Suzan Richards

Suzan Richards shares her deep Dominican roots through her Cultural Arts Studio, School of Afro-Caribbean Dance; a creative space that mixes and celebrates African and Caribbean traditional dances. Trained in jazz ballet at the Montreal Jazz Dance Academy and then at the West Can Folk Performing Company in Montreal, Suzan is an accomplished artist and a seasoned teacher and choreographer. Among her many awards and distinctions are the 3's Company Cultural Mosaic Award, the Women's Community Leadership Award from the Province of Ontario, and the United Way Ottawa Community Builder Award for which her name now appears on the wall of inspiration, in the Jean Pigott Hall of Ottawa City Hall. Her philosophy is that everyone should have the chance to tell their story through dance and movement, regardless of age, size, fitness or disability.

Curriculum Links

Explore aspects of Afro-Caribbean culture and dance, storytelling, oral literacy, active listening skills, story structure, myth and legend.

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Online Program: Afro-Caribbean Dance

Students will explore the fundamentals of Afro-Caribbean dance while learning traditional movements and then integrating them into a short choreography. Throughout the workshop, information about the history, indigenous people of the Caribbean, music, traditional clothes and movements associated with these dances is shared by the artist, allowing the students to anchor their learning in the cultural context from which these dances originate. This unique blend of cultures mixed with the traditional and ceremonial rites of passage of the indigenous people of the Caribbean has created the vibrancy and celebratory nature of Afro-Caribbean Dance.

Participants: Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12	Maximum: 30
Discipline: Dance
Time and Price: One 45 minute session $140 + HST Two 45 minutes sessions $200 + HST

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Afro-Caribbean dance

Students will explore the fundamentals of Afro-Caribbean dance while learning traditional movements and then integrating them into a short choreography. Throughout the workshop, information about the history, music, traditional clothes and movements associated with these dances is shared by the artist, allowing them to anchor their learning in the cultural context from which these dances originate. Afro-Caribbean dance is a reflection of a complex evolution of different influences. African slaves, brought to the Caribbean to cultivate huge plantations, brought with them their clothes, traditions and rhythms. Using the available materials, they built musical instruments and managed to preserve elements of their culture. The Europeans also brought their music and dances to the islands. Afro-Caribbean dance incorporates many of these influences as well as ceremonial aspects associated with different indigenous cultures.

Participants: Junior Kindergarten, Senior Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12	Maximum: 30
Discipline: Dance
Time and Price: One hour session: $195 + HST Half day: two 1 hour sessions $295 + HST Full day: three 1 hour sessions $395 + HST