by Mindy Liquiana Chicot
Dancers tell stories and portray emotions with their bodies through various styles like ballet, hip-hop and modern dance. For this beautiful, sensuous and multi-talented dancer it is an expression of life. ‘Live, Love and Dance’ has been Tennail Thomas-Wolff’s personal mantra for the past 28 years.
Tennail gravitated to dance from the tender age of five. It was as if it was embedded in her genes. Born in the community of Cedars, Tennail attended the Ave Maria Girl’s Primary and the Entrepot Secondary, and subsequently the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) where she studied building technology.
While she was at SALCC, she was encouraged to take up dance by Yalitza García, an acclaimed Cuban dancer and instructor who ended up changing Tennail’s life forever. García was invited to St. Lucia to develop dance productions and musicals at the then Club Saint Lucia by Splash. Tennail auditioned successfully for a role in García’s ensemble. Thereafter she was faced with having to choose whether she wanted to continue her schooling or become García’s pupil. The rest is “pretty much history”, says Tennail. Dazzle puts the spotlight on this remarkably gifted artiste and her inspiring life story.
Dazzle: How long have you been dancing?
Tennail: I started very early, from age five. I began with the Charmalion Dance Co. under the leadership and tutelage of Rosemary Etienne. I left Charmalion at 16 and moved to the Les Enfants Dance Academy. I was personally scouted by the late Virgina Alexander, as she always admired my style of dance. I also auditioned and trained by Christine Samuel for the National Theatre Dance Company where I was one of their first set of dancers.
Dazzle: At what point in your life did you realise that dance was your career of choice?
Tennail: I think it was during the audition at Club Saint Lucia. That was the defining moment for me when I decided, ‘Hey this is what I want to do!’ Everything about that experience thrilled me, especially the professionalism of the choreographer. She showed us what dance could be beyond Saint Lucia.
Dazzle: Have you explored the academic facets of dance?
Tennail: I wouldn’t say formal academics but I have done quite a bit of training. I’ve also done a lot of training workshops in Guadeloupe, which was funded by the Government of Saint Lucia through the CDF. I had the opportunity to work at the Almond Morgan Bay Hotel as the Entertainment Manager and Dance Choreogrpaher. During my tenure there, I was sent to Italy to undergo formal dance training. This was an amazing experience from which I really grew in the more technical aspects of dance.
Dazzle: How far would you say dance has taken you?
Tennail: My entire career has been dance. I’ve been dancing from the age of five and I have progressed tremendously. From around age seven I started travelling all around the Caribbean representing Saint Lucia with the Charmalion Dancers. I have visited most, if not all the islands. I have also been to many states in the US, Canada, the UK and Europe. One of the landmark events in my career was my acceptance into the Alvin Ailey School of Dance in 2001. Another one was in 2010 when I auditioned and got accepted for the role of Princess Tianna with Euro Disney (Paris). Also, in 2010 I was granted a private audition for the Lion King in London although I did not pursue any due to circumstances at the time. All in all, it has been an extremely fulfilling experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.
Dazzle: What kind of impact does dance have on the different areas of your life?
Tennail: Because of my experience with Yalitza García, it really helped to instil a strong work ethic in me. It helped me to progress not just in dance but in management as well. I think the area in which it has had the biggest impact is my discipline. After all, dance is a discipline; you are either in or out. I have committed myself to always being on time and giving my best.
Dazzle: What are you doing now?
Tennail: What I’m doing now is very exciting. I recently opened a dance studio, Motion Studios located upstairs the former AF Valmont in Rodney Bay, next to the International School. There I offer a variety of dance and dance-fitness classes. They cater to kids (4-12), teens (13-17) and adults (18 plus). For the kids and teens I focus mainly on modern and contemporary dance. I am very strict when it comes to learning and developing proper technique.
Dazzle: What inspired you to undertake such a venture?
Tennail: One of the things that propelled me into this venture is witnessing the lack of technique used by dancers over the past couple of years. My husband encouraged me to start the dance studio as I often complained about it. He was like, “why don’t you just train them … open a studio and train them. If you are complaining about it then do something about it.” We then went searching for a place and two weeks later we had a studio.
Aside from that I have a very deep passion for dance. I would like very much to see the art form grow. Nothing would be more gratifying than to see a bunch of absolutely incredible dancers on the stage, knowing that I was involved in their training and development and that I can help them progress.
People always ask me, ‘How do you stay so small?’ A big reason is because I dance too much. I dance six days a week for a minimum of six hours a day. Also, With respect to my adult students, I wanted to give them something to look forward to, something fun and in keeping with what they wanted.
Dazzle: How does your academy differ from other dance schools?
Tennail: We offer modern and contemporary dance, Zumba, Burlesque, Soca abs, bums and thighs, also two African dance classes. At the end of the month we will be introducing pole fitness and a gymnastics class for the kids.
Dazzle: What are your dreams for the future?
Tennail: I would love it if the school could develop into a franchise throughout the Caribbean because I do believe that we are not only faced with those challenges here in Saint Lucia. Dominica needs it. so does St. Vincent, St. Kitts and the rest of the islands. So in the next five years I would love to see us grow into that kind of franchise that is renowned and well known for our top quality dance classes. When people think of training, dance and development, I want it to be synonymous with the name Motions Studio.
