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Doris Harper-Wills

Jul 12, 2009 Features / Columnists, Guyanese Literature

By Petamber Persaud

Performance poet, writer, dancer, dramatic, choreographer, Doris Harper was born in 1931 in the village of Agricola, British Guiana. She was educated at Agricola Methodist School, Trinity Methodist School and Bishops’ High School. In England, she attended Rose Bruford School of Speech and Drama (Sidcup, Kent) Avery Hill College of Education (Bexley) and Laban Art of Movement Studios where she studied English, Drama and Educational Dance.

She was married to the Guiana Scholar and brilliant son of the soil, Fred Wills, a union that produced four gifted children.
Of course, her life’s work started in Guyana where when employed as a language teacher, she introduced her innovative teaching strategies – dramatising French and English in schools of the country. Her innovative teaching skills found favour with the students at the University of Zambia. In New York, her contribution culminated in International Women’s Year Award. Back in London, the Education Centre of the Commonwealth Institute ‘snapped her up’ as a resident teacher, giving her responsibility for Caribbean and Commonwealth programmes.

In 2005, Doris Harper-Wills was honoured with the Wordsworth McAndrew Lifetime Achievement Award by the Guyana Cultural Association recognising her pioneering role in interpretive dance in Guyana.
Her other commendations include the Ambassador For Peace, London, (2004), the Top Teller Prize awarded to her by the Yukon Arts Council (1997), the International Women’s Year Award for her contribution to civic life in New York (1974), the National History and Arts Council first prize for short story, Guyana, (1967), Commonwealth Bursary Award (1967), the First Prize at the Festival of Spoken English held at Avery Hill College (1968) and the National History and Arts Council first prize for poetry, Guyana, (1963).

Wherever in the world she performed, her contributions were acknowledged in one way or another; Harper-Wills’ world stage included stops at venues like Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Lincoln Center, the Harlem Dance Theater, Billie Holiday Theater, New York Correctional Facility, Farnham Castle, Nottingham Museum and in places like New York, Canada, London, Zimbabwe.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: [email protected]

What’s happening:
• The Guyana Annual magazine is inviting entries to its eight literary competitions and to its art and photography competitions.
• Be a part of the centenary celebrations of the National Library; see press for details.
• Poetry workshop during July for emerging writers; for further information, contact me at above telephone number/email address.

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