Annual Retrospective June 2009-June 2010

Liberata Dance Theatre’s Activities from June 2009-June 2010 Last board meeting/party held before members left for their summer break.

Annual summer trip to Curacao for Myrena and Sam where they collaborated with the sister company, Liberata Dance Theatre Curacao Connection Foundation (LDTCC). As customary, dance classes were taught by Myrena and Laura Quast, actress/director helped with the dramatization of KONSTRUKSHON II. The ages of the participants (about twenty) ranged from 7 to 67 who happened to be a granddaughter and grandmother.

Space for the classes and rehearsals was again donated by Kolegio Chaya Willems, a neighborhood elementary school. Also, we were fortunate again to have the theater, Sentro Kultural Korsou (Cultural Center Curacao) donated as long as we made a small contribution to the theater. An updated version of KONSTRUKSHON (with some of the region and the world’s current events) was presented. We named it KONSTRUKSHON II. In addition, a poem honoring the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson was presented, praising his contributions to the world. The performance was well attended and a positive article appeared in one of the local newspapers . Sam filmed the event.

Myrena also collaborated with ‘Skol Nobo’ (New School) and was asked to work with about fifteen young people, ages 8 to mid 20’s. This school does wonderful work by teaching young people to become dynamic future leaders. The theme of our presentation was TULA, one of the main leaders of the biggest slave rebellion in Curacao, August 17, 1795. Myrena prepared a 15 minutes presentation of dance, poetry, music and a work written inspired by the strong qualities Tula possessed. The performers delivered the work with conviction and dynamism. The event took place in Luna Blou, a theatre in downtown Otrabanda (part of the capital of Curacao).

One of preparatory high schools, ‘Kolegio Omega’, invited Myrena to teach dance for two days during their introduction week (of the new school year). She used as themes positive qualities to become a successful student and responsible citizen.

The Artistic Director of the Caribbean Dance Theater Sandra Leonora, discussed with Myrena a possible collaboration for summer 2010; a multi-disciplinary work appreciating and respecting the four nature elements in respect to the island of Curacao. We visited different possible sites we plan to use for filming the piece.All by all another busy summer for some LDT members collaborating with LDTCC and other groups in Curacao.

In October 2009, planning for LDT’s First Annual “LUCY” Award Ceremony and Fundraiser Event was discussed. We decided on the WHOLE NAME the Alvin Ailey Dance Studio at The Joan Weill Center for Dance for February 6, 2010. Separate meetings were held and committees formed between October and February 2010 to accomplish the multiple task to make our event a success. Yesima Sherrod joined LDT as an advisor and offered some great suggestions to help make the event more successful.

(Photo right by: C. Stossel 2/06/10)

depicts: Myrena Sint Jago, Yesima and her Sister Jivani Sherrod at the Fundraiser

Myrena started to rehearse the dances and poem “LUCY=ALL OF US”, she wrote; (Lucy as the remains of the first woman found in Africa and the connection of all to that continent as life started there) for the Fundraiser Event. at the end of December, our annual Holiday celebration was held on West 34 Street and the members enjoyed themselves with food, drinks and gifts.




In January 2010 a few members of LDT met with Fred Johnson, Artistic Director of Intersections and the Director of ART THREAD to discuss a possible collaboration with his company (ART THREAD). LDT dancers will interpret the art created by children with different challenges by improvising the interpretation; the possible collaboration sounded very promising and healing.

February 6, 2010: our hard work paid off and the event was successful.

(Photos by: C. Stossel 2/06/10)

Catering by:Dee's Delights & Mistress of Ceremonies: Carrie See Yuen

We honored five people who were either active for decades in the field of performing arts and community service. They are the following;

Richard Gonzalez, dancer and Afro-Caribbean dance instructor,(Photo by: C. Stossel 2/06/10)

Luis Caballero, writer, actor, director and professor;

Luis, center with Sam Sherrod & Carrie See Yuen
(Photo by: C. Stossel 2/06/10)

Lynne Hayden-Findlay, opera singer, co-founder Chelsea Opera and teacher;

Sam, Carrie & Lynne
(Photo by: C. Stossel 2/06/10)

Fred Johnson, instructor, ……….. and Artistic Director Intersections,

Sam, Fred & Carrie
(Photo by: C. Stossel 2/06/10)

and Ingrid Charles, President of the Antillean /Aruban
Cultural Affairs Association, Inc. (AACAA).
(Photo by: C. Stossel 2/06/10)

Ingrid accepted the award for the AACAA that does wonderful programs for the youth and adults in the community, including annual scholarship luncheons, family days, Black History Month Celebrations . There was great food provided by Dee’s Delight. Entertainment was provided by LDT’s performers, dancers, Chelsea McLaughlin, Coreen Robledo, Lily Burd, actress Dianne Dixon; pianist Andy Monroe and Kevin Garcia, percussionists, Ron McBee and Dillan Greene, singer Autumn Greene and Myrena.

Fred Johnson, Artistic Director of Intersections became an advisor for LDT and we plan to collaborate on some future collaborations.
On March 6, Myrena was invited to participate by Fred Johnson to participate in his program “Melodies as Conversations”. Three more artists participated and together with LDT dancer Coreen Robledo, Myrena recited and danced on her poem “LIBERATA”, a poem honoring her late mother Julieta Liberata Sint Jago, as it was International Women’s Month celebration.

On March 22, Caroline Edwards, teacher, performer and Luis Caballero, actor, director, professor became the latest two board members. Carol-lyn Simon, graduate student, is also interested in joining us a board member and will come on board during the next meeting.

On May 8, Myrena Sint Jago with Carrie See Yuen danced at a mother Day’s Luncheon in the Bronx. Victor See Yuen and Fred Johnson accompanied them with percussions.

LDT is working on a proposal with the Children Art Carnival to develop a program helping adolescents gain job skills through improving body movements, language: a year long program in 8 week sessions.

On May 22, Myrena, together with Coreen Robledo and Frank West (guest LDT), dancer of Myrena’s scholarship days at the School of Alvin Ailey Dance Theater will perform in the Celebrating Diversity event in the beautiful Jackie Robinson Park in Harlem. This was a whole day event with a wide range of multi-dicliplinary performers, speakers and award ceremonies.

On June 6, a computer training conducted by Carl Reid, one of LDT's Advisers took place at Board member Carrie See Yuen's home in The Bronx.

On June 10, Myrena was invited to participate in the Caribbean Heritage Month Celebration at City Hall. She read parts of different sections of her work. She celebrated the beauty of her island of upbringing Curacao, the different role models, and a poem “To Haiti”

June 21 LDT’s mid-year party was held before everyone leaves for summer. It was held at Hanna Favelukes’ apartment. WE HAD GREAT FUN with food, snack and laughter.

On June 27, as part of another Caribbean Heritage Month Celebration, Myrena performed with three dancers from the Antillean Dance Company. We did two dances (music of Ced Ride and Doble RR) and the poem “To Haiti”. The choreography and poetry by Myrena. The event was held at the Tropical Paradise Ballroom in Brooklyn. It was a fundraiser dinner for Yvette D. Clarke, Congress woman and awards were given to the doctors who were the first responders to the crisis in Haiti, Different politicians attended the event including US senator Kirsten Gillibrand. The doctors were called “Heroes For Haiti “