“Trinidad saved me. I will be forever grateful, and that’s the truth.”
Those were the words on Brice D. Vick’s mind as he wrapped up teaching a three-hour masterclass at Xtreme Dance Academy (XDA) in St James last Friday.
The Queens, New York native—Ashanti’s longtime friend, choreographer and creative director—was in Trinidad with her and Ja Rule for the R&B Brunch concert the following day.
Brice had grown despondent with an industry where people no longer showed the same hunger for the art form. The sheer passion of the dancers that evening completely turned things around for him.
Looking back a few days later, he was still emotional about the experience during an interview with Guardian Media.
“I went there empty, and I left full,” he said. “You guys filled me up and brought back my momentum. They showed me that choreography is still needed and respected. I came to give them a lesson, but they don’t know that they are the ones who gave me a lesson. It brought my swag back. Trinidad, you changed my life. Honestly, that was dance food.”
Brice noted that dance in the US has become heavily commercialised and transactional. People often show up only to record a clip for social media and leave. In contrast, the crowd at XDA did not do it for the cameras; they moved to truly feel something. It reminded him exactly why he first fell in love with dance at 14 years old.
The workshop, organised in just one week, sold out with about 80 participants across all ages and levels.
XDA founder Hamid Rahman told Guardian Media the impact on the community was undeniable.
“It was an amazing experience for my students,” he said, adding, “They soaked in every moment. It’s always a blessing to have dancers and choreographers at a high international level come and share what they know and give advice.”
Brice, known as a “movement architect”, taught his signature fusion style, blending modern, jazz and ballet with African movements and traditional hip-hop.
“What really made me happy was the level of maturity and how they attacked it like they had been doing it forever,” he said.
The session created real transparency. Brice opened up to the room about his personal struggles with ADHD. Since the class, his Instagram DMs have been flooded with thank-you notes from students, and those who “felt seen” relayed their own challenges.
Others spoke about dreams of turning professional despite mothers who did not understand their passion.
Touched by the connection with one particular participant, Brice felt compelled to share his personal phone number.
“I said, ‘Call me night or day. If you call and don’t get me, I will call back, I promise you that. Call me when you’re low, call even when you’re high, because sometimes you just want someone to say good job.’”
Classically trained in ballet and modern dance at the Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Centre in Queens, Brice sharpened his craft with the legendary Martha Graham Dance Company. He later received the Coca-Cola Award for Artistic Excellence.
With 23 years in the industry, he has worked with the likes of Beyoncé, Chris Brown, 50 Cent and Fat Joe, and maintains a deep bond with Ashanti.
“Before Murder Inc., before Nelly, it was me and her. We’re family. We have our highs and lows, but the love will be there forever and a day.”
This was Brice’s second visit to Trinidad and Tobago. His first was in 2015 for Ashanti’s performance at the Great Wet Fete weekend in Tobago. She covered Machel Montano’s “Like Ah Boss”, which led to their collaboration, “The Road”. There, he got his first taste of island life and vividly recalled the Nylon Pool and “going on a yacht”.
This time, he stayed at The BRIX, Autograph Collection and threw himself fully into Trini culture. Unsurprisingly, he raved about the cuisine — the local fruit salads with dragon fruit and the massive chicken roti that took him two sittings to finish.
“There was so much to choose from,” he said. “I had jerk chicken, macaroni salad, and potato salad — and when I tell you it was the best food that I’ve had. Back in Queens, they charge $15 for a roti and it’s so small—nothing compared to the ones here.”
He did not get to taste doubles—it was too early—and also missed out on Maracas Beach and bake and shark because time ran out.
As for the drinks, he joked that trying puncheon was “out of control” and said he also enjoyed Rude Boy.
“The music is good, the women look great,” he laughed. “Everyone has this beautiful glow to themselves, just beautiful skin. Machel’s wife, who also has this glow, gave me raw cocoa butter and I bought local items at the mall. I’ve been to so many places, but I must say Trinidad is one of my top three countries in the world. I will definitely be back, either for work or a vacation. I love Trinidad.”
The trip also inspired his latest tattoo: a heart with a question mark inked directly on his face. He gets one in every country he visits.
“I don’t usually explain the meaning behind my tattoos, but I will tell you,” Brice disclosed when asked what it signifies. “The world is in such turmoil and I am heartbroken for the future generation. I want to get everyone to understand empathy and forgiveness and respect, and to try to have love again... I just don’t know what this world is about anymore. My heart is broken from this world. It’s so sad. The question mark means: Can we fix this broken heart?”
