DANCER and choreographer Jessica Shaw cannot remember a time when she was not dancing. Being the daughter of choreographer Paula Shaw allowed her to be exposed to the art from a very early age.

“My mother sent me to study ballet with Elizabeth Samuda from about age three and I have not looked back since,” the 23-year-old related to the Jamaica Observer.

Twenty years after she was introduced to her first ballet class, Shaw is now the ballet mistress at L’Acadco, one of Jamaica’s foremost dance companies. The dreadlocked performer told the Sunday Observer that it is pointless to disregard her mother’s influence in her chosen path.

“For as long as I can remember she has been choreographing for the JMTC [Jamaica Musical Theatre Company] and Father Ho Lung and I was always tagging along with her to rehearsals. At one point I was referred to as Paula’s Little Shadow as I was not only holding on to her every move but was also giving instruction and correcting the actors and dancers when they weren’t doing the choreography quite right.”

She however quickly grew out of her mother’s shadow and stepped into her own spotlight. Five years ago a chance meeting with the L’Antoinette Stines — the artistic director of L’Acadco — reaped major rewards, as she was asked to join the company.

“I was performing at an event and afterwards she came up to me and complimented me… I was ecstatic. I had always admired her work so it was the best of both worlds colliding, I chose L’Acadco and L’Acadco chose me.” Shaw describes the early days with the company as culture shock.

As she now had to learn Stines’ signature technique L’Antech, which she explained utilises every part of the body — quite different from the training she had received over the years. “It was a little hard getting used to the technique, but over time I have gotten to appreciate it.” And what’s it like working with Stines?

“She is such a dynamic person that it takes some work on the part of dancers to keep up with her mind. She will walk into the studio and demonstrate something and we are like ‘what is that?’ It challenges us to stay on our toes and I believe that is what makes L’Acadco the dynamic company that it is today,” explained Shaw.

This young graduate of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Performance and Choreography. She describes her personal dance style as being contemporary athletic.

“The best way to describe it is swift movements in a free-flowing form, pretty much like water,” Shaw stated. Of the local dance scene, Shaw has nothing but high praises.

“The dance world is growing rapidly. We are heading in the right direction, and putting out good work.

We must however be more exposed to what happening in the wider world. Bring the expertise to Jamaica so more local dancers can be exposed, as opposed to just a few having the opportunity to go overseas and experience.”