September 1st 1985
The Motiance Dance School was founded on September 1st 1985 out of the need for healthy and educational after-school-activities for children and youths of all ages. There were no after school activities at that time. It became the policy of the school to provide inexpensive activities and to cater to as many possible children of all walks of life. Scholarships were given frequently to those who could ill afford; second and third child in the family received discounts.
To be able to keep enrollment fees low, to be able to give scholarships to those who were in a financial disadvantage and to those who were extremely talented in 1986 the school became a foundation, a non profit organization, run by a board. The Government of Sint Maarten has from that time on monthly contributed to the budget with a partly subsidy.
The school started at the Movies 1 and 2 building on the Pondfill road. The classes that were offered were Afro Caribbean dance, jazz ballet, classical ballet, tap, and gymnastics for boys and girls. A yearly end of the school recital, and a musical were part of the program from the beginning.
In the course of the years, the enrollment grew to an average of 180-200 students. Classes in Modern dance, Performing Company, Junior Company and differentiation in levels were added to the schedule. In the first 10 years the school mostly focused on the aspects of social recreational after-school activities, and in less visible efforts towards the dance education as a preparation to higher dance education. Especially in the last seven years, when other after-school activities were offered on the island, the school focused more and more towards the dance-education as a first priority. The social recreational aspect is still present, but the main goals of the school have become to provide high standard dance training in as many as possible styles on all levels.
In 1988, teacher at the school Carolyn Jenkins and dancers of the Motiance Dance Company revived the Ponum Dance, which the Motiance Dance Company introduced to the Aruban public on their 1990 tour as the later-declared National Dance of Sint Maarten. The school is proud to have been an instrument in keeping the dance preserved. More recently, Clara Reyes has extensively researched the dance, published the results and secured it for the future generations.
Besides resident teachers, guest teachers from Dance Theater of Harlem, The New York City Ballet, Nanette Bearden Dance Company, The Jamaica National Dance Theater, Folkloric Dance Theater of Holland and Introdans have added to the development of dance on Sint Maarten.
Quite a few students of the school have chosen dance or teaching dance as a career: Percy Kruythoff graduated from the Hogeschool voor de Kunst in Amsterdam as performing dancer; and performed in Holland’s leading modern dance company of Truus Bronkhorst, together with his wife Dorottya Kiss they have formed the Kishoff Moves, based in Amsterdam; Collin Roberts after dancing in the second company of Alvin Ailey now performs in prestigious companies in the USA; Nicole de Weever has graduated from the most prestigious NYU, is a well know dancer who toured the world in West Side Story and now works with Bill T.Jones in the Fela Kuti Project. Uri Eugenio has recently gradated from Fontys Dance Academy in Tilburg and performs in the Netherlands, At present Danica Zichem, Mia Amato and Ihndhira Marlin are pursuing dance careers at Dance Academies in Amsterdam, Rotterdam in the Netherlands and the USA. Isabel Fleming teaches dance and choreography on French Saint Martin. Many others have chosen dance as a side career on the island and abroad, or are continuing their education in amateur dance companies in the Netherlands and the USA.
Percy Kruythoff
Productions over the years have included: The Wizard of Oz, The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Hunchback Of Notre dame, Hercules, Mulan, Danse Calinda, yearly Company performances in December and February, The Nutcracker, La Fille Mal Gardee, West Side Story in corporation with the Milton Peters Choir, The Creole Nutcracker, The Wizard of Oz new version, Cats, Annie, Don Quichote de la Mancha, Grease and 21 annual June end-of-the-school year recitals. More recently, the productions include: Fosse, Chicago and the LION KING. The latest Production was A Dance Kaleidoscope in March 2007, a repertoire performance of a variety of styles and moods, with vintage works like Klones and a Fosse Mix, and many new choregorapies by Arlene Halley, Susha Hien and Sonja Abbott.
The Motiance Adult Dance Company
In 2005 Arlene Halley formed the Motiance Adult Dance Company from former Company dancers who came back to Sint Maarten after studying abroad for various careers. At present the company consists of Jennifer Halley, Dale Hodge Kishan Vlaun and Eunicio Martina. Guest dancers complement the group when performances are scheduled. The introduction to the public of the Motiance Adult Dance Company with the production “THREADS” in May 2006, was extremely well received and featured vintage choreographies by former and present choreographers. Works by Debbie Hyman, Clara Reyes, Sonja Abbott, Evelyne Fleming, Susha Hien and Arlene Halley showed an array of dance styles through the 20 years history of the Motiance Dance School. A funraiser for the coming up performances was recently organized: movies and champagne at the Philipsburg Theaters, the first Motiance Dance School location.
Teachers and staff at the Motiance dance School from 1985- present:
Director:
1985-1993 Cees van Dolderen
1993-1996 Maria Buncamper Molanus
1996-present Cees van Dolderen
Jazz Ballet
1985-1987 Tara Dawn Bach (TDB)
1987-1988 Jill Jacobs
1988-present Susha Hien
Classical Ballet
1985-1987 Tara Dawn Bach
1987-1989 Caroline Jenkins
1989-1992 Arlene Halley
1992-1995 Frederique Lebart
1996-2003 Almir Bueno
2003-2005 Aurel Maurice
2005-present Arlene Halley
Children’s playground, introduction to dance;
1985-1990 Debbie Hyman
1987-1990 Owen Bonner
1989-1992 Arlene Halley
1992-1995 Frederique Lebart
1996-2001 Almir Bueno
2001-2003 Vanessa Hunt
2003-2005 Aurel Maurice
2005-present Arlene Halley
Afro Caribbean, Creole Rhythm, Zumba
1987-1990 Owen Bonner
1990-1996 Evelyne Fleming
1996-1998 Clara Reyes
2003-2005 Aurel Maurice/ Rudolph Davis
2005-2006 Kofi Walker
2006-2007 Sonya Abbott-Valz
2007-present Rayetta Harrell
Modern Dance
1987-1990 Owen Bonner
1990-1997 Evelyn Fleming
1996-1998 Renee van Egmond
1998-2003 Almir Bueno
2003-2005 Aurel Maurice
2005-present Arlene Halley
Yoga
2007-present Arlene Halley
Drummers:
Changa Hickinson
Charlie Letouche
Helier Cocquillas
Jack Heemskerk
Various courses by:
Silvia Carty Caribbean Folklore
Emile Stephen and Grecy and Diana Mooij Salsa
Mr. and Mrs. Beaujon Ballroom
Mr. and Mrs. Bert and Monique Hoffman Ballroom
Shusha Hien, Kitsie Chamberlain, Javed Scannell Tap-dance
Office
Volunteers
1996-1998 Mrs. Veronica Antoine
2006-present Mrs. Elfrieda Bute
Staff:
1998-present Mrs. Veronica Antoine
