I’m a poet, actor and dancer at the start of an amazing performance career. I was born in Jamaica, went to school in Manchester, moved to Birmingham to study and stayed here after finishing my degree.
Up until September 2005 I had no idea I’d become a performer – but I attended an Artsfest workshop on Performance Poetry and got hooked. It started with poetry, then expanded into acting when I did the NCFE Performance Skills course at Nu Century Arts April – September 2007, and when I was asked to join the group Mahogany Tree it really gave me an appetite for singing and dancing. I started belly dancing in September 2007 and am really looking forward to the intensive week course in Egypt later this year.
Poetry
Although I write for the page most of my work is for performance. I love live audiences, love the energy and the instant connection. Listen to some of my live performances and see some of my printed work.My poems reflect my observations of life as a biology teacher, a residential social worker and manager, a trainer, life coach, daughter, mother, lover and friend.
Acting
Although some of my friends claim I have been acting for years my first time officially on stage was in May 2007 when I played Joyce in Top Girls. I went on to play the Friar in Romeo and Juliet (played as a woman). My next performance was in Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens – I played the one who preyed on young boys - (see picture). I had the pleasure of co-writing a play with other course members in which I played Sonia, mother of a teenage daughter. The play ‘Twisted Roots’ was well received and may be produced again next year.I seem to have a thing with being cast as a mother as I played that role for a production of ‘Revisited’ at the Crescent Theatre directed by Kerry Murdock. I am now a member of Class Act based at the Custard Factory in Birmingham. This is exciting as it gives me the opportunity to be involved in films as well as plays.
Dancing
I’ve always danced; have always loved it but again, until recently never saw myself doing it on stage and for pay. When I joined Mahogany Tree I had the opportunity to do just that – mostly Caribbean and African moves which comes naturally.
I wanted to challenge myself to do something that required more discipline on my part and by some strange turn of fate found myself belly dancing – and loving it. See my first belly dance performance after 10 classes. Keep watching the site for more additions.