For those who love to dance or who just wish to learn about Caribbean and local dance forms, the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) recently added Introduction to Caribbean Dance and Culture to its list of course offerings.
Facilitated by Adjunct Professor Dr. Monika Lawrence, from the University of Technology in Jamaica, the course will explore the role of traditional Caribbean dance forms, their meaning and purpose and their relationships to other art forms in contemporary Caymanian society.
In addition to physically experiencing selected dance styles, students will study dance theory and evaluate Caribbean dance history within the context of cultural identity and development.
While this course is a departure from the traditional academic norm at UCCI, it is intentional.
UCCI President Roy Bodden believes that arts courses have much to offer in terms of personal growth and development.
Maintaining his goal of developing the ‘whole man,’ Mr. Bodden hopes to inspire UCCI students by offering them a wide selection of disciplines.
He believes the arts help to build self-confidence and other characteristics that can easily be transferred to traditional academic courses. More importantly, he believes that these subject areas build altruism.
Ultimately he hopes that UCCI students will understand that acquiring an education extends beyond improving personal circumstances, and that with education comes a moral obligation to work towards the improvement of community and society.
“Cayman will never become great if our graduates are concerned only about personal wealth and acquiring the latest status symbols,” Mr. Bodden explained. “While financial stability is important, helping the under-privileged and working to uplift the community is of equal importance.
“The performing and visual arts are areas through which students can examine themselves; discover their abilities and potential; understand their strengths and weakness, and the importance of all their contributions,” he continued. “Once they develop these skills the sky can indeed be the limit.”
Dr. Lawrence, a former dancer with the late Rex Nettleford’s National Dance Theatre Company and founder of the Stella Maris Dance Ensemble, also holds the arts in high esteem.
“Youngsters have to learn about their own culture and appreciate it to impart it,” she explained. “Students who engage in the arts tend to have a better understanding of themselves, and a more positive outlook on who they are. These subjects help them understand why we take certain cultural norms for granted.”
She continued: “The power of the arts is phenomenal -- I’ve seen shy individuals become more assertive and confident. I’ve even seen how the arts can help students to cope with unfamiliar subject matters.”
The Introduction to Caribbean Dance and Culture course will be offered twice weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
For more information on this or other arts and humanities courses, visit www.ucci.edu.ky. Alternatively, email Dr. Lawrence at Monika_law [at] hotmail [dot] com or Registrar John Frederick by emailing jfrederick [at] ucci [dot] edu [dot] ky or by calling 623-0520.
