#ballet – Travel With A Purpose

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.

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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

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Liza Miller, Managing Director

estuary PR Limited

p: +1 (868) 367-5295

e: liza@estuaryPR.com

Heather Henderson-Gordon’s La Danse Caraibe Sews A PatchWork Of Thematic Dance Motifs

Through A Diverse Presentation Of Music, Choreography And Expression Youth Are Challenged To Nurture Virtues

LDC’s budding dance luminaries beam on the Queen’s Hall stage in the closing formation of Heather Henderson-Gordon’s choreography, Stars, in the 2016 dance season, Stars. Photo courtesy MSA Studios.

November 22, 2018 – Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago… Heather Henderson-Gordon’s children’s dance school, La Danse Caraibe (LDC), will open the curtain to a pastiche of morally compelling dance compositions in its production, PatchWork. Dance enthusiasts and fans will be treated to a diverse medley of ballet, modern contemporary, tap, folk, limbo and Hip Hop choreography by Henderson-Gordon, Arlene Frank-Collis, Gregor Breedy, Makeba Gabriel, Takyha Springer, Marielle Dos Santos, Kelsey Des Vignes, Michael Mortley and Curt Alexander. Directed by Henderson-Gordon, the show runs on Saturday December 1, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday December 2, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at Queen’s Hall.

The LDC stars are captivating in Heather Henderson-Gordon’s modern contemporary piece, Colours of the Earth, for the 2016 production, Stars. Photo courtesy MSA Studios.

Makeba Gabriel is known for her show-stopping limbo choreography as seen in Akua, which was presented in 2016 for Stars. Photo courtesy MSA Studios.

As thematic motifs in the PatchWork, each dance piece will represent an interpretation of virtues which are lacking in our society. LDC will call its audiences to introspection as it intricately weaves each patch inspiring reflection on humility, patience, respect, honesty, caring, compassion, sympathy, empathy, love, altruism, diligence, productivity and tolerance. In its upcoming dance season, LDC aims to make a connection in the minds of young people through its choreography, music and expression establishing a sound ethical foundation to guide the moral compass of our nation’s youth. Highlights of the show will include a performance by some of the school’s alumni in Frank-Collis’s choreographic piece, Having Faith, and a guest performance by Springer’s Super Saturdays Hip Hop crew who recently competed in the 2018 World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Phoenix, Arizona.

Best Village’s multiple-award winning folk choreographer, Gregor Breedy, lends his signature folk dynamism to the 2016 LDC production, Stars, with the stirring work, Processional Rotation. Photo courtesy MSA Studios.

LDC opened its doors in September 1986 to offer dance training to children from age three (3) in the ballet technique of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and the modern techniques of Martha Graham and Lester Horton. The small school was founded by renowned choreographer and dancer, Henderson-Gordon, after her return home from scholarships with the distinguished dance and performing arts schools, the Martha Graham School, The Ailey School and The Juilliard School. Armed with a deep passion to contribute to Trinidad and Tobago’s cultural landscape, LDC was born out of Henderson-Gordon’s vision to inspire young dancers to pursue their passion while instilling the ethos of discipline, dedication and perseverance. Developing well-rounded dancers, the school celebrates diversity embracing all body types and abilities as it encourages its students to train in a minimum of three (3) dance genres including RAD ballet and Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing’s (ISTD’s) modern contemporary and tap techniques. In 1991, LDC became the first school in Port of Spain to offer formal training in Hip Hop dancing. Subsequently, in 2006, LDC’s founder complimented its classical and urban dance instruction with training in the indigenous dance forms of folk and limbo.

In the 2016 LDC presentation, Stars, Heather Henderson-Gordon takes a colourful and unconventional approach in this ballet choreography entitled Fire In Yah Wire. Photo courtesy MSA Studios.

Guest performers in the 2016 LDC presentation, Stars, defy gravity in Hip Hop choreography by Matthew ‘UGK_Matt’ McClean. Photo courtesy MSA Studios.

Part of the proceeds from PatchWork will benefit LDC’s scholarship programme that offers dance tuition to youth from marginalised communities. The production will also raise funds to facilitate renovations, upgrades and on-going maintenance to the LDC dance studio, which is an affordable and easily accessible performance and rehearsal space that is actively utilised by members of our nation’s performing arts communities. Tickets cost $130 and are available at the Queen’s Hall box office and from the school. For more information, join the PatchWork Facebook (FB) event page at bit.ly/LDC2018PatchWork and connect with LDC on FB, Twitter and Instagram @LaDanseCaraibe or call (868) 620-9677.

Renowned dance teacher and choreographer, Heather Henderson-Gordon, demonstrates for her young dancers in studio as they prepare for LDC’s 2018 dance season, PatchWork. Photo courtesy Elise Romany.

Under the guidance of dance teacher and choreographer, Arlene Frank-Collis, LDC’s senior modern contemporary dancers train diligently in preparation to shine in the 2018 dance production, PatchWork. Photo courtesy Elise Romany.

WHAT: PatchWork

WHO: La Danse Caraibe

WHEN: Saturday December 1, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.

Sunday December 2, 2018 at 5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Queen’s Hall

TICKETS: $130.00

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

La Danse Caraibe – (868) 620-9677

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Liza Miller, Managing Director

estuary PR Limited

p: (868) 367-5295

e: liza@estuaryPR.com