Arts Intranet

When the Music in Motion School for Higher Dance Education (MMSHDE) in St. Croix reached out to the International Association for Blacks in Dance (IABD) for support in September 2018, I snatched the online bulletin and hit the ground running. I had been looking for a way to get more involved with IABD, but at the time, I didn’t have reliable transportation which would have allowed me to take part in their Administrative Internship Program at Headquarters. But if I knew that if I could find a way to participate in and help my dance community, then I would.

I reached out to local dance studios: Washington Dancewear, Divine Dance Institute, Supreme Productions and Company, and Neema Dance Collective, who willingly agreed to donate brand new and new condition dancewear to ship off to our Sister Island in the US Virgin Islands.

With the aid and support of Denise Saunders Thompson, President and CEO of IABD, MMSHDE’s Artistic Director Charlita Schuster’s students were equipped with new dance wear and costumes, allowing them to re-open their classes and start a new season titled “Get Up Off of that Thing!”

Now, in 2019, it’s an exciting time for the revived dance school. After the island saw devastation from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the school is back to holding classes, performing regularly, and participating in community affairs. I believe that it’s important to actually see the changes that happen when we help make a difference in the lives of others. It has been such a blessing to witness the Keeping Dance Alive movement in effect. It’s magic, inspiring a glow in the eyes of young dance students. Music in Motion School of Higher Education is becoming a beacon of hope, a place where anyone in the US Virgin Islands dance community can shine.

I caught up with moving force Charlita Schuster to capture moments since the IBAD stepped in to help their group in St. Croix. During this time, she shared with me her progress in dance as a School Administrator, Director of Music in Motion, arts advocate, and matriarch (mother and grandmother), and discussed how a simple dance program helps to heal and defy odds, uplift a people, and strengthen ties with the mainland United States.

Charlita, it’s been a few months since Keeping Dance Alive took place. What was your response to the contribution to you received from the International Association of Blacks in Dance?

My response as a Founder and Artistic Director was overwhelming. I never expected that the International Association of Blacks in Dance would come forward with assistance to our plea. I did not think that I would receive the amount of feedback and the support from the organization, but they proved us wrong.

How did the students react to the support?

When the students received support from the dance community from the mainland, they couldn’t believe that other studios and students wanted them to continue dancing, and they were so excited to have new dance wear.

How are the students inspired in their dancing today?

It has been very difficult to keep the fire burning. At one point, I wasn’t sure about how to get the students to move forward. The students felt like they didn’t want to continue dancing anymore and some struggled to move their bodies again.

How has the process of rebuilding affected the lives of the dancers personally?

Relocating to a new studio space has brought excitement to the students and they feel a lot happier knowing they have a safe environment.

How has art, dancing and performance affected/improved the lives of the public since the hurricane?

Many non-profit organizations have put on performances and Music in Motion was invited to perform. It is what I feel has helped our community.

What are you most excited about in this new season?

I am mostly excited about starting my after-school program and summer camp dance season.

What connections, bridges or intersections would you like to see take place between the US Mainland and the USVI Dance Community?

I would like to see the Department of Education receive more funding from the St. Croix Foundation and other foundations across the U.S., which will help develop a Dance Outreach Program with the University of the Virgin Islands.