‘Kreative arts’ A mandate to help others through the art of dance

Creatively using dancing as a vehicle for disciplining and encouraging a healthy lifestyle has been local dance company Kreative Arts’ mission.
The contemporary dance group was started in 2006 by husband and wife Jonathan and Esther Hamer, both choreographers and co-directors who wanted to bring a fresh perspective on the art form in Guyana. The group is known for its creative dance performances and costumes.

Kreative Arts was initially made up of actors, dancers and musicians, and incorporated all the performing arts. However, some members later went on different paths, and the group refocused largely on dancing.
Speaking with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine Jonathan Hamer noted that his love for the arts, and enthusiasm for dancing inspired him to start his own dance company with his wife, who also shares a similar love and passion.
Jonathan said that his love for dancing stemmed from observing his sister and her dance teacher, a former National Dance Company member Mr Daniels, dancing. Mimicking the dance moves, he began to practice and in time became very good at it. At primary school, Jonathan gave dancing tips to his teacher who was so impressed she even incorporated the dance moves in her choreography for a school concert.
“The popular dance show, “Soul Train”, was huge, and I even took some dance moves from there. In high school, I would come up with dance choreography and perform at concerts. I got popular, and other schools would request I do school concerts. Later on, I became a physical education teacher and even started the first cheerleader group in Guyana. Then I worked with the National School of Dance and performed at Carifesta in Suriname and Guyana, which were spectacular experiences. I also worked with Classique Dance Company as a school director for over five years, training dancers of all ages,” Jonathan recalled.
Esther Hamer, Jonathan’s dance and life partner, started dancing at just four-years-old, and disclosed that she would dance to anything when she was smaller. When her parents noticed her talent, they decided to sign her up, along with her sisters who share a similar passion for dancing, with the National School of Dance.
“I began dancing with the National School of Dance but took a break off dancing and started back at age 18 with the Crystalite Dance Company. I did a bit of ballroom but mostly Latin dances. I then moved on to Classique Dance Company, but when I left there, my husband and I decided to start Kreative Arts. I have a natural love for it, and it was a talent I had since I was a child. Through dancing I met my husband and we now have three children- two boys, nine and seven, and my five-year-old daughter. Sharing the same love for something with my husband, in our case dancing, has helped our relationship because we understand the long hours each one has to dedicate to this art. My children also love the arts. The boys are into drumming and singing but my daughter loves dancing,” Esther revealed.
Kreative Arts has, over the years, collaborated with various dance companies and productions, including Naya Zamana, Nitraygeet, and many others. It has about 40 members at present with students from as young as age 3. The Hamer’s dance company also has a subsidiary, GuyDance, which invites professional choreographers and dancers once a month to provide dance training and workshops free of charge for interested individuals.
The dance company also works collaboratively with Deaf in Guyana, teaching dancing to deaf students at the David Rose School. Esther stated that the art form has significantly contributed to improving the children’s behaviour, and serves as a therapeutic medium in helping them hope with their disability.
“We’re currently working on an upcoming production with the children. Dancing has helped tremendously with their behaviour. Initially, when I went there, they were very aggressive in getting my attention and with other students. Some of them would harshly lash me on my back to get my attention, but now they are more disciplined and are appreciative towards each other. They have grown beautifully in dancing and we’re currently even teaching some of them to be choreographers so that they too can teach others because we may not be around all the time,” Esther noted.
The couple pointed out that dancing keeps them physically fit and has opened avenues to travel abroad to meet other dancers, which has broadened their knowledge of dancing. They believe that dancing is not just about getting up and moving, but is far deeper. It requires learning numerous techniques that help dancers to be well-rounded.
“Dancing is about discipline, and this is what we teach our students. It’s also a form of exercise so we get them into stretching for flexibility, which is ideal for dancers, and also eating right. At Kreative Arts, we have persons coming to classes solely for keeping fit. I would sometime call my group the ‘sick group’ because we have persons who would get seizures and are asthmatic. Luckily, these ones have never had an attack because of being trained on breathing exercises. Breathing is an important aspect when dancing and by teaching proper breathing exercises has helped these ones with their illnesses. We encourage persons to get into dancing because it’s a fun and healthy way to keep fit,” Esther encouraged.
For more information on the group visit Kreative Arts on Facebook.(Guyana Times Sunday Magazine)