A Trinity Dance Theater performance to highlight sex trafficking

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4 hours ago

Trinity Dance Theater's 2024 dance season will present a piece that highlights the troubling issues of human trafficking and gender-based violence.

Artistic director Allan Balfour said the concept for the play came from his work with victims of human trafficking.

“About eight years ago there was a wave of girls being kidnapped in Trinidad, and one of them was close to someone I knew, and so it became a reality. You would see on television people being taken and sex trafficked overseas, in another country, and you would think that would be something very far away, but then to see it happen here, it really brought it back. reality at home.

“When we had the influx of Venezuelans, many of them were victims of sex trafficking in Trinidad, and we had to follow up on some of them. I watched some of them grow up, I was like a father figure to some of them and this reality of 14 year olds being trafficked and pregnant really had an impact on me.”

He said that many times people don't see this as their problem because they think it only applies to immigrants.

“I find that it is a social evil that we have in the country and which is not very highlighted. This is certainly our problem too, because our girls can be trafficked outside, just like people are trafficked in Trinidad. This means that the local population supports this industry, so it's a big deal from that point of view as well. Because of that connection with girls and all that, I really felt like I wanted to do something to raise awareness about this social ill.

Balfour said a portion of the show's profits will be donated to an agency that helps combat human trafficking.

“Our sponsor is Senator Donna Cox, Minister of Social Development and Family Services, and part of the ministry's mission is to follow up on victims. Our other partner is the Anti-Trafficking Unit, and they are the ones who deal with a very important chain of human trafficking, namely the rescue of victims and the prosecution of perpetrators. They will tell us where victim care and profits will go.

Balfour said the overall theme of the show was Alpha, as the pieces looked at the beginnings of different things.

“It's the first time we've done a full season in a long time, the company has never toured before, they're playing with how many different things are left first, basically. So that’s one of the main themes of the show.

Balfour said one of the first things that would be played with was the inclusion of spoken word and vocal work.

“I'm more of a Christian, so we're going to play with the will first, and it will also feature two other artists, First Citizens National Poetry Slam finalist Renaldo Mohammed and famous singer Margaret Alexis.

“The play explores how in life we ​​are taught to try to be first in everything, in exams, in your job, in sports, which is great, it makes us progress individually and together as a community, but sometimes to be the first. , you have to put yourself last, and in one of the biblical principles it says to put God first and put yourself last, then he will promote you and put you first.

“So it kind of plays out from that perspective: sometimes you have to be humble, sometimes you have to put your brother in front of you at certain times, not just be first and crush everyone, that's what who enters this rat race fashion But relax, be humble and put God first and he will move you forward, so it plays into that notion of first.

He said proceeds would also be used to support promising young dancers from marginalized areas or circumstances, by sponsoring performance participation and participation in a technical workshop.

“We hope that individuals or sponsors will pay for tickets for these marginalized young people. By paying them, they could come and see the show and would also participate in a workshop where they would be taught dance techniques and how to progress, that sort of thing.

“We're trying to play a role in bringing those who are inclined to broaden their perspectives and progress in dance, from small groups, we want to give that to them so that it's like a boost for them.

“A lot of my peers who have been on the international stage have just had to come out of a group that was like a Best Village and be exposed to another dance culture that might be on another level, like at Queen's Hall or something like that. , and that inspired them and they had the natural talent, so they trained, trained, trained and dominated at international level now.

“Sometimes people just need exposure and guidance and we hope to provide that through this youth empowerment workshop.” Once we get the sponsorship, it should take place a week after the show.

Balfour said Trinity Dance Theater's mandate was not only to entertain but also to help people.

“We try to represent something in our works that will make a statement, so it could be a social issue or a principle. I use the principles of the Bible a lot, because of my Christian background, my unity, my unity, that kind of thing. So I think it's important to not only entertain, but to really share something that people can learn from and be inspired by, and it can reach out to the community in a way that we can move something forward so that we can grow as a community.

He said there would be 15 dancers, Alexis and Mohammed, as well as others.

“We have four drummers, led by Everald “Redman” Watson. He is one of the best drummers and we have worked with him for many years. We also have our rehearsal director, one of the best choreographers, Terry Springer.

“We have the Cascade Festival Ballet as guest artists. One of the dances will be on pointe, it will incorporate the pointe work of the girls of Cascade Festival Ballet. This is a piece I did many years ago with the Puerto Rico National Ballet Company, so me revising it here as a piece that fuses Caribbean culture with pointe work will be very interesting.

Balfour said there were different dance styles in different rooms.

” There will be something for everyone. I want to encourage people to broaden their horizons. If they haven't tried the dance shows, this one has a very unique message and comes with an edge, so I think they will totally enjoy the show and come see the cream of the crop.

Alpha will take place at Queen's Hall, St Ann's, on June 8-9. For more information, visit Trinity Dance Theater on Facebook.

Those interested in donating can call Balfour at 1 (868) 744-2380 or drop off at Trinity Artiste Management and Consulting Ltd, RBC #100094110142527 (check).