&5678 Dance Studio Premieres Cosmic Dance Journey ‘Outta This World’

Posted on by admin

For Immediate Release

 

&5678 Dance Studio Premieres Cosmic Dance Journey ‘Outta This World’

An Interstellar Odyssey of Self-Discovery and Unity Awaits at Naparima Bowl this December

A moment of mesmerising folklore: Zara Adams embodies the eerie legend in Penelope Kalloo’s haunting choreography, Soucouyant, performed in &5678 Dance Studio’s 2019 production, A Day in the Village. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of &5678 Dance Studio.

December 3, 2025 – San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago… &5678 Dance Studio invites audiences on a breathtaking journey from the mundane to the magnificent with its 2025 production, Outta This World. This original dance spectacle will transform the stage of the Naparima Bowl into a vibrant cosmos, exploring profound themes of curiosity, struggle and the divine light within us all. The production runs for three nights starting on Friday, December 12, at 7:30 p.m., and continuing on Saturday, December 13, at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 14, at 6:00 p.m.

From front to back – Alyssa Balgobin, Jordann Ifill and Sanjana Ramnath are a delight in this 2019 flashback to Afiya Babb’s Villagers from A Day in the Village. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of &5678 Dance Studio.

A vibrant moment of celebration and community from &5678 Dance Studio’s archives. Dancers bring Afiya Babb’s energetic folk presentation, Villagers, to life in the 2019 presentation, A Day in the Village. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of &5678 Dance Studio.

The story launches from a place of everyday monotony, where a group of explorers yearns for something more. Guided by a mysterious and powerful figure known as The Enigma, they are propelled on an extraordinary voyage into the deepest reaches of the universe. This immersive journey will see them traverse stunning celestial landscapes, from the dreamlike birthplaces of stars to the majestic realms of distant planets, each embodying powerful forces of the human experience.

The expressive Pripriyeh Warriors captivate in Charlene Harris’s modern piece, part of the dance studio’s 2019 repertoire for A Day in the Village. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of &5678 Dance Studio.

But the path to enlightenment is paved with challenges. As the explorers venture further into the unknown, they must confront the vast, haunting shadows of space and their own inner doubts. It is a transformative tale of despair and hope, darkness and light, ultimately leading to a profound revelation about their own place in the cosmos.

Clockwise from left to right – The audience is drawn in as Alyssa Balgobin, Saskia Scott and Victoria Keane are captured in a moment of suspended embrace during Megan Tannous’s contemporary piece, Lost Souls, from &5678 Dance Studio’s 2019 production, A Day in the Village. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of &5678 Dance Studio.

“‘Outta This World’ is more than a dance show; it’s a spiritual and visual experience,” said Charlene Harris, Founder and Artistic Director of &5678 Dance Studio. “We are using the universal language of movement to tell a story that we believe resonates deeply with the human spirit – the search for meaning, the confrontation with doubt and the ultimate, beautiful realisation that we are all connected, we are all loved, and we are all, in our own way, outta this world.”

Alyssa Balgobin is captured in a poignant moment of release in Megan Tannous’s Lost Souls from &5678 Dance Studio’s 2019 repertoire, A Day in the Village. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of &5678 Dance Studio.

Through a powerful fusion of ballet, contemporary, modern, Afro-Caribbean and Hip-Hop dance styles, the production promises to be a feast for the senses. Elaborate costumes, innovative lighting and a sweeping musical score will engulf the audience in this cosmic parable.

From left to right – Lara Adams and Jade Fuentes embody emotion in the contemporary movement of Lost Souls by Megan Tannous during the dance studio’s 2019 presentation, A Day in the Village. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of &5678 Dance Studio.

Tickets for Outta This World are $200 and available for purchase at the dance school, located at Level 2, Carlton Court, Carlton Centre, St. James Street, San Fernando. For more information, call (868) 464-5678, email 5678dancestudiott@gmail.com, or connect with the studio via its website at www.5678dancestudiott.com, and on Instagram and Facebook @5678dancestudiott.

A moment of airborne triumph: This breathtaking lift captures the energy and expectation of Aviance Samuel’s contemporary choreography, Fairy Maids, from &5678 Dance Studio’s 2019 production, A Day in the Village. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of &5678 Dance Studio.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About &5678 Dance Studio:

Founded by Charlene Harris, &5678 Dance Studio has been a cornerstone of dance education and artistic expression in San Fernando for over a decade. The studio is dedicated to nurturing technical proficiency, artistic creativity and personal growth in dancers of all ages and levels. Under Harris’s leadership, a team of dedicated, accomplished and certified instructors provides expert training with a focus on the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) syllabus in a wide range of disciplines, including ballet, contemporary, modern, Limón, Horton, folk and Hip-Hop. The studio’s philosophy centres on building confidence, discipline and a lifelong love for the art of dance, fostering a supportive community where every student can find their rhythm and shine.

A moment of lunar magic: Dancer, Sherelle Ishmael, leaves a lasting impression of awe and wonder in Nathalia Molina-Springer’s Limón piece, Full Moon, from the dance studio’s 2019 repertoire, A Day in the Village. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of &5678 Dance Studio.

 

WHAT:          Outta This World
WHO:            &5678 Dance Studio
WHEN:         Friday, December 12, at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 13, at 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 14, at 6:00 p.m.

WHERE:      Naparima Bowl, San Fernando
TICKETS:     $200.00

Available at &5678 Dance Studio, Level 2, Carlton Court, Carlton Centre,

St. James Street, San Fernando

INFO:            (868) 464-5678 | 5678dancestudiott@gmail.com | www.5678dancestudiott.com | @5678dancestudiott on Instagram & Facebook

 

-30-

 

 

For media inquiries, please contact:

 

Liza Miller, Managing Director

estuary PR Limited

p: +1 (868) 367-5295

e: liza@estuaryPR.com

ACES Dance Academy Brings Mental Health to Centre Stage with ‘Behind The Smile’    

Posted on by admin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ACES Dance Academy Brings Mental Health to Centre Stage with ‘Behind The Smile’

World Mental Health Day Premiere Uses Powerful Choreography to Spotlight the Urgent Challenges Facing Trinidad and Tobago’s Youth

Dance Theatre ProductionACES’s senior dancer, Samantha Johnson, is captured in a striking moment from Ripples, a piece featured in the academy’s 2023 production, You Should Be Dancing. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of ACES Dance Academy.

October 5, 2025 – Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago… ACES Dance Academy (ACES) will lift the curtain on a pastiche of thought-provoking compositions in its 2025 dance season, Behind The Smile. Timely and relevant, the production coincides with World Mental Health Day to spotlight the pressing mental-health issues confronting Trinidad and Tobago’s young people. Directed by ACES’s co-founder, artistic director and choreographer, Akeisha Byng-Danzell, the performances run on Friday, October 10, at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 11, at 6:30 p.m. at Queen's Hall.  

From left to right: Anasofia Crouch, Samantha Johnson and Sahara Byng in a touching scene from Ripples during ACES’s 2023 dance season, You Should Be Dancing. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of ACES Dance Academy.

A 2020 Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) report underscores the urgency of Trinidad and Tobago’s growing mental-health crisis. Among children aged five to 15, conduct disorders, anxiety and headaches account for 17% of the mental health burden. By age 20, anxiety, depression and self-harm rise to 48%, with suicide representing one quarter of the burden among 20- to 35-year-olds.

Tiny troublemakers on the big stage! These Naughty Mice steal the spotlight in ACES’s 2023 dance season, You Should Be Dancing. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of ACES Dance Academy.

ACES’s Christmas Angels display poised elegance on stage during the 2023 presentation, You Should Be Dancing. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of ACES Dance Academy.

Against this backdrop, Behind The Smile debuts at a pivotal moment. Byng-Danzell and her choreographic team urge audiences to reflect by using the language of dance to raise awareness and spark national dialogue on challenges affecting youth. “I am driven to encourage young people to be kind, empathetic, compassionate and grateful. We must listen to, support and lift each other,” Byng-Danzell said. “At ACES, we strive to create a safe space where our students can express themselves, and develop resilience and coping strategies.”

With dynamic intensity, Samantha Johnson soars through Evergreen electrifying audiences in ACES’s 2023 dance production, You Should Be Dancing. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of ACES Dance Academy.

Through choreography, music and expression, ACES seeks to explore what lies “behind the smile,” addressing issues of bullying, depression and suicide, and fusing classical, indigenous and urban dance genres into modern lyrical, jazz contemporary, Hip-Hop, Indian, ballet and folk compositions. The diverse musical score features soca-fusion star Nailah Blackman and jazz trumpeter/composer Etienne Charles.

Counter clockwise from left to right: Senior dancers, Sahara Byng, Mckayla Sealey, Chloe Claxton, Kristen Low and Sian Ramsay, bring emotion and storytelling to life in ACES’s 2023 dance season, You Should Be Dancing. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of ACES Dance Academy.

At each performance, patrons will have access to free mental-health screenings provided by Serenitas Mental Health Services, along with the chance to win a voucher for three psychotherapy sessions, valued at $1,200, with clinical therapist, Donika Byng-Jeffrey, MSW, CSW. Tickets for Behind The Smile are $250 and available at the school at #3 Longden Street, Port of Spain, and at the Queen’s Hall box office. For more information, connect with ACES on Instagram and Facebook (@acesdanceacademy), email acesdanceacademy@gmail.com or call (868) 276-3422.

Niemah Caseman captivates in the powerful performance, Morena Osha, for ACES’s 2023 dance production, You Should Be Dancing. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of ACES Dance Academy.

Founded in 2014, ACES Dance Academy offers training in ballet, modern, contemporary, folk and Hip-Hop for students as young as four years old. With family and community at its core, ACES fosters resilience, discipline, confidence and self-expression in its students. Akeisha Byng-Danzell, certified as an Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) instructor, leads the faculty alongside Janeal James, Whitneyann Baptiste, Matthew McClean and Marissa Johnson, who together bring a wealth of experience and creativity to nurture well-rounded, technically proficient and artistically expressive dancers prepared for both stage and life.

The glorious choreography of the piece, Morena Osha, performed by senior dancer, Niemah Caseman, in ACE’s 2023 presentation, You Should Be Dancing. Photo courtesy Elliot Francois Fotography on behalf of ACES Dance Academy.

WHAT:       Behind The Smile

WHO:        ACES Dance Academy

WHEN:      Friday, October 10, at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 11, at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE:   Queen’s Hall, St. Anns, Port of Spain

TICKETS: General admission - $250

ACES Dance Academy, #3 Longden Street, Port of Spain -

(868) 276-3422

Queen’s Hall box office – (868) 624-1284

 

- 30 -

For media inquiries, please contact:

Liza Miller, Managing Director

estuary PR Limited

m: +1 (868) 367-5295 

e: liza@estuaryPR.com

Republic Bank Funding Delivers better Equine Therapy Access to Children in Tobago

Posted on by admin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2025

Republic Bank Funding Delivers better Equine Therapy Access to Children in Tobago

Real change is underway at Healing With Horses in Buccoo. A generous $100,000 TTD donation is helping expand the Equine Natural Therapy for Children, which provides inclusive, horse-assisted therapy to support emotional and developmental growth. This project was made possible through the generosity of Republic Bank Limited, as part of its Power to Make a Difference Programme.

The donation is helping the organization strengthen and sustain this program, including support for therapy horse care, safe facility access, and inclusive staffing.

The first $50,000 TTD disbursed has already supported:

  • Stipends for five differently-abled adults
  • Training for eight youth participants in the HWH Empowerment Program
  • Repairs to fencing, plumbing, and animal enclosures
  • Daily care for more than 30 therapy animals
  • Monthly events that invite the public into a healing, inclusive space

The second installment will support free equine therapy for frontline workers and continued improvements across the park.

“This funding creates momentum we’ve never had before,” said Veronika Danzer LaFortune, Director of Healing With Horses. “It’s helping us hire, train, heal, and rebuild—with purpose.”

Healing With Horses is a registered non-profit in Tobago that provides inclusive equine-assisted therapy and nature-based programs for differently-abled individuals, youth, and the wider community. The organization also offers safe haven to rescued horses and other animals in need of urgent care.

Despite the recent support, the sanctuary is operating with significant financial strain and is in urgent need of continued donations to keep up with rising costs, rescue care, and volunteer stipends.

Representatives from Republic Bank will visit the site on April 24 to see the progress firsthand.

-30-

For media inquiries, please contact:

Veronika Johanna Danzer-La Fortune
CEO / Founder

"The Love & Magic Information Center"

HEALING WITH HORSES FOUNDATION
10-14 Galla Trace Buccoo Scarborough 901131
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Office hours Monday - Saturday 8.00am  - 4.00pm
Office-001-868-639-0953
Cell - 001-868-307-3425

www.healing-with-horses.org
info@healing-with-horses.org
support@healing-with-horses.org
www.being-with-horses.com

 

The Real Secret Fashion Show

Posted on by admin

Meet the Designers

Trinidad and Tobago Restaurant Week Festival 2024

Posted on by admin

Trinidad and Tobago Restaurant Week Festival

Come for the food, stay for the flavours!

September 20th – 29th 2024

September 13, 2024 - San Fernando, Trinidad ... The Trinidad and Tobago Restaurant Week (TTRW) is a ten (10) day event that encourages both locals and visitors to join in celebrating the rich culinary diversity of our country at restaurants nationwide as they present significantly discounted menus specifically customised for TTRW.

Celebrating 12 years in 2024, TTRW has been instrumental in assisting the growth of the food industry in Trinidad and Tobago. It has always been our main objective to be THE signature culinary event on the Trinidad & Tobago calendar and we are happy to announce that this year, TTRW has been nominated as a National Festival of Trinidad & Tobago.

To see menus, a list of participating restaurants or for more information, contact us via our website or social media:

Official Website: https://www.ttrwfestival.com

Other website: https://linktr.ee/ttrwfestival

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ttrwfestival/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ttrwfestival

Threads: https://www.threads.net/ttrwfestival

X (previously Twitter): https://x.com/ttrwfestival

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttrwfestival

All social media handles: @ttrwfestival

Hashtags: #ttrw #ttrw2024 #ttrwfestival

(Photo Credit: TTRWF Website)

(Photo Credit: TTRWF Facebook)

What: Trinidad and Tobago Restaurant Week Festival (TTRWF)

Who: Shira Mohammed

When: September 20th – 29th , 2024

Where: 100 Restaurants Nationwide

Cost: $150 , $250 , $350 , $450 , $550

Discount: 30% Discount  [Click to discover]

-30-

For media inquiries, please contact:

Shira Mohammed

TTRWF Founder

p: +1 (868) – 320-7045

e:  ttrestaurantweek@gmail.com

w: https://linktr.ee/ttrwfestival