Dance Icon Lorna “Ava” Henry

Lorna “Ava” Henry’s mastery as a dancer has been the subject of admiration from her teenage years, earning her the title of “Queen of Dance” in the Federation.

Born and raised in McKnight, Ava holds the honour of being the Federation’s first Choreographer/Dance Director. At the age of fifteen in 1975, she joined the Okolo Tegremantine Arts Theatre, remaining a dedicated member for an impressive 35 years, during which she served as the lead choreographer for 32 of those years.

Ava’s debut public performance took place in 1976 at the Fairview Inn, marking the beginning of a dance career that would take her to stages around the world. In 1979, she had the honour of representing St. Kitts at CARIFESTA in Cuba, performing a unique set of Masquerade Folkdances traditionally reserved for males, thereby breaking new ground by showcasing them on a regional stage with female dancers. This achievement led Ava and her dance partner to become the star attraction at the Ocean Terrace Inn’s Friday night performances.

Side profile of Ava surrounded by plants

Ava’s passion for dance led her in various directions, including conducting training workshops for locals and choreographing dance routines for pageant contestants. She continuously honed her skills through extensive training at institutions such as the Danza Ahoy School in Venezuela, the Jamaica School of Dance, and further studies in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. In 2005, Ava was one of three dancers from St. Kitts who travelled to Jamaica to refine their techniques and explore new forms of dance expression.

This dynamic and multi-talented lady pioneered, preserved, and performed, contributing significantly to the conceptualisation, choreography, and teaching of dance in St. Kitts. Her dedication and passion for dance and culture were officially recognised when she was appointed as the Dance Specialist at the Department of Culture in 1996.

Ava posing outside of a building

Ava has also given back to her community by volunteering to train dancers from various churches, schools, and national pageant contestants. One of Ava’s significant contributions to the preservation of dance and culture lies in the documentation and development of local folklore groups. She was given a national award for her contribution to culture and the arts in June 2023.

Links to other articles about citizens from the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis are posted below:

Kenrick Georges

https://caribbeanvybes.com/kenrick-georges-composer-of-the-st-kitts-and-nevis-anthem/

Allister Williams

https://caribbeanvybes.com/allister-williams-deep-sense-of-patriotism/

Tunka Abdurama

https://caribbeanvybes.com/tunka-abdurama-master-of-creative-arts/

SPORTS

Luther Kelly

https://caribbeanvybes.com/our-test-star-luther-kelly/

Victor Eddy

https://caribbeanvybes.com/victor-yaga-eddy/