LUCY HAMLET - Producer / Writer / Director
Ms. Hamlet is a cultural entrepreneur. She is a writer and director (Domestic Science Dub, VIBE 2004 -06,) and a producer. Her company Ysis Entertainment produced a number of critically acclaimed international shows including the South African spectacle UMOJA in Canada and the US from 2004- 2008, and the Classics in Black Series featuring Mezzo Soprano Denyce Graves and the hit off-Broadway musical the Three Mo’ Tenors in 2006. With Love ‘n Movement Lucy is diving deep into the theatre that is life and hoping to come up alive!
KEVIN A. ORMSBY - Producer / Choreographer / Dancer
Mr Ormsby has been dancing in Jamaica, the United States and Canada for over twenty years. Kevin’s unique dance training and choreography has taken its form from blending the magnificent influences of Afro-Caribbean culture through modern and ballet. Quoted as a dancer with “riveting intensity” by dance critic, Micheal Crabb, he danced with Garth Fagan Dance, Rochester, NY and toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Mr. Ormsby has performed with Ballet Creole, Canboulay Dance Theatre, Up from the Roots Entertainment among others. In April 2008, Mr. Ormsby launched his company, KASHEDANCE.
His artistry have garnered awards from The Scarborough Board of Education “Excellence in Education" Award, The Royal Canadian Legion Award, Metropolitan Toronto Caravan- Best Script Award, Emerging Artist Professional Grant (2000) and a Mid Career Professional Development Grant (2007) from the Canada Arts Council. He has served as a juror on the Ontario Arts Council in the Dance Section (2008), presented a paper on Dance in the Diaspora at Visualizing / Performing Africa at Ohio University and will also be presenting a paper at the upcoming Canada Dance Festival. He is a dance writer for Expose Entertainment Magazine and has self published a dance photography book entitled “Dance Through Life”.
AUSTIN MAXWELL - Contributing Script Writer / Actor
Austin Maxwell’s love of the Arts – written and performing – goes back to High School and his lauded appearances in Jamaica Festival High School Drama Competitions, shortly after Independence. Like his Father, himself a frustrated actor, Austin too, found his outlet in Radio and Television Broadcasting when, in 1967, he joined the staff of the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation, where he worked successfully as a Radio Announcer and subsequently, Radio and Television News Presenter. Austin has exercised his writing, editing, and photographic skills as a freelance photojournalist working with The Jamaica Daily News and The Daily Gleaner, among others. Later on, he specialized in creating corporate newsletters, working mostly out of the offices of Ken Maxwell Associates – a small family PR & Publicity firm in Kingston.
Austin’s association with Love ‘N’ Movement, and his current freelance work with SHARE Newspaper and SWAY Magazine, represent the tip of the iceberg of his renewed passion to work in the Arts. We look forward to seeing, reading and hearing lots more from this talented artist, as we gather there’s at least one anthology of poems and a first novel currently enjoying the status of ‘Works-In-Progress’.
CELIA AKINLAMI - Production Manager
Celia has been working in the arts since 2005. She worked with several productions which include VIBE, Domestic Science Dub and UMOJA. She is thrilled to be a part of this wonderful production.
CHRISTOPHER CUSHMAN - Photography / Graphic Design
Christopher Cushman was born and raised in Detroit Michigan. Growing up in the 60's and 70's gave him a unique perspective on people which carries through to his work today. He received his degree in Design and Illustration from Ferris State University. He began his career in photography during the mid 80's Christopher has had showings and has been published. His initial foray into dance photography included shoots for Alvin Ailey. He is currently working on a volume of portraits. Now in his 12th year in Canada Christopher has continued his specialization in dance photography and has photographed extensively for Ballet Creole over the past 3 years culminating in the images used for the 08 winter program Glorious Soulful Messiah. He has also photographed for Aya Dance Collective, Dance Immersion, Kashedance and The Toronto Dance Theater.
