(Originally published to the Trinidad Express 03/04/ 2016)
25 year-old Isaiah Luther, dancer and self employed fashion designer/stylist, model and visual merchandiser, will be performing in “Arise”, the upcoming 21st Season of the Metamorphosis Dance Company, from tomorrow to Thursday at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s.
Luther, one of six male guest dancers performing with Metamorphosis this season with a 20-strong company of female dancers, has been dancing since he was a young boy. He started in his parents’ church at age ten where he led the dance team. Afterwards, his parents enrolled him in a ballet school at age 13.
Among the choreographers Luther has worked with for this season’s presentation is Viki Bromberg Psihoyos. Bromberg is a former New York City Ballet dancer, teacher at the Colorado Ballet Academy in the United States and accomplished choreographer, who visited Trinidad in January this year to conduct dance workshops with Metamorphosis dancers. She mounted a piece using the Balanchine technique for “Arise”, which includes a cast of male and female dancers accompanied by live music.
Luther describes his experience in taking classes with Viki as a very enjoyable one. He likes her method of teaching and is fortunate to have learnt so much technically, which he has brought to his dancing style. He also enjoys working with artistic director and choreographer of Metamorphosis, Nancy Herrera, whose piece, titled “Wanderings”, Luther describes as exhilarating, especially the part that he is playing. He is also working once more with Juan-Pablo Alba-Dennis. He finds that Juan-Pablo’s dynamic and interesting choreography is always a treat, always keeping him on his toes and challenging him to be a better dancer.
Luther’s time with Metamorphosis so far has been a learning experience that he says he would never trade for the world, even though he travels all over the world for work or for his personal projects.
In 2013 Luther displayed his first collection at the “Break the Runway” show in Georgetown, Guyana, where he resided at the time, when he was the artistic director of “Let’s Dance” Dance Studio. He took a short break from design and dance to pursue his modelling career.
These aspirations took him to Amsterdam, where he was one of four selected to take part in the international MAFB fashion battle.
Luther also participated in other local and regional fashion shows, further expanding his artistic experience.
Every time Luther returns to Trinidad he is accepted into Metamorphosis with open arms. “I have learned so much from the wonderful teachers there and have met so many amazing people and had so many amazing experiences that I will always take with me wherever I go” — Isaiah Luther.
Tickets for “Arise” are available from the Caribbean School of Dancing, 2a Dere Street, Port of Spain from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and at the Queen’s Hall Box Office during the week of the show, from noon to 6 p.m.
The Trinidad and Tobago Performing Arts Network 