By Jairo Rodrigues
Paul Anthony Charles, one of the top dancers with the widely acclaimed Classique Dance Company is on a self-propelled upward curve that has so far won him the inaugural Mr Guyana International title and he is determined to rise even higher.
Aside from the fact that the Mr Guyana International pageant was the first of its kind in Guyana, and one that he figured would gain a lot of attention, Paul signed up for very personal reasons. Paul had dropped out of school to find a job to assist his single-parent mother who was struggling. This could very well have been the beginning of his downhill descent, but Paul began a struggle of his own; computer classes and later dance became his means of elevation.
Paul, who is 28, said he wanted people to hear his message which was also the aim behind the competition – that male role models that can influence society. He saw the attraction of empowerment and benefiting his community through the mentoring programme he called “not just a pageant.”
Speaking with The Scene, Paul said that having been a school dropout, he “wanted to use this as a platform to educate and bring awareness to the cause and effect and how it affects men in Guyana. I wanted to be the face and role model to many out there who are victims and see it as the end of the road. I want to show a different side to Paul Charles – not just the dancer on stage but a human being with a cause and I want to see a difference for our young people in Guyana.”
Expanding on the topic, he said that dropping out of school was “destroying the lives of our future leaders and citizens; this contributes to criminal activities in Guyana. Students in high school are struggling to graduate often times because of poverty, abuse, neglect, lack of parental guidance, or/and economic pressures at home. There is also bullying at school, negative peer pressure….”
He continued, “It is not that parents do not want to see better for their children, it is the lack of resources. So children now have to go out and get things done in helping themselves and parents which is not healthy… A growing number of students especially boys are dropping out of school and this can [also] be linked to the fact that there are limited male role models in the teaching profession.”
Paul says it is never a good choice and he will do anything to encourage students to pursue their education.
The pageant
He said the competition was a learning programme where every day something new and different came to the table. Meeting nine other men who also wanted to see a difference for men and their communities inspired him. The lesson that he really learned was self-worth, “As a man you have to find that inner being and purpose…, [and] you can be anything you want to be in life.”
He said making a difference involves being able to “…stand up and fight against the problems I may be facing or issues that are affecting me and other men in Guyana; finding that willpower to achieve these goals in life. With my title I want to see and make a difference for youths who are victims of dropping out of school… with the blessings of the Ministry of Education, the government and people of Guyana, I believe I can do it. We can do it.”
During his reign Paul plans on visiting low income communities to talk to parents and children about the importance of education and how dropping out can affect an entire generation.
Winning the competition has also earned him the right to represent Guyana in other international pageants. He also earned the titles of Mr Caribbean Guyana and Mr Guyana Worldwide 2015. Mr Caribbean will be held in the Dominican Republic come March next year and Mr Worldwide in the United States on September 6. He plans on making his country proud and representing to the fullest.
“I will lay all my cards out and with my determination and mind set I am ready to face the world… My diversity, skill, personality and charm – that’s all [I] need. I will be blessing them with our rich culture and my ‘A’ Game.”
He is not new to modelling or pageantry. In 2005 he competed in the Supermodel Search competition, FaceOff in 2006 and Guyana Model Search in 2008 and 2012. He was the first runner-up for the Mr Tourism United Nations pageant and won Mr Photogenic in many competitions. “Being in pageants and modelling opened my eyes. They are very educational so I walk away a better man and rounded individual, finding myself every time. It is worth knowing my true power, self-discipline and self-value 100%. I am now a better man and a role model and a father figure to many out there.”
Classique
Paul has been with the Classique Dance Company for 11 of the 15 years of its existence. He grew with the company as it topped the ranks to be one of Guyana’s best dance studios. Paul has headlined many of its superb productions.
Open to many different dancing styles, a well-rounded, can-do-any-dance-style dancer, Paul loves the contemporary form the most; it brings out the best in him as a dancer. His versatility and willingness to learn new moves and styles have earned him the nickname ‘the Dare of Dance’.
Apart from local Classique productions, his portfolio includes Carifesta X; ‘Starkast’ with the Let’s Dance dance studio; ‘Dance Season’ with the National Dance Company; Folk Festival in the USA; Barbados Dance Portfolio; Classique in New York and at Ministry of Culture events. He has performed in Suriname, French Guiana, Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica.
He recalled with pride that in 2008, he was the dancing mascot and face of the Carifesta X logo. He is a trainer in dance competitions, an instructor and volunteer artist in dance workshops across the regions.
Paul’s dance career started in 2003 when he joined ‘Devine Stars’ an African dance group. After two months of hard work and training he entered the ‘Dance Mania’ competition eventually coming in at fourth place. It was during the contest that he met Classique Director Clive Prowell who taught him how to do Indian dances.
After spending three months with Devine he joined the beginners’ course at Classique but within three months, he was in the advance class due to his commitment, passion and determination. With hard work day and night and the goal to get better he moved up from a student to a member of the company and now not only is he a senior member but the oldest member. He has also been serving as a dance instructor for the past five years.
“I am not just a dance teacher but I have become a father figure to many students out there. They look up to me as a father figure and some of them even call me ‘Daddy’. What a feeling! So now I am not just a dancer, I am a role model and the face to look up to for many upcoming dancer and especially male dancers.”
He recalled too that as a child, he had no interest in dance; he wanted to become an accountant. He was drawn to dance from watching television then had the opportunity to pursue it at a youth group in 2003.
His biggest motivation comes from his family and fans. “They are always there and ready to have back. My self-motivation is [also] at a high level. I believe in myself. I do not care what the world has against me because I know myself. To all my haters, I love you. In the words of my mother ‘strive for success through hard work and perseverance’.”
Paul is inspired by Clive Prowell. “Seeing and being around him and learning from him made a difference, not only for me but generally dance on the whole in Guyana, especially for male dancers. He has made people look at dance in a respectful way. He believed in what he wanted and he fought for that and went after his dreams,” he said.
Paul is also inspired by people on the street who recognise him and compliment him on his dancing skill. “They always encourage me to fly,” he said.
“Getting up every day and knowing I am going to do something I love is a blessing. I feel as though I change lives through my talent and that is a huge inspiration.
“Dance has opened my eyes and doors for me and made me the individual I am today.”
His idol is his mother. Paul described her as a strong and independent woman who is outgoing and very determined to fight through life. “She is a woman of substance, a phenomenal woman, a protector and a provider… my mother Sharon Khan.”
Paul shared that it is really hard for an artist to live a “good life” in Guyana, that is financially stable, but he believes when it comes to talent, especially dance his abilities and determination may change that. He wants to have his own foundation for youth education encouraging artistic talents. His goal is to be a professional internationally recognised dancer and has his heart set on attending the Alvin Ailey Dance Company in the United States.
