July 2012
Four of LDT's members performed at a Family (Sherrod) Reunion at a Hilton Hotel In NYC. The family's story and journey was reflected through dance, song, acting and music to the delight of the family members with some emotional moments in between. See an older blog
July and August 2012
Some LDT members did their annual summer trip to Curacao where they collaborated with some members of LDTCC (Liberata Dance Theatre Curacao Connection Foundation) on a dance/theater workshop that always culminate into a performance. This year Tendayi Kuumba, one of our LDT performers was also invited to join. She was a wonderful asset to the production this summer with her great positive energy and talent both in dance and song. She was also a great assistant with rehearsing some of the dances, choreographic suggestions and taking care of the make-up of the youngsters for the performance.
The title of the show was "KORSOU, NOS KURASON" , written by Myrena Sint Jago, edited, suggestions and directed given by Laura Quast; co-directed by Rudsel D'Antonia. The story described two children from West Africa, Kuria and Kurio, having their great wish achieved in a dream. Their wish of visiting the island their grandmother has told them about over and over again. The island she heard about also from her grandparents; a place their ancestors were taken to: Curazao, Kurason, Korsou, Heart. Kuria and Kurio loved that the meaning of the island has to do with heart. In their dream they experienced many adventures once they got to the island, many pleasant, some unpleasant ones to their great surprise. They expected an island with such a beautiful name things that things would go smoother, a heart to beat as one. they encounter many quarrels among its people, beautiful people of different nationalities, problems, fights among the different political parties, but at the end.........some wonderful, positive things and outcomes; ultimately realizing we are all one, a heart beating as ONE. With Tendayi Kuumba as our guest performer, the show went well and was very well received and the audience appeared to have enjoyed it, relating to many issues brought up in this multi-discipline (dance, spoken word, poetry and song) piece. We performed on the stage of K-Center.
Myrena was also invited to work for one week at a Youth Summer Festival at the Tentashon Theater, where she choreographed for youngsters ages 10 to 18, culminating in a performance. The youngsters got a chance to work with professionals in the field of song, theater and dance and the performance was a combination of the 3 arts disciplines and the youngsters got the freedom to help put the production together.
Myrena was also asked to choreograph for a local dance group where poetry was also used. Tendayi Kuumba assisted her in this process.
September 2012
Myrena Sint Jago was asked to collaborate on the "Resilient Soul" program. "This production used a series of dance suites to explore what it means for a soul to function in this physical world and the transformational power of art in all its forms". Tendayi Kuumba, Nykie Gibbes and Myrena Sint Jago performed a piece that reflected the connection of the ancestral breath, spirit that is "present in everything and everywhere", and that we need to listen for guidance, a multi-discipline piece performed at the Joria Theatre in NYC (ADD PICTURES CORNEL)
February 2013
For the Black History Month Celebration LDT was invited to perform at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. Together with Coreen Robledo, aka Eto T'sana, Myrena performed 3 dances where a group of 5th and 6th graders were taught different steps and invited to come on stage at certain moments. It was like a lecture-demonstration, teaching, demonstrating different African and Afro-Caribbean dances, music, song and musical instruments and traditions, from the Diaspora. The children participated enthusiastically and seemed to have had a great time. There were two other artists involved in this production and the performance took place in the Auditorium of the NY Botanical Garden.
June 2013
LDT held a 3 hourYoga/Dance Seminar as a fundraising event. Myrena taught a Hatha Yoga class, Carrie See Yuen, a Zumba and Coreen Robledo a Congolese dance class. We received good feedback and the bodies, minds, hearts and spirits of the participants were relaxed with wonderful energy ready for the summer.
July/August 2013
Annual Summer Dance/Theater Workshop in Curacao. This year we were invited to perform as part of the Day of the Struggle for Freedom, "Dia di Lucha pa Libertat, August 17, 1795, the day the biggest slave rebellion started in Curacao. We performed in the open air at the Museo Tula, the name of one of the leaders of that rebellion. The piece was called 'Vlam di Libertat', Flame of Liberty. In the tradition of LDT and LDTCC it was a multi-discipline work. Myrena performed a solo, choreo-poem with Roselyn Jessurun, the writer of the poem 'Bo No Konosemi Mas', 'You do not know me any longer'
November 2013
Preliminary discussions and rehearsals started for our March 2014 upcoming performance that was funded by a grant from the New York Council for the Humanities.
March 2014
A combination of the Black and Women's History Months Celebration at the Goddard Riverside Side Center, as part of the Afro-Roots Tuesday evenings Performance Series. There was a great turnout for a weekday evening performance and the audience got enthusiastically involved when asking to participate at the end gave us a warm applause. Again in the LDT tradition it was a multi-discipline performance, including dance, acting, songs and live music. Wonderful musical and directorial suggestions given by Fred Johnson, a very talented singer, musician, eclectic performer.
Photo by C. Stossel 4/14
Photo by C. Stossel 4/14
Photo by C. Stossel 4/14
Photo by C. Stossel 4/14
June 2014
LDT's second annual Yoga/Dance Seminar held again at the Pearl Studio in NYC. We had the same instructors as last year and some new participants.
July 2014
HAI (Healing Arts Initiative) organization invited LDT to perform at the Chelsea Children's Center, Myrena and two other performers, Cindy and Mekha and also two wonderful musicians gave the children and their teachers and other staff members a fun-filled morning of entertaining, educational and interaction. The children and the staff appeared delighted and participated fully.
Photo by C. Stossel 7/14
Photo by C. Stossel 7/14
Photo by C. Stossel 7/14
At a Family (Sherrod) Reunion in Orlando (Florida), Myrena collaborated and choreographed, performed on a poem depicting family ties, bonds and love. Different generations participated.
July/August 2014
This summer Myrena wrote a piece honoring the historic treasures of the 'Museo Kas di Pal'i Maishi' , Museum of Corn Stalk had to offer and the performance was part of a presentation by different groups, speakers, rituals, etc. Our performance included 2 dances and a poem and a song by one of the youngsters. The event was well attended and our presentation was also very well received.
December 2014
LDT was invited to perform at a Kwanzaa Celebration at the Community Church of New York
Unitarian Universalist in NYC. Together with one of LDT's performers, Cindy Garcia, we reflected in our piece the seven principles of Kwanzaa, through dance and poetry and the use of material signifying the colors of this event also; plus reminding the audience of the meaning of the seven principles for black people in the US; great principles everyone can honor and live by Great stage, great acoustics and a wonderful, positive audience with great feedback.
All the pieces mentioned above were written and choreographed and some were directed by Myrena Sint Jago
