On Sunday March 6 the Faux-a-Chaud community came alive when Marcus Alexander and his FAC Dance Academy staged a dance and arts festival in the Castries community. Alexander later revealed: “I took the initiative to work with the children in my community. I have 25 children from six to fifteen year olds, and I want to show them that through dance they can make a difference in their lives.” The dance classes he provides are free and all types of dances are taught, but priority is given to dances to Gospel music.
The Festival was meant to be a show of pride to counter the stigma that is usually attached to communities like Faux A Chaud. According to Alexander, “there are many pressures and the community is suffering with issues such as violence and teenage pregnancy, for example. “I am trying to give these kids a better life than what some may call a ghetto life,” he assured. The Festival, a first for the Dance Academy, has been a vision for Alexander for sometime now.
For a first time event, the show ran smoothly enough and featured mostly dances by the FAC Dance Academy, which were interspersed with performances by guest artists including “The People’s Monarch”- Ashanti, the RSLPF Cheerleaders, Freeflow/Arts in Motion from Vieux-Fort, Saint Lucia Junior Pride, Daddy Twan as well as Alley Kat, known for her appearances in Kaiso Tents. However, on the day she transformed into a true songbird as she smoothly delivered an R&B hit. John Antoine also performed his recently released “Saint Lucia Wake Up” as the dancers twirled on stage in blue, white, black and gold. He later joined Ras Bonte in an acoustic guitar vibe.
The purpose of the Festival, as announced by the MC was to highlight the paucity of talent in the community of Faux A Chaud. “They say nothing good comes from Faux A Chaud…” but before he could finish, the crowd raised its voice in disagreement and the negative soon gave way to allowing the talents on stage to speak for themselves.
The FAC Dance Academy has been in existence for nine years. Operating against many odds, the Academy’s dancers perform on the first Sunday of every month at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in the city of Castries. The Academy also works annually with the Royal St. Lucia Police Force, assisting with the Force’s annual Pageant and participate in Junior Carnival as lead for the Charmallions Junior Carnival Band.
You have heard that it have been said, thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.
That they may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your bretheren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven perfect.
Matther 5:43-48
You have heard that it hath been said, thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.
That they may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5: 43-48
Let us continue to give all the Praise and Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ for he is worth of it all, thank you Lord.