One couple’s love for dance blossoms into thriving dance school

Apr 20, 2025 Features / Columnists, News, Waterfalls Magazine

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By Francwa Fortune

Kaieteur News- After 19 years sharing love for each other as well as a deep passion for dance, a couple in 2006 launched the Kreative Arts Dance School.

Chief Director of the organization, Carlyle ‘Jonathan’ Hamer and his wife, Esther Hamer, in an interview with The Waterfalls shared the fascinating journey of how their love for dance blossomed into a thriving school of dance.

Jonathan shared that the school first began in 2006 with him and two other individuals, during that period, their focus was on developing a business plan and other aspects that will make it successful. The then dance group was housed at the Ministry of Housing canteen area and their first performance called ‘Prelude to the arrival’ had eight performers.

In 2011, the group was officially re-launched under the same name, which was chosen because the group not only focuses on dance but also on drama and music.

“The initial plan of the group is for it to be a performing arts group focusing on dance, drama and music as well as it being a peer education group focusing on social issues and highlighting them through performance,” said the director.

The inspiration for the re-launch stemmed from a lack of growth in dance and the need to bridge generational gaps in Guyanese cultural as well as helping to instill discipline in the new generation. The couple shared that by allowing the younger generation to learn about their cultural history, they will build confidence.

“I tend to tell dancers that I come in contact with, that if you measure the dancers in Guyana against the dancers of the rest of the world– the first world– we are mere fossils. Reason being, people here in Guyana view the performing arts as a hobby just a pastime so they don’t take it as serious,” Jonathan said.

He added that “The re-launch was an opportunity to impact youths allowing them to learn more about their hidden talents, skills that we could give to them; the technique and discipline, mainly discipline, because our younger generation has a discipline problem. So, if you have to come for a specific time, perform specific way, it helps build character and mold you into a beautiful adult and individual.”

The school has four different dance groups, from debutante to the adult class.

Meanwhile Mrs. Hamer explained that the debutante dance one group is for children from ages two to nine, debutante two group is for children ages 10 to 13 and debutante three is for students 13 to 23, and there are adults who are older than 20. However, depending on the students’ performance that would determine which group they would be a part.

“So sometimes you might see a child looking small performing with the older ones, that’s because of that child’s skills. It doesn’t make sense that you hold a child in a class that is beyond their skill set… So sometimes we put them over, not just based on their age, but their level of performance,” Esther said.

She told The Waterfalls that debutante three is the performing arm of Kreative Arts, since they have fewer responsibilities and their bodies are young allowing them to do more physical activities when compared to the older students.

“The 13 to 23 group usually represents Kreative Arts, because if you know anything about dancers after that age, you usually start declining as in your skill set, and what you’re able to do with your body due to age. Also because of the responsibilities at home,” the co-director shared.

She added that the dance group also caters for the older and well-aged adults who would attend classes to learn to dance or would use it as an opportunity to be active. She also highlighted that their oldest student is the director’s mother who is 78 years old.

 

GREEN AND GOLD PRODUCTION

The Green and Gold production is an annual theme-based show that is hosted by the Kreative Arts Dance School in October. It allows the students to showcase their various talents and skills that they would have learnt throughout the year.

The name Green and Gold represent the two different categories of dancers. Green represents the younger students, and the Gold are the older students.

Over the years, the school hosted a total of six shows beginning with Greens and Gold one which was in 2017, the second production was in 2018 called ‘Sons of Plantation Rome’. The first part was a musical performance based on local music producer Bunny Alves’ life and the second half was about Guyanese music culture and talent. The third production was held in 2019 and was called ‘Watch We Now’. However due to COVID, there was a two-year break.

The fourth production resumed in 2022 and was called ‘In We Feelings’. Greens and Golds five was called ‘World Dance Tour’ and was held in 2023. This first half was a musical on Anansi and the second half was a collective of various dances from different countries. Greens and Golds six was called ‘Blockbuster’ and was in the year 2024. The first half of the production was based on a movie, and the second half was an ode to choreographies from movies.

The couple shared that as the group celebrates its seventh year, the production will be one that will give praise and thanks to God.

“You can expect blessings and more blessings,” the couple said.

While having the dance school and producing an annual production, the couple was faced with several challenges like not having enough money, a small amount of support and sponsorship, a large turnover of dancers, people lacking appreciation and respect for entertainers amongst other. However, they did not let that affect them from pursuing what they love.

“It’s always been an uphill battle when it comes to certain aspect of support. You have to push through in order to come up wait a successful production,” Esther said.

The couple would overcome their challenges by sensitizing the audience and parents about the challenges they are faced with as well as what is expected of them.

Meanwhile, Jonathan gives thanks to the small group of people who always support the group and help to create opportunities.

“With help and support from friends and family, the group has gained a wealth of supporters. Thanks to one of our main sponsors Republic Bank, Dawn Brathwaite, the National Drama Company, Al Creighton, Margaret Lawrence, Ayanna Waddle, Paloma Mohamed, Signal Studios, and the parents and dancers of Kreative Arts.”

LONG-TERM GOAL 

The Hamers told this publication that one of their long-term goals is to work with other creative minds to create a national dance and costume showcase which will represent Guyanese culture with an annual production.

“One thing we would like to see happen in our lifetime is our dance form being uniquely identify as kind of Guyanese; with the help of others, we would love to have a national dance and national costume that is uniquely Guyanese; additionally, if it could be endorsed by the government of today would be a plus,” the couple said.

They also highlighted that within dance groups, you can identify people with different levels of interest and different levels of skill.

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