Weeks after giving birth…31-year-old mom storms into ‘Feel The Beat’ finals

May 13, 2012 News

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By Leonard Gildarie

Growing up, I loved reading. I even left my school work so I could read. There were

the Hardy Boys, Enid Blyton, Nancy Drew…yes, Nancy Drew. It was that bad. I devoured everything and even had my parents warning me of “hell to pay” on occasions when they saw one or two bad grades. I dreaded those lectures.
I wish today’s generation could have felt the joy of being transported into that other world of make-believe.
Years later now, I think there is a better understanding and tolerance of the idea that paperback novels and comics have indeed become collectors’ items.  E-books are now becoming a popular thing that can be read on a piece of equipment called Kindle. The generations to come would not be able to experience the smell of books.
I loved stories about human beings and their struggles to rise to the top. There are lessons to be learnt here…nothing comes easy. Even now, although the time is not much there for reading novels, I still would, as part of the job of a journalist, have to daily browse the news. Stories of Mark Zuckerberg and how he founded Facebook and Bill Gates and Steve Jobs with their battles to the top computer world would top my list of some of the grittiest people that I admire.
Being a leader or wanting to be on top of the game calls for guts, determination, discipline and luck.
There have been a number of success stories in Guyana that I like. Dr. Yesu Persaud is one of them. From a little village called Grove on the East Bank of Demerara, Dr. Persaud has risen to the become one of the most influential persons in Guyana and the region, bringing fame to the country with his award-winning rums from DDL, and his founding of banks, business organizations and a whole host of things. He is now pushing past 80 and still finds time to host a TV programme and run a multi-billion-dollar business.
Yesu is a gritty man. So is Patricia Bookie. I liked her story too.
Bookie is a 31-year-old mom of four and a finalist in local reality dance show, ‘Feel The Beat’. While still not wildly popular like GT&T’s Jingle and Song competition, the show has been holding its own.
Bookie, who works in the Marketing Department of the flour company, NAMILCO, has not only beat out 200 fellow Guyanese who have auditioned to make it to the finals, she is the oldest competitor and is competing against one of her students.
Bookie is part of the Crystalite Dance Company which is based in East Ruimveldt. But that is not the story.
The mother of four on December 31st gave birth to a bouncing baby girl. Amazingly, a mere four or five weeks later, she was auditioning for one of her toughest challenges yet. She has shed several pounds and is at her fittest.
In the run-up to the finals which are scheduled to be held on May 20th, Bookie has been racking up the highest number of text votes on a number of occasions.

Not bad for a mother of four who is competing against mainly teens and may have a very realistic shot at the $1M top prize.
I managed to catch up with Patricia earlier last week.
Her life has been centred on dancing for years now. Her husband, Carey Bookie, is the dance instructor of Crystalite.
“I saw this competition as a means to ‘recover’ from my pregnancy. My husband, Carey, has been very supportive…as a matter of fact, he encouraged me to apply to the show.”
The show has been one of sacrifice for the Bookie family.
“My husband has been helpful. He cooks and helps to look at the kids.”
Lately, the practice has been a gruelling five to six hours a day at Theatre Guild and elsewhere.
“I have been allowed leave from NAMILCO so I can prepare for the show,” an appreciative Patricia disclosed.
Her climb to the finals has been helped with a little experience. Bookie is a two-time winner of the National Interpretative Dance Competition
Her little baby, just over four months old is still breast-feeding. The dancer has to ensure she is fed, then race off to rehearsals.
Then there is the campaign to have friends and supporters to text in their votes in her favour.
“Fortunately, I have some from the marketing field who are helping. And my friends and family are very supportive.”
For Patricia, the competition has awakened her even more.
“You know, I must say thank you to GT&T, HJTV and the rest of the coordinators for making this show happen. We have many dancers who have a very real opportunity of showcasing their talents…opportunities that are not usually afforded to them. It can only benefit the dancers in Guyana.”
Patricia’s recent eye-popping performance during a dancehall routine during the competition was also a highpoint in the show. However, while the challenges to the finals have been tough, the hardest is still to come for the energetic mom at the finals later this month where it will be proved whether it was all worth it.

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