This Caribbean dance course turned out to be quite special as this year as we were honoured to have only elders on the course, with all accept one (who is from South Africa) from the Caribbean.

At the start of our journey we were delayed at Gatwick by the heavy snow. We should have left at 11.25 but did not actually leave until 16.45 but there was a plane on the tarmac near us who had been there since 6.30 am so we were certainly not the worst off!

Fortunately I had already booked us in to stay at the Grand View Hotel in Grenada for the first night as, as it turned out, we would not have made the Ospray over to Carriacou that first night with such a long delay at Gatwick.

The next day we took the Ospray to Carriacou which was quite an exciting crossing for some but stomach churning for others as the sea was particularly rough. We did have to take one of the students to the one hospital on the island, as a result of her sea sickness, and were treated well by the doctor and his staff who not only cared for our poor student but enquired of the health of all of us while he was at it!

In addition to our classes we spent the first week in Carriacou exploring the small local shops, the museum, restaurants, went on an interesting tour of the whole island learning much about its fascinating history, many spent each morning before class swimming in the sea which was a short walk away and enjoying the local food especially mangos! One of the restaurant we visited was the ‘Lambi Queen’ in Lesterre where the elders really showed what they are made of, which was all the more incredible as four of the elders had to be wheelchair assisted to the plane at Gatwick and yet this very same four as well as the others really got down on that dance floor!! One of them, Edward Greaves, told me that he didn’t know what has happened but he felt like a young man again since he had arrived back in his country!

There were many lively conversations about food and plants along with the differences in names, and how food is cooked in the different Caribbean islands as our students consisted of people from St Vincent, Jamaica, Barbados and Grenada.

At the end of the week we held an end of week performance unfortunately we did not have a very big audience but this did not stop those who came really enjoying the performances and the elders had a good time sharing what they had learnt.

We left on the Osprey on Sunday 13th and much to some of our students relief the return crossing was much less rough that the first crossing. We returned to Grand view inn to spend our second week and what a full week that was!

Ignoring the pretty swimming pool at our hotel as many felt it was too deep as the shallow end was 5.5in and other simply prefer the beach even though they had to walk down the hill to get there, the students explored the beach at the bottom of the hill which the hotel looked over as well as Grand Anse beach nearby, there was lots of shopping in local malls and in the market, eating out as well as at the hotel, a whole day tour of the island with stopping for swimming at the renowned Bathway beach and an interesting look Carib Leap where the Caribs preferred to jump off into the sea rather than be captured by the British. And our Grenadian students were able also to show us a little of their roots with one in particular taking us to see a large settlement on a hill which belonged to his Grandfather and now inhabited by his family members.

The time on both islands also included afternoons or evenings were students did what they wanted, some took the time to rest, others went out to see friends or relatives on the islands while others took the opportunity to visit the beach and have a swim or a walk.

For most of our journeys we were driven in what is called on the islands a ‘bus’ as they are used as the local buses while to English folk it would be better to describe them as a mini van seating 15 people. In Grenada we were driven by a driver known as ‘Pirate’ who drove us around the island when we last came to Grenada four years ago. An excellent driver, very helpful and supportive.

One of the places we ate at in Grenada was ‘Island View’ in Woburn which everyone on the island seems to know. The food was delicious and not overpriced, the staff friendly, the restaurant beautiful situated at the sea front. Another place that was well know is the Medical Centre situated on the seafront at Grand Anse beach which serves a really good amount of delicious food for only $15 EC ( £3.00)!

Much to our surprised we found ourselves being recognised by people in the street due to a television interview we did. One person who came up to me to congratulate me on our work gave me a full demonstration of what he saw us doing right there in the market, much to everyone’s amusement!

We were honoured to have a dancer known as Sindy-Ann from the renowned Tivoli Drummers take one of our classes each morning teaching a range of movement from their traditional repertoire. Sindy and I also spent an interesting time sharing dance vocabulary from each company.

We held our performance at the end of the week which was so well received again the audience could have been bigger but this did not spoil the evening in any way. After the show students and guests gather to eat and drink Rum punch on our last evening.

Everyone told me what a wonderful time they had and some have already told me that they want to come again next year. Having a mixed group of ages on the course we believe will be really interesting for everyone and we are really looking to experiencing this.

We would like to especially thank Nkrumah Nelson leader of the Tivoli Drummers and Sindy-Ann, Debbie from Grand View Inn, Kizzy from John’s Unique, Denis and Greaves and Pirate for all their support and assistance.

Roll on next year!

Muraldo D.C.