Fresh from its win at the Florida's Youth Ballroom Blitz, the Bahamas Salsa Social Network (BSSN) is now preparing to waltz and salsa across a local stage - a move that the dance company hopes will attract international groups and start what could be an avenue to foster dance tourism. "I hope to see The Bahamas become a dance destination," said BSSN founder and instructor Indira Demeritte-Francis. "In the new year, that's what I'll be working on, encouraging some of the United States dance companies to host some of the dance competitions here to bring tourists to The Bahamas. The location is perfect and we have the facilities to encourage huge dance events."
Francis said she plans to use her own local competition, "Dance For Life", as the starting block for the promotion of dance tourism. The BSSN will host the competition at Atlantis Resort on June 22. This will be the third consecutive year for the competition. However, next year will be a little different. "Up to now it has been open to the public in The Bahamas and now we're going to open it to studios abroad and have some tourists fly in to be a part of that program," she said. "We're getting ready to come up with dances and new performances to put on that big show.
We will also have the privilege of having foreign dancers join us and to compete here in The Bahamas, hopefully against some of the Bahamian dancers." During that competition Francis said her 14-team dance company will put on an even more spectacular show than it did during the recent competition in Florida, where it danced away with several prizes and awards including the Top Dance Team Award. The competition was held in Orlando on November 15. The Bahamas' team, which went up against dancers from around the world, was successful in various categories. The prizes included Top Studio 2012. Additionally, several dancers also walked away with individual awards.
Two BSSN students received prizes in the newcomer category, with Dale Roye of Nassau Christian Academy being awarded best male newcomer for the waltz and India Sweeting of Queen's College being awarded best female newcomer for the waltz. Additionally, in the World Challenge American Smooth segment of the competition, eight-year-old Gabriella Francis of St. Andrew's School, placed first, and 14-year-old Serena Francis of St. Andrew's School won a second place prize in the World Challenge International American Rhythm segment of the competition.
The World Challenge American Smooth included the waltz, foxtrot and American tango and the World Challenge International American Rhythm included the rumba, cha cha cha, swing and mambo. Growing This is the company's third time performing in the Orlando Blitz, Francis said, adding that since its first appearance the company has grown in ability and technique. "During our first competition we only danced one Latin dance, the salsa," she said. However, this year's competition was the first time The Bahamas competed in the smooth dances such as the waltz, foxtrot and American tango.
That's now added to the group's skill in Latin dance categories such as salsa, cha cha cha, rumba, bachata, merengue, jive and samba. "This third year has turned out to be really exciting for the kids because having gone for two years, they met children from other countries who were able to dance 10 different dances. So this year we extended the dance routines," Francis said. Referring to the waltz, Francis said initially she did not think the dancers would enjoy that form of dance. "But the kids performed beyond what I expected certainly based on the awards that we received. I thought that they enjoyed themselves but I did not expect them to receive prizes.
So I would say that I was shocked myself. But I'm so happy that I could see those kids on the floor performing at the level that they did. The crowd received their performance and the judges and I think this says a lot of where the team can go and what Bahamian dancers can do and how much more exciting it can get," she continued. Francis said the win will also bring a spotlight to The Bahamas. "This was a marvelous achievement for The Bahamas since the dance team competitors have only been competing abroad for three years," she said.
"The Bahamas has now been put on the map in this dance sport and hopefully this will spread more among the youth and some of them will benefit from some of the scholarships that can become available to them through this dance sport." While the dance company focuses on major competitions, it also supports local events. Every Thursday, the BSSN meets at Via Caffe downtown from 8:30 p.m. for dancing and free lessons in an effort to bring Bahamians together and to develop their dance skills.
"The purpose of the network is to encourage young and old to come together in a single environment where the old can learn from young and the young can learn from old," said Francis. She would also like to see the government give more support to dance programs in schools. "It teaches young men discipline, it teaches them how to associate with young women. It also teaches them how to get properly socialized and it teaches conflict resolution. Dance holds so many good things about it for young people," she said. "It encourages them to be together in a positive way and to work through social issues. And it keeps them out of trouble." o If you are interested in becoming a part of the dance network, email bahamassalsa@gmail.com.
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