DANCE CARIBE PERFORMING COMPANY
Preserving through dance, the cultural diversity of the Caribbean
Featured from...
(Previous)
Florida
Toronto
Trinidad
Anslem Douglas
World-renowned & Soca Sensation
Earl La Pierre Jr.
Extraordinary Steel Pannist
Richard Lewis
Guest Dancer
Roger Pascall
The Frontline Drumming Company
(Trinidad & Tobago Champion)
&
Montreal
Tamla Matthews
Dancer & Choreographer
Hamilton (WEB) Alexander
(Folk and Calypso Singer)
Roger Pascall has been drumming for over 25 years in Trinidad & Tobago. Currently, Roger is the Artistic Director of Frontline School of Drums (T&T). He is also the Drumming Coordinator of the Trinidad & Tobago Drumming Association. Roger served as Drumming Coordinator of "Carifiesta IV".
During his term as Artistic Director of Le Saveur Caribe, Roger was judged "Best Drumming Coordinator" with Le Saveur being awarded the coveted title of "Drumming Champion" at the Southern Sports & Culture Foundation Competition. Roger worked for 15 years with the T&T Ministry of Sports & Culture and Creative Arts, and the T&T Ministry of Community Development. He is the Musical Director of Five-Fold Ministry.
Roger has performed in Canada in the DCPC productions of "Veni Zante" (1996), "Dance Baghai" (1998), "Ambakaila" (2000) and "Remorse in de Gayal" (2002), "Danse du Sol" (2007); as well as Theatre People's "Light the Flambeaux" production in 1997.
Roger and the Frontline Drumming Company are proud to reunite with Dance Caribe once again for their 20th Anniversary production "SAYAMANDA" (2009).
Drumming Director
The Frontline Drumming Company was established and founded by its Artistic Director Roger Pascall in Trinidad & Tobago in 1998. The Company's goals are for the development of the young and young at heart to learn and develop the skill of drumming; as well as to learn the Cultural diversity of our ancestors, who came to the Caribbean through slavery.
A new drumming era was "Folk Drumming". The main event is a yearly program called The Prime Ministers Best Village Trophy Competition. The Frontline Drumming Company has enrolled over seventy-five students to date, with ages ranging from four to sixty-five years old.
The Frontline Drumming Company achievements in the last couple years have been outstanding. In 2004 the senior drummers captured the Trinidad & Tobago South Drumming Champions and placed third in the Trinidad & Tobago National Drumming Festival of the same year. In 2005 the tables turned but it was still success for Frontline.
In recent years, the Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago Mr. Patrick Manning, give special mention to Frontline drumming student Oshun Cuthbert who, through only has one hand, shines like a gem. The company has toured and performed in every major and National Festival in Trinidad and Tobago and the lesser Caribbean Islands.
Roger Pascall and The Frontline Drumming Company are bent on striving for future excellence for the company and more for their students.
The Frontline Drumming
Company
Anslem Douglas' musical journey took root with his admiration of the folk performers, in the local community centre in his native village of La Romain, Trinidad, along with the influences of his older sister, who impressed upon him with her talents for writing and creating poetry.
Anslem's musical development began to flourish in the local Pentecostal Church singing in the choir. At the age of sixteen, he formed his own group called Exodus; this gave him his first real taste of stardom. The band became popular and they were often requested to perform at various venues around Trinidad.
However, in 1984, Anslem enlisted with the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard in Trinidad, where he served for six years. During this time he continued to sharpen his vocal skills, performing with the Coast Guard institutional band at local venues. From there he moved on to singing various genres of music and eventually discovered the Soca music culture.
He recorded his first song in 1988 with Fireflight, and then joined the band Atlantik giving audiences a taste of his unique, husky yet sultry sound.
His musical influences includes such artists as Blakely and the late, Lord Kitchener, to the honey tones of R&B greats like Peabo Bryson and Stevie Wonder.
Douglas released hits such as "Good Music to Dance" and Who Let the Dogs Out which was a great party hit in the Caribbean islands. Other releases include "Soul Island" from the Friend CD and "Abuse" from his 2000 CD Sir Anslem Douglas.
It was not until the summer of 1987 that Earl La Pierre Jr. now known as ESP (Extraordinary Steel Pannist) came onto the scene. He started playing steel pan in the summer of 1987 with Afropan Steel Orchestra. Four years later in 1991, he started soloing. Within 10 years Earl has developed into one of Toronto Canada's premiere steel pannists. Mr. La Pierre is presently the manager of Canada's # 1 steelband Afropan Steelband, whose history speaks for itself.
Outside of pan, Earl is a manager of Kingdom of Soca Entertainment, a promotions company dedicated to enhancing the knowledge and expansion of Soca and Caribbean culture within the community.
Earl has played in several major events like Caribana, Snowflakes on Steel, Autumn Leaves on Steel, Du Maurier Jazz Festival and Pan Jazz as he strives and strengthens his ability to entertain. In the summer of 1999, he had the opportunity to play on CITY TV's "Electric Circus" where he demonstrated his musical talent for the founder of Bad Boy Entertainment, Mr.Sean "Puffy" Combs.
Throughout his experiences he has traveled to such parts of the world as the Caribbean, Asia and North America to partake in Carnivals and festivals. Earl has played under the leadership of world-renowned pannists such as Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, Ray Holman and his father Earl La Pierre Sr.
As a result of his plentiful musical achievements, Earl has received many awards from various recognized steelpan organizations for his musical expertise as well as his enthusiastic ability to help others.
He has taught both adult and children steelpan at the University of Toronto, York University, Ryerson University, the Separate School Board, the Greater Essex County District School Board and Private Funded Schools, not to mention the hundreds of public/catholic schools, community centers and daycares that Earl has demonstrated the steeldrum.
Presently, Mr. La Pierre plays as a "One Man Band" available for all occasions and settings.
Extraordinary
Steel Pannist
Tamla Matthews has been an active member of the dance community in Toronto for over 22 years.
Along with her Bachelor of Education, Tamla has an Honours Degree in Sociology with a minor in Environmental and Health Sciences. This accomplished Artistic Director, Choreographer and artist has danced, acted, and choreographed for many local and international stages.
Tamla is a Can Fit Pro certified fitness instructor and has pioneered a low impact cultural exercise program called Reggaerobics.
Most recently Tamla has opened the Sacred Space Dance Studio in Scarborough and has been a mainstay judge for the York Region District School Board Dance Competition for the last few years. Tamla currently artistically directs the Caribbean Dance Theatre and her aim is to engage people from all walks of life in ways that promote their mental, physical and cultural health.
In addition to teaching in the traditional group format,Tamla has recently added personalized dance and fitness classes to her menu of services. (So You Think You Cant Dance?) As a Dance Caribe Alumni, Tamla is humbled, honoured and estatic about being a part of "Sayamanda" and wishes to be part of the company's 20th year celebration!
Dancer
Choreographer
Toronto/Montreal
Hamilton Alexander
"Web"
Born Hamilton Alexander in Trinidad, the Web has over thirty five years in a musical legacy that is distinctly Trinidadian. He joined the Trinidad All Stars Steel Orchestra in 1966, and after the 1967 carnival he became a staple player.
In 1968 he was elected as a committee member and in 1969 he became the Vice-Captain. Web was elected captain from 1971-1977. He also held the position of trustee and vice-president of the Steelband organization Pan Trinbago.
Web migrated to Canada in 1977 and immediately got involved writing and performing Calypso. In the calypso Monarch competitions in Montreal he placed second on several occasions, and he won the title two consecutive years 2001 - 2002.
He has also been participating in the Canadian Calypso Monarch since 1981. He has been a finalist on numerous occasions and his highest showing so far is forth place twice and in 2006 he placed second.
At one time, he was the President of the Organization of Calypso performing artists, (O.C.P.A) and was recently chosen to accompany Caribana on their prestigious tour to Hong Kong.
RICHARD LEWIS, a native of Trinidad, began dancing with the Santa Flora Folk Performers.
In 1985, he won the Best Male Dancer Award in the Prime Ministers Best Village Competition.
Currently based in Miami, Richard has been dancing professionally for over 15 years throughout the U.S. and Europe, and has performed with such artists as the late, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Usher, Liza Minelli, Grace Jones, and many others. He has danced in the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular featuring the world-renowned Rockettes for the past 10 years.
In 1998, Richard was a guest performer in Dance Caribes production of "Danse Baghai". Atter a lapse of nearly 20 years, Richard went back to Trinidad to dance with his long-time friend, Martin Scott-Pascall in Dance Caribes Danse du Sol in 2007.
Once again, Richard is happy to be back in Toronto to perform as a guest dancer in Dance Caribes 20th Anniversary production "Sayamanda".
(Guest Dancer)
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