Young leaders spread music and dance
The sky’s the limit for New Plymouth’s Cultural Arts Youth Leaders (CAYL), who banded together on the cusp of 2017.
The group of eight young creatives aged from 12 - 24 years of age formed under the multicultural wing of the Performing Arts Collective (PAC).
Over the past few months the aspiring mentors learnt new dances and drum rhythms, on top of developing their leadership talents from working behind the scenes in event management.
The collective’s director Keri Elvin guided the eager crew through the event-focused tasks. At times she threw them into the deep end and in one instance she gave a few of the girls little notice they were about to speak publicly.
‘‘Our teamwork skills have skyrocketed,’’ teenager Eleanor Grieve said.
Now the team has an impressive tick list that includes booking a venue, playing host to visiting drumming dance tutors, promoting workshops and events, volunteering as stage hands and make-up artists, and undertaking recruitment drives at public events.
They all share a passion for cultural performing arts and combined they possess a wealth talents including, dancing, singing, acting, and playing instruments.
For South African-born Keelin Aspeling, 15, the skills learnt during her time as a cultural arts leader, commitment, time management, and planning would be
‘‘Our teamwork skills have skyrocketed’’ Eleanor Grieve
invaluable.
Being part of CAYL was a real confidence booster for 15-year-old Jeeza Vivian, who was excited to put her new people skills to the test.
Armed with their new organisational skills the team want to motivate other young people to experience the benefits they did - on and off stage, by taking part in CAYL run African drum and dance workshops.
School holiday classes will run Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 until 3pm, and run from April 19 28. The second phase of workshops kick in. They wil run 4.30 - 5.30pm every Friday from May 12 until June 30.
The ultimate goal was to inspire young people to carry on with the African vibe and become part of a PAC dance troupe that accompanies the collective’s African drumming group on stage. Please contact performingcollective@gmail.com or 0211492756 if interested.