take part, where symposiums, lectures, dance workshops and performances were conducted. The festival took place once every two years. The third festival was held in May (2008), where Caribbean and International groups Drum and Dance instructors, lecturers and international observers participated.
Antigua Dance Academy continues to teach traditional dances of Antigua and the Caribbean, and most recently launched its very own Antiguan Bele in 2023, conceptualized and choreographed by Veronica Yearwood. The Academy bases all aspects of its existence on its motto “In Unity there is Strength”, and continues to mould minds and build an appreciation
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