AFTER making them the focus of its recent production, Stages, the leadership of the Tivoli Dance Troupe is again focusing on its young members, but in a different way.

As it has been doing since its first dance production 24 years ago, the highly decorated troupe is assisting its dancers with supplies for the new school year. It began by providing uniform material to the Tigi Tots (4-8- year-olds), Weeny Tots (8-12-year-olds) and Junior (12-15- year-olds) categories, and has added notebooks this year.

Public relations officer of the troupe, Veronica Sewell-Morgan, explained that the organisation felt it was responsible for shouldering some of the back-to-school preparations given that the children dedicate much of their time to dancing.

“Seeing as the children have to go back to school and some of their parents are not even working, we think it is only natural that we help them to go back to school,” she said in interview with the Jamaica Observer.

She noted that it is was a big help for the struggling families in the inner-city communities from which some of its young members come.

“It has benefits, as the parents don’t have to buy uniform, and it really helps the students. The community is really glad to see that there is an entity helping the kids,” she added.

Sewell-Morgan noted that the troupe’s sense of responsibility goes beyond dancing and back-to-school assistance, as it also tries to inculcate good values and pass on life lessons to the youngsters when they are in its care.

“They are dedicated children, but we don’t only teach them dancing. We teach them discipline and things like how to speak properly. Also, they have to do homework before they start dancing when they come to rehearsal,” she explained.

This year, approximately 60 children benefited from the initiative but, as Morgan tells it, it varies year to year.

Morgan said that the dancers from the troupe who have benefited from the back-to-school assistance have done well in their studies over the years. She pointed to the fact that dancers have often been placed in traditional high schools after sitting the Grade Six Achievement Test. She also mentioned scholarship winners, including two dancers who are currently studying abroad.

The troupe only wishes more corporate assistance would come its way.

“One of the main things is a call for more corporate sponsors to come and assist. You find that some people are afraid of inner-city communities. So we would definitely appreciate more corporate sponsors,” she told Career and Education.

The troupe is based in the West Kingston community of Tivoli Gardens, but its members — which total 98 — are from various communities across the Corporate Area and St Catherine.

— Aldane Walters