They are known for their smooth moves on stage but this weekend the New Generation Dance Group wants to take it to another level. Tomorrow night the group will premiere a musical and dance play they call the "Street Side Christmas." The show is geared towards youths and students. St. Mary's Primary School students got a sneak peek this morning. 7NEWS was there.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This is the New Generation Dancers doing what they do best - dancing. Sometimes they are fast and sometimes they are slow. But these dancers are always precise and on point - even if it is one of their newest dancers - ten year old Shevon.
But when the New Generation Dancers performed this morning for St. Mary's Primary School students, they were more than just showing off cool dance moves. There was a message in the dance. It is called 'Street Side Christmas' and Joseph Stamp is the choreographer.
Joseph Stamp, New Generation Dance Company
"It is about young people during Christmas making the wrong choices. I think that every time we heard Christmas we think about joyful times but there are people who don't have a lot and so they make wrong choices to get them.
Right about now the crime is on the rise, many people want material things and they are not making the right choices to achieve those things so crime happens. I am not saying that is the only factor but that is a major thing and so we are emphasizing that, that you still have to make right choices on the streets and it is up to you to choose what you want in your future life."
It is message Stamp says he needs to get across to as many young people he can - and for him there is no better way do than dance.
Joseph Stamp,
"I think as a person, as an artist, I think it is part of my progression whereby I want to give people something positive in my dancing. I realize that hip-hop has a huge influence in Belize, the young Belizeans in particular, and so I want to kind of portray something they can relate to, something positive. It is important because I think it is my responsibility and my dancers' as well."
And that's why Stamp says they'll be taking it to a stage near you.
Showtime tomorrow is 8 pm at the Parish Hall and tickets go for $7. With the money raised, Joseph Stamp says he hopes to take the show on the road.
