CATHOLIC CHRONICLE

Young St. Lucians Blazing Trails

Tania Isaac

Blaise Pascal

Jeannique Prospere

What do Tania Isaac, Blaise Pascal, Jeannique Prospere and Perdita Felicien have in common ?

They are all St. Lucian-born and are blazing trails on the international scene. Tania is a dancer, choreographer and video artist based in Philadelphia. Blaise is an opera singer and music teacher at Wichita State University in Kansas. Jeannique is a costume designer based in Los Angeles who is set to serve as associate costume designer for the world premiere of “An American Tragedy” at the Metropolitan Opera. Perdita Felicien, 23, a Canadian resident, won the 100-metre hurdles at the World Championship in Paris last summer and subsequently beat Gail Devers of the United States to win the 60-metre hurdles indoor world championship in Budapest.

These young St. Lucians are shining lights for the young people back home who now have not only Nobel Laureates to emulate, but young people distinguishing themselves in a variety of fields. Unfortunately their exploits are not sufficiently celebrated in the land of their birth. Perdita Felicien, who was born in St. Lucia but raised in Canada, has been dubbed “Canada's Golden Girl.” She was Canada's female athlete of the year for 2003, and the first female representing Canada to win a gold medal at the World Indoor Championships. A report from Canada states “…now she will be the face of the Canadian Olympic team in Athens this summer.”

I first met Blaise Pascal a few weeks ago when he flew into St. Lucia for his father's wedding at which I was to officiate. Christie Noel Mendes had mentioned that his son, who was an opera singer in the United States would sing at the wedding, but never in my wildest dreams did I expect to meet a young St. Lucian who has shared the stage with the likes of Luciano Pavarotti and sings in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Czech! I did a long interview with Blaise in which he talks about his early days at Wichita State University, his many major roles in such operas as The Magic Flute , La Traviata , Carmen , his narrow escape from the hands of Neo-Nazi's one late night in Berlin, and many other experiences. His story will appear in our next issue.

Jeannique Prospere, daughter of Francisca Prospere and Barry Prospere of Muff's Refrigeration, is another young St. Lucian going places in her field. A graduate of the International Fine Arts College in Miami and of St. Thomas University, Jeannique gained the MFA in costume design from UCLA and has since worked in Los Angeles. He credits include : costume design for Hair directed by Tony award winner Mel Shapiro; associate designer (designer Dunya Ramicova) for the opera El Nino written and directed by John Adams and Peter Sellars for the L.A. Philharmonic and the Barbican Center, London. Although Jeannique is currently involved in a major assignment with the Metropolitan Opera, she is also collaborating with a former classmate from primary and secondary school days in St. Lucia, Tania Isaac.

Tania Isaac, daughter of Dr. Martha Isaac (UWI, CaveHill) and the late Iram Isaac, is receiving very favourable reviews from such publications as Philadelphia Weekly, Philadelphia Daily News and the Dance Insider Magazine. She has her own dance company, Tania Isaac Dance Projects, which presented “Home Is Where I Am” at the Painted Bride, Philadelphia from April 15-17, 2004. Of the production, Lisa Kraus of Dance Insider Magazine writes, “It's a treat to see something as robust and fresh as the debut performance of Tania Isaac Dance Projects in ‘Home Is Where I AM'…This St. Lucia-born choreographer, veteran of Rennie Harris Puremovement and Urban Bush Women, was joined by a superb group of dancers for a vibrant and poignant look at the immigrants' condition of both loving and hating where they came from and where they've moved to. Through scenes evoking the color and smells of island markets, the sweetness of mangoes eaten in silence, the wildness of Carnival, and the sinuous and juicy moves of reggae and zouk, Isaac paints her homeland with lushness and longing. ” J. Cooper Robb of Philadelphia Weekly writes “ i am examines movement as both art and science in a piece that's equal parts aesthetic, cultural and political. As a veteran video artist (in addition to being a dancer and choreographer), Isaac's work is impressive in its theatrical unity. Effectively incorporating ethnic and Western dance forms as well as text, video and movement, Isaac shows herself to be a multitalented artist whose work both explores and expands the boundaries of contemporary dance theatre.”

Tania Isaac's achievements to date are impressive. Her work has been presented at The Joyce Theater, PS 122 and The Triangle Theater in New York, The Kennedy Center and Dance Place in Washington D.C., The Place Theater in London as well as venues throughout the U.S., England and the Caribbean. Isaac's piece 'travelling' created as part of the 'Dixwell Project', is currenlty featured in Urban Bushwomen's repertorty piece "Soul Deep to the Bone". Her collaborative video work has been screened at the ADF Dancing for the Camera Festival of International Film and Video Dance in North Carolina, at the International Festival of Video Dance, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and at the Prince Theater in Philadelphia. Her awards and Honors include the CEC New Edge Residency Program(2001), the Leeway Foundation(2002) and Dance Advance: a program of the Pew Charitable Trusts(2003,2004). Most recently Tania has been selected as the Resident Artist for the Painted Bride Art Center, Philadelphia, PA(2003-2005) and a US/JAPAN Exchange Artist for 2005. Tania is a former Associate Artist at the Atlantic Center for the Arts and a former member of Rennie Harris Puremovement, Urban Bush Women and Li Chiao-Ping Dance . Ms. Isaac is a former lecturer at Temple University and currently on staff at Bryn Mawr College. She is a graduate with honors from the University of Wisconsin in Madison and received her MFA from Temple University where she was a University Fellow.

“G o ahead; drive the nails in my hands
G o ahead and mock my name
G o ahead and say I'm dead and gone
G o ahead and bury me, but very soon I will be free –
C ause I'll rise again
T here is no power on earth can tie me down
Y es, I'll rise again; death can't keep me in the ground
N o power on earth can keep me back
Y es, I'll come back again …
To take my people home!”

These preceding words are selected parts of the song, “Rise Again” which has taken the “Boys of Faith” choir to their call to fame. This song was so beautifully sang by them on Good Friday, leaving the church filled congregation spirit-filled which was demonstrated by the raising of hands and voices, honouring the majestic works that the lord is doing through these young men for our community/parish and by extension our country. Alleluia!

Allow me to engage you in a mental exercise. This exercise I believe is paramount to our understanding of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on Calvary. Have we truly reflected on the Passion of Christ in relation to the way we show mercy and appreciation? I urge you to take a brief moment and reflect on the selected words of the song and see how it relates to your personal life. Can you imagine the torture, pain and hurt that Jesus experienced for our sakes? Can you imagine trading places with Jesus for just one minute?

Jesus died so we would have life and have it abundantly and the idea of trading places with him would probably not be a choice for many of us. Be honest about it! This thought brings to mind the chorus of a song by the late Bob Marley, “Everybody wants to go up to heaven but nobody wants to die” – Jesus died for us all. Let us face it, many of us may not even settle for the mere mockery of our names. Interesting isn't it!

It is no accident that the song Rise Again has been chosen as the theme song for the “Boys of Faith” choir. There is a definite purpose connected to the choice, recognizing that the challenges in life today are not that different than they were in the days Our Lord was crucified. For example, many of the tribulations that are faced by young people today have a definite correlation to having nails driven into the hands of Jesus. The question is how will they react? Will they examine their options, or react defensively with no sense of purpose?

The mockery of Jesus name reflect a lack of respect and that, in and of itself, is something that young people can relate to. In many instances the behaviour of the young persons themselves do not promote a high level of respect amidst their cohort and by extension they do not always get the respect that they have a right to as members of civil society.

The passion of our Lord is indeed historically sad, but we are reminded that his death was not in vain, He died for us that we would have Eternal Life. The “Boys of Faith” recognizing the importance of Jesus Christ as the supreme power in their lives want to be continuously reminded of his love , and no matter what the circumstance they too must rise again, hence the reason why this song has been proclaimed by them as the group's theme song.

For the Boys of Faith the song reflects a true reality of their convictions on life and living. They recognize that anything in life that is good will never be without its tests and trials and that their path to life through this new found group will be no exception. Some of the words are powerful affirmations that must be reflected upon in order to remind them that they must never give up on their spirituality. They must think of their journey as one which can have numerous paths - however, there is one true way to reach the desired destination and that is saying, “yes” to doing God's deed and service.

Since their inauguration on February 29, 2004 they have been working rigorously in their attempt to validate their commitment to serving a higher spiritual power. Their course of action has taken on many forms. They continue to engage in rehearsals, coupled by mini workshops and a full day retreat. These sessions have provided them the opportunities to table and address issues relating to life and living. Recognizing and understanding the many challenges that are faced on a moment by moment, basis for us as a developing nation (particularly for young people) we must appreciate the need for them to celebrate their small successes both independently of each other and collectively as a group.

A major outcome has been the formation of an executive body for the group. This group is charged with the responsibility of planning and maintaining a stable presence within the community and beyond. The executive members are slowly and surely gaining an understanding of the level of responsibility they have to undertake in order to achieve their goals as individuals and to take the entire group to a level of functional success, where each member is regarded as being instrumental in the development of the group. The need to be each other's keeper is a responsibility which must be understood and nurtured by all members in order to develop and maintain that philosophy of kinship. The saying -

“United we stand, divided we fall” must be ever present in their road map for success.

That map of success is being sketched by the support members of the group receive from their community/parish and their country. There are many ways in which support can be shown; the most important way is through the gift of time , not withstanding other creative ways. As has been said there is now an executive committee equipped to handle the business aspect of the group. They are calling on all sectors of society to support them as they journey in answering the Lord's call to service in his Vin eyard.

An open invitation is extended to you and your family to join in the celebration of the mass at 8:00 a.m. on May 30, 2004 at the parish of the Holy Family, Jacmel . The Celebrant will be Rev. Fr. Cecil G oodman, Spiritual Leader of the Parish and Mentor of the “ Boys of Faith ” choir.

Be not afraid,
Step Out in Faith
Let's Rise Again
With the “ Boys of Faith ” .

St. Luke's Clinic (upstairs the Parish Centre in Castries) will resume free treatment of chronic pain for the poor and elderly on May 18 th . The Clinic which was started by Dr. Winston Parris last year, continued to offer free heart treatment and consultancy to the poor, whilst Dr. Parris was out of the state for six months. During that time Cardiologist Dr. Janice Stanley volunteered her services. Dr. Parris is back in St. Lucia for a period of six months. St. Luke's Clinic will now offer both chronic pain treatment and heart treatment free of charge to the poor and elderly.