Certain things stick in my mind, and nowadays that accomplishment gets to be less and less. But I remember when my mother asked me if I wanted to take dance classes. I was living in Guyana, in a house on Campbellville Avenue, our first house when we moved from England. And I was sitting on my parent's bed, six or seven years old, when I replied, YES.
In 1972, Guyana's National School of Dance was recently formed and classes were being taught by Madame Lavinia Williams. At the time, I only knew her as my teacher. I learned ballet, West African dance, and in my final year, I learned Indian dancing. In her classes, I worked hard. She had a stick that she pounded on the floor as she called out the ballet movements or the West African dance movements.
One of the highlights was that we performed at the National Cultural Center, a new auditorium to feature Guyana's talent. I couldn't believe that I would dance on stage, with make-up no less. An
d from there, my dream to be a dancer took hold. I danced all the way through high school performing in school productions and then in college. More than dancing, I loved choregraphing. I still have a VHS tape of my final high school dance production where I had choreographed and danced in several numbers.
d from there, my dream to be a dancer took hold. I danced all the way through high school performing in school productions and then in college. More than dancing, I loved choregraphing. I still have a VHS tape of my final high school dance production where I had choreographed and danced in several numbers.But this part of me that I cherished is a large part due to Madame Lavinia Williams. As I got older, my mother told me about her. During my research of her as I write this blog, I learned more.
Madame Lavinia Williams (1916-1989) was an African American born in Philadelphia, grew up in Virginia and went to New York after high school. She joined the American Negro Ballet where she began her career with classical ballet, folk and modern dance. Then under Katherine Dunham, she mastered Caribbean dance.
She danced leading roles with the Katherine Dunham Dance Company from 1940 to 1945. She also appeared with the company in the Broadway musical ''Cabin in the Sky'' and in the films ''Stormy Weather'' and ''Carnival of Rhythm.'' After leaving the Dunham company, Miss Williams toured Europe with the Noble Sissle revival of ''Shuffle Along,'' dancing the role originated by Josephine Baker. She was considered a leader in teaching Haitian dance. Miss Williams arrived in Haiti in 1953 to work with members of the National Folkloric Troupe. From 1953 -late 1980s, she created several national dance schools in the Caribbean, including Guyana in 1972.
She married Leon Theremin in the middle 1930s, but he was abducted in 1938 and returned to the Soviet Union to be imprisoned at a labor camp never to be seen again. She later remarried and has two 
daughters, one who is also a dancer.
daughters, one who is also a dancer.In my short life experience with Madame Lavinia Williams, I am so grateful to her for opening another window to the world.
Michelle
Gamble On Love
Kimani Romance, Oct. 2008
5 comments:
Thanks for sharing...what a beautiful tribute!
xoxo
Glad you enjoyed it. She was a strong presence, but you usually are when you are a leader and risk taker.
Michelle
I also was a student of madame Lavinia Williams. She made an impact in the lives of a lot of little caribbean children. I remember her always. I think a building or a street should be named after her. My wish is to tell her daughter Sara Yarborough Smith what an inspiration her mother was....thanks
I remember taking a trip to LeClerk Habitation in 1967 with Sara Yarborough, and she posed for photos at the pool built for Pauline Bonaparte LeClerk, emblematic of the Old Regime in the last days of Saint-Domingue. I worked for Pan Am at the time and met the Yarborough family at the Oloffson Hotel where staged performances were held for the tourists. Sara and I whirled and twirled across the dance floor. Shannon played drums. Lavinia reigned as prima-ballerina of Haiti, and invited me to her home as well as her private beach. I will never forget what a great lady she was.
I would love if you could help me locate my 1st cousin Sara Yarborough. Her mother Lavinia was my mothers older sister. My Grandmother Marie Williams introduced us back in 1960 something when we were both kids. Since both our mothers are deceased I would only like to say hello.
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