We had the good fortune of connecting with Shola K. Roberts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shola K., why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I decided to pursue an artistic or creative career because I didnot see myself doing anything else. Dance is a calling; it givesme the nourishment I need to sustain a holistic life. And when I say a holistic, healthy life, I mean it nourishes me spiritually, physically, and emotionally- dance provided those things for me. During my Senior year in high school, the immeasurable Desmond Richardson approached me after the “Young Artist in Concert” program and asked me about my plans post-high school. He encouraged me to continue dancing. I knew then that my pursuing a bachelor’s in fine arts at Howard University would be worthwhile. For me, I was never motivated or driven by money. I always had elders and teachers who firmly believed in: “If you are good at what you do and love what you do, then the money will come.” That has always been my driving force. Iam always encouraged and impacted by how I make people feel, and dance has always been the vehicle that allowed me to do so.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

Well, at the height of the pandemic, I founded the organization,Dance Grenada Incorporated, which was a fusion of two passions of mine: The art of dance and Grenadian culture. This organization was created out of a need I saw whenever I visited Grenada: the idea of community and networking among the dance artists that lived on the island, which has gotten me to where I am today. This vision has made me successful; it was my community and network that catapulted the work into actionable steps. I also want to acknowledge the fact that the organization was founded during the pandemic and initially it was intended to take place in-person on the island, so when I reference challenges, cultivating the organization experienced an unexpected pivot. At the time, I had to be innovative and creative in terms of how I was still going to create this platform for the individuals on the island of Grenada and abroad and allow participants to receive the information from the dance artist that lived internationally.

Most recently we celebrated our third year on the island of Grenada, and I believe one of our significant challenges was receiving the financial support to drive this festival forward. Ultimately people love the idea of the arts, and embrace the creativity of dancers, but when it comes to financially supporting those individuals who have made dance their careerpath, it can be a challenge. The purpose of creating this organization is to bring an awareness of the various paths one can take with dance as a career choice. In addition, educate the Grenadian community about the art of dance and its purpose and function in this 21st century era.

As an Assistant Professor of Dance, my aim is also to create a network among my learners in the United States with my community in Grenada through Dance Grenada, Incorporated.  Dance Grenada is an international dance festival that takes place on the island of Grenada every October. The festival takes place over four days right now, but I intend for it to be as large as Grenada’s Spice Mas celebration. During these four days, participants engage with international and local dance experts through diverse dance workshops and panel discussions. There are also performances during our Welcome Ceremony, which is open to the community. We also highlight entrepreneurship with various local vendors promoting and selling their products. Dance Grenada will be celebrating its 4th year under the theme: The Time is Now! Unification Under The Sun, October 20- 23, 2023. Through this festival, I will always highlight Grenada and its illustrious gems, specifically the art of dance and its connection to the global community.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Being that I am incredibly new to Arizona, I am still figuring out some of the spots that have piqued my interest. The place I have visited thus far has been The Scottsdale Fashion Square because I am a fan of shopping. I have also visited Sedona, which is extremely beautiful, and anyone visiting Arizona should take a trip and experience driving between those red rocks. I also visited Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, which are gorgeous and breathtaking. Some of my places to hang out has been Old Town Scottsdale. I know there’s decent nightlife; however, I am looking for the Caribbean Community I once had in New York. Recently I joined the board of the Caribbean American Phoenix Carnival Cultural Organization of AZ (CAPAZ), and we are launching our upcoming season. It is with high hopes that we continue to cultivate and awaken the Caribbean community that exists in Arizona.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So the first entity that I would like to shout out and give recognition to as a relation to my story is the almighty creator, the omnipotent presence that utilizes me as a vessel to do this work. I also want to thank my mother, who has continuously poured into me, supported me, and encouraged me to be as ambitious as her, if not better. Seeing how she has defied all odds to still give to her children, her family, and her community has always been my driving force in making her proud and continuing to make her proud. I always acknowledge that our parents did the best they could with what they had, and my parents did just that, allowing me to mold and shape the woman I am today. I also want to acknowledge my mentor, Ms. Laurie Kingsberry who continues to be a sounding ear when I need that little push or a voice of reason, as I continue to pursue my endeavors. Finally, I am here because of the shoulders that I stand on, and so my community, my family (my siblings), my sister of friends, brother of friends who continue to support and encourage me. These individuals play a significant role in my success story. A near dear sister told me, “But that’s why we have our people; we’re not supposed to do all this alone.” So yes, this is my story, but these individuals have played a significant role in getting me to this point. Dance will continue to be a driving force for social change and acceptance ignited by creativity.

Website: www.dancegrenada.com

Instagram: @thesholabareexperience/ @dancegrenada

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/shola-roberts-08a4a687

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dancegrenada

Youtube: @SholaRoberts/ @dancegrenada

Image Credits
Kaiem Joseph Shoccara Marcus Edwian Stokes and Kofi Akoto

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