My Ultimate Dream: Kingston Academy for the Performing Arts

People always ask me: What do you want to do with your life?

I understand it can be confusing. I write novels, I own and operate a bar, and a fresh fast food restaurant. In the past, I’ve worked in sales for a giant gym conglomerate, spent time working at an IT Recruiting agency, spent weekends doing make-up for Indie films in Harlem, and out in Brooklyn doing Art modeling for art students, plus, I currently tutor existing high school students in all subjects except Math and French. It seems as if I’m all over the place sometimes, one foot in the Arts and one foot in the “Real World”. I certainly can be confusing, if you don’t understand my ultimate goal.

So I’m going to lay it out for you, right here, right now.

My ultimate goal, is to create the Kingston Academy for the Performing Arts, an endowment-run, free-tuition, 4-year private High School for Jamaicans, aged 14-18, with a TALENT based entrance exam. It would be an alternative high school, not the standard, government run, CXC-curriculum driven, high school that exists today. This would be a high school for those who wished to pursue a career in the Performing Arts, very similar to the Performing Arts High School in New York.

To enter, a student would pass a basic reading comprehension and math exam, and do an audition for entry to either the Dance, Acting or Music program. Each place at the school would be earned on merit, and aptitude for improvement. All kids, from all walks of life, would be eligible to apply. No student would be expected to pay to attend KAPA. Once the faculty believe they have the talent, the student would be allowed entry, as well as 2 nutritious meals a day (breakfast and lunch).

Since it would be an alternative High School, geared for Performing Arts careers, these are the core subjects I believe should be taught (and why):

Practical Math: Because even though I don’t like it, and can barely understand it myself, it is important that students have a basic understanding of Math, Accounting, Banking and how to handle their money. So it’s not strictly “Math”, but more of Math for real life.

Classic Literature: There is so much to be gained from the study of classical literature. As future artists, the students need to have a strong base, and be able to discuss these works with authority and thorough comprehension.

Writing (Plays, Short Stories, Novels, Poems): At the end of the four years, I expect every student, no matter what their concentration (Dance, Acting, Music), should be in possession of a book of original Poetry, a book of Short Stories, a complete Novel, and a complete Play). If they choose to publish after that, no problem. It is more important to me that they understand that, even at a young age, they are capable of accomplishing so much, and have concrete examples, to reinforce this belief.

History (USA, Caribbean, European, as well as History of Dance, History of Theatre, History of Costume Design): An artist needs a well of knowledge and a strong tool set, from which, to draw. I strongly believe, that you cannot create anything timeless, if you do not have a strong comprehension, of what came before. History is a MUST.

Theology (Christianity, Judaism, Islam & Hinduism, which are the 4 dominant world religions): Religion is the key to understanding people. Each student needs to broaden their minds, to the beliefs and cultures of others. Even if, at the end, they choose to believe none of the above, they need to be able to understand why others believe what they believe, in order to relate to them, through their chosen art form.

Design: Set Design, Lighting Design, Costume Design, Prop Design): If you want to have a career in the Performing Arts, sometimes you have to start in the back. Or perhaps, you’re like me, and prefer being behind the scenes. These are valuable skills, and satisfying careers of their own.

Health (Nutriition, Wellness): As a performer, your body is your instrument. You need to learn the proper way to feed and mend your tool. As a singer, you need to learn the proper diet, and exercises, to protect your voice. As a dancer, you need to learn the proper way to keep your thin frame, without starving, or under-fueling your body. Overall, I feel this class could be important to everyone–not just those who wish to go into the Performing Arts–but alas, the dream is big enough as is–I can’t include non-Performing Arts students.

A Foreign Language (of the student’s choosing): When I went to boarding school, I was told that if I wanted to learn something that Kent didn’t teach, I should let them know, and they would arrange to find a teacher for me. This is a fantastic idea, that I would like to apply to language. The student can choose the language they would like to learn, and I will do my best to find them a teacher.

In addition to these core subjects, the students will be given a thorough education within their concentrations:

Dance Concentration: Ballet, Madern, Jazz, Hip-Hop, African Dance, Indian Dance, Dancehall, etc.

Music: One-on-One study of specific instruments, voice, sound engineering, song-writing, etc.

Acting: Different acting methods, in-depth study of plays, Directing, how to Audition, film, etc.

The school would be Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 5:00PM. A whole day, like it’s a job.

I would also build a state-of-the-art theatre, where to students can put their knowledge into action, mounting performances, designing all the elements, and putting into practice, all they learned in the classroom.

At the end of the four years, the students should be able to pursue paid-careers in the Arts, both locally and abroad.

Now you’re going to ask me: Why? What do I get out of this extremely expensive, Utopian dream? It sure sounds like a ton of hard work, and even impossible, in some aspects.

Well, I’ll tell you why. I want to do this, because I’m tired of seeing the tremendous creative talent in this country, go to waste. Foreigners, with the very same tool sets that KAPA aims to teach, come to Jamaica, steal our culture, and because they know how, capture it for their own financial benefit, while we all just sit here, scratching our heads, wondering how come a white German man can make money singing Dancehall, and we can’t.

Foolishness. As a country, I believe this is our only hope. We have to teach these skills to the people, so that they can empower themselves, to rise to their full potential. No politician is going to save us. No IMF deal, will improve the economy or the poverty or the rising level of violent crime. We, the Jamaican citizens, have to take matters into out own hands, WITHOUT government intervention or aid.

This is what I know I can do. This is the part I can play. So I’m working on my books, saving up my money, to fund this endowment, and make KAPA a living dream.

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