Simone Warner led this class of “Socacize Fitness” at the City College of New York, where she instructed a dance class of about an hour and half. The dance was completely Caribbean and became an excellent fitness workout whilst being able to learn Caribbean dance. After one of our group members was able to dance with her and take part in her dance lesson, we were able to get an interview from Ms. Warner.

In her interview, we were able to obtain her opinions about current Caribbean dance, its progressions, and more importantly, its progressions in New York as well the Caribbean region. The two have intertwined in some sense and have a major influence upon each other in their respective regions, with Caribbean dance and music gaining gradual popularity in American society, with this same music and dance gaining more popularity in the Caribbean region. We were also able to obtain information about her journey as a dancer, and what it means to her to be a Caribbean dancer. Listen to the interview below for more details!

 

Ms. Warner has been dancing since she was 5 and has been doing Socacize for 6 years. The dance was founded in Canada for those who wanted to do Caribbean dance and partake in fitness. She and her family are from Trinidad and St. Kitts. She had a desire to dance at an early age, and being able to infuse Caribbean dance and fitness allows her to feel close to her culture. The variation appeals to her about Caribbean dance, with variations such as ‘Chutney’ – mixing Indian and Caribbean culture. Partaking in this dance to her personally lies in cultural values and connection along with passion for it. In her opinion, there has been some American influence on Caribbean culture, as there is so much mainstream influence in the Caribbean since they are exposed to a lot of American things, such as hip-hop, allowing dance to be enhanced. Ms. Warner believes that there has been a significant influence, as the general population in the Caribbean know more American stuff than migrants living in the City. Regarding the influence New York has had on Caribbean dance, Ms. Warner thinks New York hasn’t had much of an influence, but rather the opposite; Caribbean dance has been incorporated into New York City dance and culture, because of the city’s status as a melting pot. Caribbean dance has been influenced by American society, as some of the choreography has become more vulgar because American society is a little more “sexual and vulgar.”

Music and dance mesh into mainstream culture with artists such as Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, in that it seems that they are in a way giving up their true and original selves in order to blend in with other artists. Rihanna on one hand usually has some type of Caribbean dance incorporated, while Nicki Minaj doesn’t embrace her culture as well, where she is trying to stay primarily with American culture. Caribbean music and dance are important to Ms. Warner, as it is more peaceful and calm opposed to American music, where you can enjoy yourself and be loose. The music and the messages of the songs are not as prominent in in a party settings. Hip hop has also had influence on Caribbean dance, as a lot of performers have fused hip-hop moves with their background dances, making it more fun.

From Ms. Warner’s words, we can see how Caribbean dance has had an influence in New York. As a dance instructor for at least 6 years here, Ms. Warner has extensive experience with dance outside of the Caribbean.  This interview with her gives us some insight as to how Caribbean dance in general has progressed in New York, and not just Socacize. As a means of staying rooted and connected with her culture, she continues to dance, and one can faithfully say this is the reason for many people to continue dancing as well, also as one can tell during the West Indian Day Parade. Starting from home, away from New York, as she visits the Caribbean frequently, we learn that there has been major American influence on the Caribbean region, and this is primarily from music being created here and becoming a part of mainstream American media, allowing it to be incorporated and displayed in that region. The mixing of Caribbean dance and New York, became a prime segue for the creation of hip-hop dance. Apart from hip-hop, American culture has influenced Caribbean dance in general too, as dance has actually become more sexual and vulgar, making some focus on that aspect when it is truly and being free and being loose. This topic is discussed later on, and becomes a means of a campaign as well, but even before that, this meshing of cultures is present in the mainstream works of artists, where we can visually view in videos later presented. Ms. Warner is right in the sense that these artists don’t fully or truly stick to their roots, where there has been a major influence apart from Caribbean influence, all in an attempt to keep up with other artists and demands of today’s younger generations. This is seen with Nicki Minaj’s work where there is very little Caribbean culture to be displayed, but it does make its way more so into the work of Rihanna. In this way, Ms. Warner shares her insight on the condition of Caribbean dance in New York, with some very valid points.