News Americas, New York, NY, Friday. October 4, 2024: The Grenada Dance Festival returns for its fifth season on the beautiful island of Grenada. Under the theme “From the Ground Up 5 Years and Beyond: Promoting Endurance, Sustainability and Freedom in the Arts,” this year’s festival honors this monumental milestone and the perseverance of dancers and creators around the world.
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 Grenade Dance Concert and a tribute to Veni Vwai La Grenade, a venerable Grenade dance company celebrating its 50th anniversary. Attendees can also enjoy the return of the popular international vendor market and the annual island tour, offering a rich fusion of culture, art and authentic local experiences.
“As I think back to where we started five years ago and now, I am grateful to have created a community that can gather and share culture, creativity and connection through dance. This festival brings together talented artists from around the world to engage and share the value of African diasporic dances, which are often overlooked and rarely seen 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.
Grenada dance is central to the rise and preservation of African diasporic dance forms such as Grenadian folk dance such as Shango, Afro-Cuban and Grenadian Masquerade. Through carefully curated programs, the festival welcomes international dancers to study not only these dances, but also to participate in other learning opportunities that speak to the importance of the creative economy in Grenada, the Caribbean and beyond.
Dance classes will be led by renowned dancers, including Grenada’s Keith Williams, who has led international masterclasses in the Caribbean and the UK; Grenadian Broadway star Oneika Phillips; Rene Arneaud, who has toured with soca 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 opportunities alongside the beauty of the island.
Dance has always been a vibrant part of Grenada’s cultural traditions and a reflection of our deep African heritage, which has been preserved and preserved through the generations. The Grenada Dance Festival is a powerful celebration of this heritage, allowing us to showcase our cultural diversity and talent to the world,” said Grenada Tourism Authority CEO Petra Roach. “The Grenada Tourism Authority is committed to supporting initiatives like this, as they not only enrich the lives of our people, but also provide visitors with an authentic glimpse into the soul of our island. We believe that cultivating festivals like this help preserve our heritage while enhancing Grenada’s appeal as a tourist destination. cultural,” she said.
The Grenada Dance 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.
“As people of the diaspora, our existence is sustained through our interaction with others. When we communicate, it creates a sense of belonging that fuels the ship going into the global community to thrive. Regardless of age, race or ethnic background, the sense of home is palpable to all who enter Dance Grenada,” said Roberts.
For more information on Dance Grenada and how to purchase tickets for this dance festival, please visit www.dancegrenada.com.
About Dance Grenada
Dance Grenada provides a platform for Grenadian and international dance artisans to share and increase their knowledge base of traditional and contemporary dance styles and techniques through workshops, performances, panel discussions and symposiums contributing to the greater Grenadian community and international dance.
