Beverley-Ann Ottley-Mc Lean's bread and butter job is that of Officer in Charge of the Passport Section of the Immigration Office in San Fernando. But her face lights up when she speaks of life as a dancer for more than thirty years.
The attractive mother of 14 year old Dainelle and 10 year old Jor-el, is still basking in the afterglow of having recently taken seven 14-19 year old dancers from her Los Ninos School of Dance on a tour to Grenada. "We were so well received at the annual Rainbow City Festival in Grenville that we were approached by a few people who didn't realise we were from Trinidad, to join our group. That spoke volumes of how much we were appreciated."
The past student of St Joseph's Convent, St Joseph, started modern dance with Joyce Kirton, and also received some training at Leeds University Dance School in England, where she lived for a year. Ottley-Mc Lean has performed in numerous places and has also done a lot of local shows with Les Enfants Dance Company, which is still managed by her mentor, Joyce Kirton.
When three-year old Dainelle was dancing with her school's dance group, the young mother was moved to form her own group. "I realised I would have possibly dealt with children in a different way if I were teaching them. I had a readymade facility in my parents' gym - Lu's Fit-Nest at Southern Main Road, Marabella - so started with Dainelle, did some advertising, which attracted about ten students, worked with them and have blossomed now to 45 students on roll. Already about 150 students have passed through Los Ninos."
Deciding the time had come to take her group further afield in celebration of the school's ninth anniversary, Beverley spoke to Kirton, who put her on to the leader of the Spiceland Dance Group, and in turn she was passed to the person in charge of the Rainbow City Festival. This materialised in an invitation to perform in Grenville.
The group of seven dancers led by director/choreographer, Ottley-Mc Lean, and manager, Jacinta Baksh, along with two avid supporters, left on August 2 for performances on August 4th and 5th and were hosted at the Minister of Health's home in Paraclete. " We had a segment of three dances per night, so actually did six dances" explained Beverley. "These included 'Power' by Ella Andell, "Alive" by Celine Dion, "Patta Patta" an African piece of music, "Spiritual Joy" by The Brooklyn Choir of Choirs, and a Senegalese rhythm depicting the Sengalese Jungle, at least our interpretation of its animals and humans dressed accordingly."
The performances which should have taken place in the capital of St George's fell through due to unforeseen circumstances. It didn't matter as Beverley was just "very, very proud of my girls. I don't usually teach boys, they are only included for concerts when there is drama etc. Not only were my girls fantastic on stage but they bonded beautifully especially as there had been some shaky moments before we left Trinidad through some clashes of personality. However, they have admitted that it was a fantastic idea to live together for that week, because a lot of benefits came out of it. "
For next year's tenth anniversary on February 6, 2003, the dance school is hoping to bring a friend from Norway, Arlene Wilkes, a Trini by birth, to guest on a show right here at home.
Although disappointed in replies for sponsorship because says Ottley- Mc Lean "when we approached sponsors, the first impression was that we are not well known enough for them to sponsor us, we did get help from four companies: SSL Induserve, Compression & Power, Lu's Fit- Nest and SSR Drugs, but mostly had to fund our way this time." She expressed surprise at not getting a better response to her requests which would help to keep the young people of the nation occupied and off the streets.
Beverley still performs when her group hosts its annual concert at the Naparima Bowl. But sticks to teaching modern, interpretative dance where you can interpret the mood of the music so that it is easily understood by the audience. "I include a bit of ballet because you have to learn ballet positions before you actually get into the movement of modern dance, so as to extend to jazz and folk, all of which is about modern. I like to be creative and so go for dance where I can create my own moods, and will not indulge in what restricts my creativity."
Want to join Los Ninos? Simply turn up on any Saturday at Lu's Fit- Nest Gym and enrol with either the secretary or a member of management.