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| Rosita
Baltazar
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San Pedro is well-known as a place where the
people are festive and enjoy merry-making. This was also true of their ancestors
who found much enjoyment in the art of dancing. From the Mestizadas, doble paso
or the traditional waltz, dancing brought unity and happiness to the town's
people. Carnaval was an especially fun time of the year when the young men and
women showed off their best dance moves during the "comparsas". With the growth
of the island also came new influences of all aspects, including new dances. The
natural ability of the islanders has come together in the formation of many
dance groups and their techniques have been polished by many great teachers.
Names like Rommie Taegar, Rene Ozaeta, Deni Eiley and Velie Paz Williams are
only a few of the talented people who have shared their dancing skills with
other young women and men of outstanding dance groups in San Pedro. One of the
most celebrated groups of their time was the Sunshine Girls, who graciously
represented the island in national dance competitions and functions. Today, San
Pedro prides itself with two of the finest dance groups worthy of both national
and international recognition. However, the success on stage for these young
artists lies in the hands of their teachers, who carefully coach and mold them
into graceful performers. This week we are pleased to introduce the dance
instructor and choreographer of the San Pedro Dance Company - Miss Rosita
Baltazar. Born in Livingston, Guatemala, Rosita was raised
in a rich Garifuna culture, which she says motivated her to pursue a dancing
career. As a young child she was drawn to the performing arts and soon became
the center of attention in class performances and Christmas pageants. A natural
on stage, she joined the Leo Mar School of Dance in Belize City where she
received her first professional dance lessons. Rosita had all the requirements
to become a great dancer: stamina, determination and grace. Shortly after her
enrollment in this school, she excelled in class and was told she had a
successful dance future. Having tasted the exhilaration of performing before an
audience, she made up her mind to further enhance her skills. Rosita went on to
learn new techniques with prestigious companies such as the Jamaica National
Dance Company, the Sarasota Ballet Arts School in Florida, USA, the Canterbury
College of Theatrical Arts in London, England and the Folklore Dance Company of
Mexico. Rosita learned a great deal from these schools and she brought this
knowledge back to Belize. She also gained many skills studying under Cuban
professor Edwardo Rivera. In 1990, she joined the Belize
National Dance Company, a company formed in the image of outsiders which has
risen to one that stands tall and proud as uniquely Belizean. Rosita swiftly
assumed the job as director of the junior company. She worked with children four
to six years old teaching basic ballet and also taught ballet, modern and jazz
to seven to fourteen year-olds. As a teacher, Rosita was strict with her
students, but always at the end of the day she rewarded them with a warm smile
and a gentle pat on the back. As a member of the Belize Dance Company, she
performed her best and soon became one of the leading dancers, landing major
roles in their productions. She has also conducted various teachers' dance
workshops in San Ignacio and Belize City. In 1998, Rosita
was given the opportunity to become the dance instructor for the San Pedro Dance
Company, a branch of the Belize National Dance Company. She accepted the offer
with much enthusiasm and since then has made weekly visits to the island to
train the over 80 students. Her contribution to the dance performances in San
Pedro has definitely made a difference. Her extensive knowledge of jazz, punta,
modern, ballet and folkloric dances is vividly portrayed by her talented
students at many local and international events. Rosita
Baltazar has made a positive contribution to the development and preservation of
cultural and artistic expression through structured dance training and promotion
of the art of dance in San Pedro. Her expertise in the performing arts shows in
the graceful and polished presentations of the dances in "Our Community."
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