She’s a belly dancer…
At 22 years old, Gabrielle Beckford is a belly dancing expert and an aspiring veterinarian.
Currently a student at the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies, she is pursuing a degree in veterinary sciences.
The last of five girls, this Immaculate Conception High graduate always knew that she would be a veterinarian, but what she didn’t know was her other passion.
As fate would have it, she stumbled across the artform in her teens while she was watching a television programme.
“I remember watching this programme on Fit TV. It was called Shimmy. I watched it with my sisters,” Beckford said.
Just from watching, Beckford has managed to teach herself the essentials of the artform; however, at the time she could not find any classes to attend in Jamaica. It was her sister and her fiancé who jokingly suggested that she should teach belly dancing.
The first time she taught a class was when Martino Redwood, a gym owner and founder of Demolishun Break Dance Crew, gave her the opportunity to teach a beginners’ belly dance class at his studio.
“For that I’m truly very grateful. I really did consider this my launching pad as from then on I have grown from strength to strength,” she said.
Beckford noted that for an entire year there weren’t much people attending her classes, and she contemplated whether she should continue.
“But a client who I now consider a mentor, Kristie Stephenson, gave me some encouraging words. She had recently gone through some hiccups herself and was also just starting her jewellery line (Story and Myth Jewellery). She remained positive and she handled everything with grace and poise. That inspired me to not give up.”
Now she has plans to expand her blog, Light Your Fire Ja, and delve into other business ventures in the near future.
In her spare time she does photography and volunteers.
“Learn from somebody wiser than you,” she advised other women. “This saves you time. And also no matter how many nos you get, it just takes one person to say yes. Having a ‘thoughts and ideas’ diary and asking God to help you manifest them actually does help.”
You can find Beckford on Facebook by searching for Raks Sharki Ja. She hosts belly dancing workouts every summer.
“It’s a cardio work out,” she shared.
