Brok Maka Chista Dance Project Kicks off this Weekend  

This Friday and Saturday nights, the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts is launching an exciting new dance initiative led by the Institute of Creative Arts. Called “Brok Maka Chista,” it’s inspired by a Creole folk dance that kids used to play during break time at elementary school. The Creoles of Gales Point Manatee Village, along with the late Myrna Manzanares, created their own choreography, which was later adopted by the Belize National Dance Company. According to Kim Vasquez, the Director of the Institute of Creative Arts, this initiative aims to celebrate all the diverse cultures of Belize. News Five’s Marion Ali has the story.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Belizean cultures will be featured in a dance project being spearheaded by the Institute of Creative Arts this weekend at the Bliss. ICA Director Kim Vasquez shares the idea of the Brok Maka Chista Dance initiative.

 

Kim Vasquez, Director, Institute of Creative Arts

“For this year, we are starting it off with a showcase. I can tell you with certainty that it is our plan that it will grow and that come next year we will have an expanded program that will not only have a showcase, but will be open up to regional and international participation and we want to have as well components like a forum, some discussions as well as training and workshop for the dance community.”

 

Vasquez says that every culture will be reflected in the project.

 

Kim Vasquez

“When we are looking at developing a new dance festival or a new dance showcase for Belize, we definitely wanted to go in two directions. We wanted to make sure that it was inclusive of all dance styles. In other words, modern, contemporary, as well as the wealth of traditional and folkloric dance that we have in Belize. But we also wanted to make an emphasis on youth engagement and involvement and really make it a dance movement about dance education.”

 

The initiative gets its name, Brok Maka Chista, from a childhood game that girls used to play decades ago. Althea Sealy, Director of the Belize National Dance Company, believes it’s the perfect name for the project. Jillian Fuller, Director of the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts, gave a short demonstration of the Brok Maka Chista dance.

 

Althea Sealy, Director, Belize National Dance Company

“Back in the days when I was a little bit younger, Mr. Bob was very artistic and he used as I say, everyday life movements, games, whatever, he does choreography to that. So, he would make us do, okay, brok yoh body, brok it up, brok it up So then we utilize the whole body and that’s what we end up with Brok Makachista.”

 

Kim Vasquez

“Interestingly enough, Belize National Dance Company actually has Brock Makachista as a dance move within their repertoire as well. So, it is a recognized dance move.”

 

Sealy appeal to all artists to attend the weekend events for your own benefit.

 

Kim Vasquez

“If you’re a musician, if you’re a drama, drama person dance, I’m sure you want to continue to show your talent. So, you all need to come out and support so that we could have a stage for the younger generation to enjoy just the same way we did. So please come out, support us. It’s going to be good.”

 

Vasquez says all the proceeds from the dance will go towards the work and continued renovations and upkeep of the Bliss Theater. Marion Ali for News Five.

 

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