Success Stars to host Cuban arts group

Since that visit, a warm relationship has evolved between the school, where Hamida Baksh is the principal, and Guillermo Vasquez Moreno, Cuba’s Ambassador to TT . So moved was the ambassador by Success Pan Sounds playing his country’s national anthem at an evening of appreciation after their return from Cuba that he praised “a disciplined and organised school, a model school where teachers get full support from parents.” This support now extends to a well organised steering committee and several subcommittees, under project manager Nicholas Cumberbatch. Their members have accepted the huge challenge of mounting an exchange cultural visit right after Carnival, from March 4 to 14, by El Conjunto Folkl?rico Nacional de Cuba, a premier internationally- acclaimed Cuban arts company which will perform and educate during the visit.

Many workshops are planned for performing arts teachers and students, community groups, dancers, and choreographers.

Additionally, a forum on “Arts in Education… the Cuban Model” will be offered for people involved in developing, administrating and receiving arts education. A component of this forum will focus on advancing the business and career opportunities to be derived from education in the visual and performing arts. There will also be concerts in Port-of- Spain, San Fernando and Tobago, on dates and times to be published.

Success Laventille Secondary School, under the guidance of its principal, is organising the exchanges.

As a result of the knowledge gained, the school will be taking steps to advance its performing-arts curriculum, which includes the opening of a new dance studio during the Cuban group’s visit on March 13. This is all part of the Schools Improvement Project launched by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley recently.

The Cuban National Folkloric Dance Ensemble was founded at the beginning of 1962 by Cuban folklorist Rogelio Mart?nez Fur? and the Mexican choreographer Rodolfo Reyes Cort?s. From the very beginning the aim of this ensemble has been to contribute to the preservation and revitalisation of the dance and musical traditions of the island, while selecting the most valuable traditions and combining them with current theatre requirements, without neglecting their folk nature.

Today, 55 years after its founding, the ensemble has developed a distinctive type of theatre folklore art with great performing results and aesthetics, reflecting the different Cuban cultural traditions from Europe (Spain or France), and Africa (Yoruba, Congo, Carabal?, Arar?, etc), and other traditions coming from the Caribbean islands to Cuba. During more than 80 international tours throughout 45 countries in Europe, America, Africa and Asia, its performances have been welcomed by audiences on some of the most outstanding stages of the world.

Likewise, various audiences have applauded the intensely national art genre of this prestigious dance company, whose artistic and general director and principal choreographer is Manolo Micler.

Folklore advisor and scriptwriter, winner of the National Dance Award, National Research Award, poet and writer and founder Dr Rogelio Mart?nez Fure stated: “The Cuban National Folkloric Dance Ensemble is a river of always-renewed water, faithful to its ancient roots, but at the same time receptive to the frenzy of life.

“The goal of the Cuban National Folkloric Dance Ensemble will not be limited to performance only, but it will also include research carried out in all parts of Cuba, revitalising and bringing back old genres. They mix the traditional with the new trends created by the people, they delve into the past and synthesise the present.” When compared, the fledging Success Pan Sounds’ involvement in competitions date back just 30 years to 1987, a mere four years after the school was established on the hills of Laventille can boast of achievements which include first place in the Steelband Music Festival 1987 and international cultural visits in 1988, 1991 and 1992 to Toronto Canada; to Aberdeen Scotland’s International Youth Festival in 1996.

The band was the first steel orchestra to participate and perform at the Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, USA in 2012 and in 2014 was selected by the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism to represent TT in the XI International Festival in Cedros, Mexico.

The dedicated school principal reflected on the trip “From Laventille to Cuba” which started with an idle thought: “Why can’t our students go there? If you think it and you dream it, it will happen,” Baksh mused.

Already through the School’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Department there had been aggressive approaches to increase the capabilities of students in computer literacy and technology to prepare them for the world of tomorrow.

Out of two projects, Pan In Education and Pan Online, there has been much success in correlating the school’s academic programmes and the arts. Baksh said: “Emanating from this fusion is the production of Legacy of Excellence, a music CD, which captures the musical journey of our student musicians who comprise the Success Stars Pan Sounds Steel Orchestra.” A band which, during the past three decades, has grown to comprise two orchestras, a smaller stage performance orchestra and a larger competitive orchestra and earning a reputation for excellence nationally.