There are surprises at every corner when a new semester begins at the University of Tampa. This semester, there is its first ever Caribbean Dance Troupe. While Latin America is known for the tango and salsa, the Caribbean is also home to a rich tradition of dance from ballroom and ballet to steps created for dancing in the streets.
These dances have their ancestry in both African and European cultures, producing a unique form of expression and cultural identity. Each island has its own specific rhythms, but the outcome is the same: dance. Folkloric, a popular dance to perform, educates and entertains travelers with traditional dances from the islands, including the Jamaican jonkonnu dance. UT is known for its diverse students. According to UT’s website, around 1,300 international students come from all over the world to get their education here. This includes many students from Caribbean islands since they are so close to Florida.
Auditions for the dance troupe were held at 3 p.m. this past Sunday in the Cass Gymnasium.
“I’m not too nervous,” said Westhaline Charles, a freshman from Haiti. “I don’t have a problem picking up routines quickly. It’s part of my culture, so I see this type of dance everywhere I go.” In middle school and high school she was part of a dance team.
“I thought, ‘why not try it here?’” Charles said. “If I make the team, I’m mostly excited for the shows. All the work you put in at practice will finally pay off for everyone to see.” Charles and some other girls followed along to a short dance routine. Their intensity showed as they learned the dance.
“The idea about having this dance troupe came up in a conversation between me and my co-chair, Regine Bazil,” said De’Quan Browne-Schmidt, a freshman from St. Thomas. “We were talking about having marching band dancers for the marching band at UT. We then found out that the university did not have a marching band.” He helped start the troupe.
“I figured since there was a Spanish Dance Team and an African Dance Team, why not bring the Caribbean spice to UT as well?” said Browne-Schmidt. He is currently the State President of the Virgin Islands Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), so he has a passion for spreading Caribbean culture.
Although Caribbean dance can be a mixture of many styles, there is a hint of African influence to the troupe’s style. They will be performing to calypso, soca, reggae and dancehall music genres, all of which originate from the Caribbean and West Indies. They will also be using a lot of feather and beading with their costumes.
“They basically look like Las Vegas showgirls with the extravagant headpieces and shimmery costumes,” Browne-Schmidt said. “The troupe’s uniform costume would consist of the colors of UT: black, yellow, red and white. We will try to be a part of the Spring Dance Happening. One performance I know about is at the 2013 Miss Phi Beta Sigma Pageant to be held in March of this year.”
They are planning to hold another audition for those who couldn’t make it to Sunday’s audition due to conflicting events like the Super Bowl.
“I am looking forward to spreading the Caribbean and West Indian culture to the students of UT and possibly to the state of Florida,” said Browne-Schmidt. “We may actually have our very own Carnival parade here at UT. It’s an idea that I’m very excited about. I’m also looking forward to seeing how intrigued people will look when they see the uniqueness of this organization.”
Madison Irwin can be reached at xoxomaddie2@aim.com