‘People love drama and dance. It’s always about telling stories, not just movement. Dance is not about how you move but what moves you’
By Jairo Rodrigues
Say the name Clive Prowell and people immediately think Classique Dance Company or more recently, the critical judge of GT&T’s Feel the Beat Dance Competition, but there’s more to Clive than dance.
Clive Tevin Prowell was born at the Bartica Public Hospital on February 6, 1978. He spent a few of his childhood years there before migrating to the island-state of St Lucia at the age of six. He returned to Guyana around age 13 when the creative juices started to flourish.
Clive has three older siblings (two sisters and one brother) but as the youngest, he did not get to play with them, so he felt as secluded as an only child.
He did not get to play cricket, or climb trees like his older brother did; he spent most of his time alone, which led him to create stuff out of paper, and it was from there that his love for the expressive arts developed.
Once he had concluded his Caribbean Secondary Examinations Certificate (CSEC) examinations, he went straight into studying dance, but unofficially. “I knew I always wanted to be in dance, or head into fashion so I worked towards that,” he said. Back then, Clive was also learning the art of what he described as his “first love” – home décor.
Even though Clive was interested in dancing since his preteens, the wheels were only set in motion after secondary school. Clive explained how he went with a friend to a National School of Dance production and found himself complaining about every item presented. His friend then challenged him to show that he could do better and he did.
Vivienne Daniel, instructor at the National School of Dance noticed his gift and encouraged him to work on it. Deciding then to get a little more serious about dance, Clive dropped everything to pursue his calling. He was 18 years old at the time and was the general manager of his sister’s mining company.
Clive described dance as liberating and expressive. “Dancing takes me into a safe place, where I’m in total control of what happens,” he said.
Clive graduated at the top of his class as a certified dance instructor after a two-year programme run by the Department of Culture, which aimed at promoting dance teachers. However, although he can, he does not train dancers.
Clive is highly motivated by Vivienne Daniel and draws his inspiration and expressive techniques from world renowned dancers Lester Horton, Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham.
Now the director and manager of Guyana’s number one and most successful groups – the Classique Dance Company, Clive said, “I love the position I’m in. I love what I do and it’s fun. I started this company so that male dancers could get the respect and acknowledgement they deserve. My dancers know I want the best for them. I always tell them: not matter what we do, dance must win. I’m doing something I love and I’m trying to make sure the dancers have the same passion I have for dance.”
Not only is Classique centre on the national stage, the group has done well in New York several times and is working hard on a European tour; possibly a nonstop world tour and to scope the Caribbean.
Apart from dancing and directing, Clive fulfils other dreams such as interior designing. He managed and produced Feel the Beat and is involved in the Jamzone reality show. There are also other projects managed by his other company – Zig Zag Productions. The company is responsible for special events such as the upcoming show “Sancofa” by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
Asked what he did outside of his work schedules, Clive said, “I’m extremely boring outside of dance. To tell you the honest truth, I love being alone, it’s the best thing in the world. I like listening to music especially jazz and one of my all-time favourites to do is ‘outside’ shopping.”
Although Clive does not consider himself to be “a people person”, he recognises that because of his work he ought to be social. He is not a clubber and seldom would be happy at parties. He mentioned that ironically, he did a show called “What’s Hot Guyana” where he would be advertising and encouraging people to go to the hottest and biggest parties Guyana had to offer; while he would never go.
On Feel the Beat, Clive was the judge who had all of the dancers scared because of straightforward remarks, but what most people don’t know is that he was “the man with the plan”. Clive himself conjured up the idea of Feel the Beat and had been dreaming of it for the past three years.
He eventually approached Hits and Jams Entertainment and the executives were excited. However, Clive stipulated that he wouldn’t proceed with the competition if the winner could not walk away with at least $1 million; and so the GT&T partnership was born.
Clive was originally cast as a temporary judge, but the producers loved him so much he was asked to remain. The competition aimed at educating dancers about the fact that there’s a world of opportunity out there. Clive described the whole experience as phenomenal.
Fans will never forget the dramatic solo performances by Nadata Vancooten, the eventual winner, in her fictitious portrayal of a relationship with Clive, which ended with his murder, burial and closure. Asked how he felt about Nadata’s dance expression centred so bluntly on him, he replied, “I think it was the smartest thing to do. People love drama and dance. It’s always about telling stories, not just movement. Dance is not about how you move but what moves you. Nadata is a great story teller. People can have all the technique in the world, but would need to know how to express it. That is what worked for Nadata and that is what put her all the way to the Top 3.”
Asked to comment on Nadata winning the competition, he said, “She was consistent week after week and I think Guyana will be very proud of her.”
The Scene could not pass up the opportunity to ask Clive what to expect for Season Two of Feel the Beat in 2013. Clive mentioned that next year will feature not individual dancers like this year did, but instead dance crews. Each group of 5 will come into the competition with their own styles, perform in various challenges and go home together – all in search for Guyana’s best Dance Crew.
Clive Prowell is a very busy individual and a perfectionist. His future is filled with opportunity and yet he is still devoted to Classique Dance Company and Zig Zag productions and is far too committed to back down now. He is already engrossed in the Jamzone Reality Show which premiered on June 24 on HJTV. The show centres on the real lives of a group of women as they commit to marketing Guyana; they will be attired in fantasy swimsuits, evening gowns and high fashion.
