fp Turks and Caicos

The Turks and Caicos Friends of the Arts Foundation continue to look for support from the community to raise the funds necessary to bring the industry’s thrilling troupe, Rock the Ballet, to Providenciales to celebrate the foundation’s 10th year.

The dancing ensemble is currently touring in Europe and leaving its mark with aspiring performers. The professional dancers recently gathered a young group of wannabe local dancers from Milan, choreographed and rehearsed one of its signature ballet routines and took to the streets of Milan to perform a sensational show for hundreds of bystanders.

The urban street performance was such a hit that it has inspired the TCFAF to plan a similar event in Providenciales dubbed “Dancing with the Stars.” The focus of the dancers’ trip will be to connect with the children of the island, who get very little opportunity to see professional dancers of that caliber perform live.

During the week of May 14-20, the dancers will give master and company classes, outreach workshops on choreography, and create a new original piece collaborating with local artists. The visit will culminate in a grand finale performance for the public.

“Rock the Ballet is a fun, exciting and fresh new show that is focused on engaging a new, younger audience to appreciate ballet,” said the troupe’s leading performer, Rasta Thomas. “It combines some of the world’s best dancer’s that perform jazz, ballet, hip hop and contemporary dance. It’s ballet for the 21st century!”

“This is always something I have wanted to do — to share my gift with young dancers.” Thomas adds.

Ten years ago, the newly formed TCFAF brought the young dancers Rasta Thomas, Adrienne and Ashley Canterna, Danny Tidwell, and Robbie Nicholson to the islands to perform the most ground-breaking and eclectic show ever seen in the TCI.

Since that initial show, TCFAF has continued its mission and has produced more than 60 original shows with mostly local volunteers and international artists donating their time to work with and inspire the islands’ youth.

The foundation’s aim is to bring Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance back to the island 10 years later to continue their mission to inspire and thrill local children at the TCFAF 10th Anniversary Gala Celebration.

To accomplish this, TCFAF is reaching out to the public via a creative arts fundraising platform called Kickstarter (www.kickstarter.com). The intended monetary goal of $25,000 is needed to bring Rasta and his nine dancers to Providenciales. The funds will cover the performers’ and technical crew’s airfare, food and accommodation, and fees for a videographer to film, edit and produce a DVD documenting the event.

The fundraiser ends May 2, and the TCFAF has already raised just over $9,500.