Fair Offers Celebration of Island Music & Dancing
By Space Coast Daily // November 12, 2012
island dance and music
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA — Expect a dazzling night of ISLAND ENTERTAINMENT at the SpaceCoastState Fair on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the Space Coast Daily.com stage, sponsored by CASEL Healthcare Training Center in Melbourne.
New to the Fair this year, a CELEBRATION OF ISLAND MUSIC AND DANCE includes an incredible line up of performers.
There will be Island Performances, ranging from Hula Dancers from the Pacific Islands of Hawaii, to Dancers and Musicians performing Music and Dance from the Caribbean Islands of Jamaica, the Bahamas and Trinidad/Tobago.
Guests will enjoy performances from the highly respected Hawaiian Dance Troupe “Halau ‘Ilima O Pololika”.
Headed by trained Kumus Hula Instructor and Choreographer, Christina Sulfridge has over 30 years of experience in teaching and performing Hula.
She has performed as both a soloist and group dancer at the World Hula Competitions held yearly in Honolulu.
This highly acclaimed Hawaiian Dance Halau will perform a variety of traditional Hawaiian and Polynesian Hula Dances featuring beautifully costumed Wahines (women), Kanes (men) and of course Keikis (children).
Accompanying them will be the Hawaiian Band “Island Breeze”.
Following will be a array of Caribbean Performers including Steelpan Performer Dudley Quest.
Born in St. James, Jamaica, Mr. Quest, a Nationally Awarded Vocalist, is also an accomplished Tenor Steelpan Player and has opened for various National Artists, including The Wailers, Third World, Yellowman and Beres Hammond.
Accomplished Dancer Erica J. Marette will perform a variety of Traditional African dances in the quadrille style of the African/Latin/Caribbean Folk Tradition with INDIGO
Youth Dancers from BCASCA, Brevard Caribbean American Sports Cultural Association will perform 2 dances, “Jump In the Line” by Harry Belafonte and “Jump”, a pop/dancehall soca by Rupee.
Jamaican Native Jasmine Gordon, dubbed the “Firewoman” is an accomplished Gospel Recording Artist.
She earned the coveted “Best Original Song” in 2005 on the Gil Bailey Gospel Awards Show for her song “I Am On Fire”, and proceeded to record three more Gospel Albums.
She hosts her own radio show “The Dynamic Gospel Hour” and also formed the non-profit charity “Ministries without Boundaries”.
She is about to release her book titled “Fear Not, There is Still Power in Prayer” which is slated for release this winter.
Humorist/Dramatist/Reggae Rapper/Storyteller Marcia Jackson, also a Native of Jamaica, performs on many stages at “Copper Girl” .
She thrills audiences with her funny stories and is also an accomplished dancer.
The Drums of Zion, will present a lively performance of Nyahbinghi Drumming, whose roots started amongst the Maroon Freedom Fighters from Jamaica.
The style embraces the elements of the spiritual sounds of East and West Africa. The philosophy of “Nyahbinghi” drum sounds is “to do good”.
Drummers include Ras Michael Evans, from Trelawny Jamaica, who plays the talking drum, Michael Walker from Kingston plays the Kunde, and Ras Michael McCalla also from Kingston, plays the base drum.
And finally, none of this would have been possible without the incredible support of Steelpan Advocate, Producer/Radio Host, Ms. Barbara Sealy Rhoden.
A Native of Trinidad & Tobago, Ms. Sealy Rhoden has dedicated her life to the promotion and marketing of the steelpan art form.
She co-founded Crystal Music Productions, a cultural marketing agency which has produced live steelpan performances in New York City , Paris and throughout Eastern Europe.
Her interest and commitment to youth in her community led her to address the need for improved self-esteem and knowledge of African and Caribbean cultures by importing children’s books to the NYC Public Schools.
But the Steelpan art remains her most demanding and professional rewarding marketing experience.
She views her work as a lifetime responsibility to promote and develop appreciation for the instrument internationally.
Her Radio Show “Steelpan Vibes, It’ s More Than Music” can be heard Saturdays 11 a.m streaming live at www.energydancemix.com on 107.9FM in Palm Bay/Melbourne, and 7pm on 100.7FM in Palm Bay/Melbourne; 94.7FM in Cocoa/Rockledge streaming live at www.hot947fm.com.
An Evening of Island Music and Dance at the fair is sponsored by President/CEO Mrs. Carol Watson-Edge
CASEL Healthcare Training Center, 5000 Stack Blvd., Suite A-4,
Melbourne, FL 32901
Call 321-676-4066
