International Soca Monarch
by La Shaun Prescott

International Soca Monarch 2021

DESCRIPTIVE/ HIGHLIGHT ABSTRACT

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ABSTRACT

The International Soca Monarch Competition showcased several novel concepts in its execution for 2021.  For the first time, dance companies would also be competing for prizes through their choreographic presentations with randomly selected artistes. My role in this assignment included joint choreography as well as coordination for the three artistes to whom we were assigned - Farmer Nappy, who won first place in the competition, Rome, and Trinidad Ghost.  Our company Elle InfiniTT also won first place in the dance aspect of the competition, with our team of choreographers including Adrian Daniel, Kristoph Brathwaite, Ariel Thomas and me.

CONTEXT

Live Stream on CCN TV6: Wednesday 17th February 2021

Event: International Soca Monarch Competition 2021

Location: Lord Kitchener Auditorium, National Academy for the Performing Arts

Farmer Nappy "Backyard Jam" Choreographed by Adrian Daniel

Rome "All Now" Choreographed by Ariel Thomas and La Shaun Prescott

Trinidad Ghost "Wicked Gyal" Choreographed by Kristoph Brathwaite and La Shaun Prescott

La Shaun Prescott is an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Trinidad and Tobago and Artistic Director of the dance company Elle InfiniTT. She holds an M.Sc. in Economics from the University of the West Indies (UWI) as well as an MFA in Dance from Tisch School of the Arts, New York University.  Her touring experience includes Europe, Canada, the USA and the Caribbean as lead dancer and choreographer with the world renowned Soca King Machel Montano for 7 years, as well as 22 states in USA with international artiste Pitbull. La Shaun has also taught Soca Dance and Caribbean Contemporary workshops in South Africa, Australia, London, Atlanta, Miami, Guadeloupe and Martinique, and has been contracted as Head Choreographer and Coach for the dance and fitness program called SOKAFIT.

Adrian Daniel began dancing  in the early 90’s with local groups on the island of Trinidad and Tobago, then trained by the famous Emilio "Buddha Stretch" Austin, Jr., from the US. He has choreographed for/ taught at several companies, groups, concerts, events, private and public schools  colleges and Universities. In 2002, Adrian was handpicked along with five other local dancers to form high profile hip hop dance group Eclectik with the aim of penetrating the international market. The group copped five medals from the World Hip Hop Championships in Los Angeles including the gold medal in 2007.  Adrian joined Elle InfiniTT in 2009 with the intention of creating similar dance opportunities for young and upcoming hip hop dancers.  In the same year Adrian was picked to judge one of Trinidad and Tobago’s first reality dance series, BMobile Dance off. He has worked as a choreographer for the Carnival presentations, top Soca Artists Machel Montano, Kes the Band and Patrice Roberts just to name a few.  Presently Adrian is Chairman of HipHop Unite T&T (Trinidad and Tobago), continues to manage the hip hop department at Elle InfiniTT, and is especially committed to teaching kids and teenagers the style of dance.

Kristoph Brathwaite is a young choreographer with Elle InfiniTT, dance teacher at Keep the Beat TT and designer of Kahpparel Clothing Line. Currently pursuing a Diploma in Visual Communications Design at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), he holds an interesting hybrid of performing and visual art expertise. He has been teaching and choreographing Dancehall and Soca with Elle InfiniTT since 2016, most recently choreographing for international artiste Afro B at the 2020 Machel Monday Concert.  He has also choreographed and performed for music videos, concept videos, award ceremonies as well as the International Soca Monarch Competition for artistes such as Hey Choppi, Trinidad Ghost, as well as gospel artistes Marc Isaacs, Jayrich and Adanna.

Ariel Thomas is performer, choreographer and teacher and also a dance major alumni of the Academy for the Performing Arts (APA) University of  Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). Ariel teaches with the IBIS TT Performing Company as well as with Elle InfiniTT and was also a gymnastics coach at the Lambert School of Dance and Gymnastics.  Ariel has performed at events such as Dimanche Gras, the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition, the Coco Dance Festival and Tobago’s Contemporary Festival. In October 2018 Ariel spent a year at the Beijing Academy for Dance in China.

PROCESS

Three dance companies were selected to participate in the International Soca Monarch Competition 2021 working with artistes who were randomly assigned.  After intense rehearsals, and a dress rehearsal with necessary restrictions to comply with Covid 19 safety protocols, the dance companies were also subject to competition rules. The final performance was done at the Lord Kitchener Auditorium, National Academy for the Performing Arts with no audience, and was later broadcast by TV 6.