The floor shone. The soft light radiating from the chandelier added to the feel of romance, joy and excitement. The open ballroom conjured images of stilettos, and hands and feet moving rapidly in unison.Mary Chen's face lit up as she talked about the art of ballroom dancing. For Chen, there are many benefits: not only is it healthy but she firmly believes it can assist in curbing the escalating crime rate.According to a WebMD feature article, "Dance is a weight-bearing activity, which builds bones. It's also wonderful for your upper body and strength...Would-be dancers should consult their doctors first, especially if they have any health problems," it said, quoting exercise physiologist Catherine Cram, MS, of Comprehensive Fitness Consulting in Middleton, Wisconsin.
Tucked away next to Kam Po Restaurant (also owned by Chen and partner, Michael Chen), the ballroom lies near to many of its clients: Chen and her partner train 500 students, who attend classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Chen trains the students in Latin dance and proudly said she was responsible for adding the Dominican Republic-inspired bachata to the dance repertoire.Is the art of ballroom dance dying? Chen said there was definitely an increase in the Latin ballroom dance; she could not speak directly to the foxtrot, waltz or other traditional dance froms.In parties thrown at the restaurant, Chen said that often about 200 to 300 new faces show up at the parties, which, she said, suggests "the art form is growing." She attributed the growth of Latin dance to popular TV shows such as So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With The Stars, among others.
Shortage of male partners
Respondents, mainly female, said that while many enjoyed dancing and did not feel that it was solely the domain of older people, more could be done to revamp the art form.Jermelia Young said, "I don't think it's a dying art, I think it's revolutionising. Some are trying to revamp what people assume it to be, to change their perception of it. I enjoy it, so I relate to it. It moves me and makes me feel alive and grateful that I could dance."One respondent believed it should be introduced into schools. "Yes, I do believe that ballroom and Latin dance is a dying art in Trinidad, at least. I am under 35, but I do not think this form of dance is exclusive to my parents alone because I really enjoy ballroom and Latin dance more than any other form of dance. I have danced and followed up on dance for approximately five years and have noticed, unfortunately, that mostly older people are involved.
I would really like to see ballroom and Latin dance being introduced as an extra-curricular activity in schools nationwide, because it is an excellent form of exercise as well as great for social interaction.The most disappointing thing, for me, is the lack of interest in dance among men ... the best way to solve that problem is if everyone who attends a dance class brings their significant other along with them."Another respondent, Paula Lindo, agreed with this: she said while she enjoyed ballroom dancing, a major problem was the lack of male partners in the class.
Dance as youth therapy
Chen, however, disagreed with the notion that males don't learn ballroom dance, because she said she saw the male dance population growing. Chen, however, felt that there could be higher purpose to the art of dance.She said, "Dance can save a lot of that younger generation. A lot of the younger ones are turning to crime."Chen said she would have hated to see what her 21-year-old daughter would have become in life, if it had not been for dance.Dance, she said, instills discipline and develops good practice, such as being aware of one's hygiene.
Salsa competition in T&T
Chen said she hopes to inspire the growth of Latin-inspired dance in T&T through her weekend of workshops and competitions from May 29 to June 1. The series of workshops and competitions will feature dance genres such as salsa, cha cha cha, bachata, Latin hustle, hip hop and kizomba.The event, she said, would also feature an open salsa competition judged by international judges such as Nelson Flores and Veronica Castilla, Marchant and Davina Birth, Tito Ortos and Tamara Livosli, Uriel Garcia and Vera Rowe and David Ayala and Pauline Dagio. Groups from St Vincent, St Lucia, Barbados and Grenada are also expected to attend, said Chen.The event, in its sixth year, is also expected to see international judges and performers at Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre, St Ann's, Port-of-Spain.