Suzan Richards

Read all about Suzan Richards in this Apt613 Q&A

Suzan Richards shares her deep roots of beautiful island of Dominica 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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AVAILABLE ONLINE: School Workshop: 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: In person and online: One-hour workshop: $220 + HST Half-day: two 1 hour sessions $320 + HST In person only: Three Full Day Residency: $1,260 + HST Each Additional Day: $420 + HST

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AVAILABLE ONLINE: Seniors Workshop: Afro-Caribbean dance

Participants 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: Seniors	Maximum: 30
Discipline: Dance
Time and Price: In person and online: One workshop: 1 hour $220 + HST Two workshops: 1 hour each $320 + HST