By Tanya Batson, Staff Reporter
Subrena Gabriel (second left) with the Tivoli Dance Troupe.- Contributed
SUBRENA GABRIEL is no shrinking violet by anyone's standards. She not only has an outgoing personality, but she loves dancing and she loves sports.
Subrena is 15 years old. She is presently a student of Tivoli Comprehensive High School and is in the fourth form. Subrena is also a member of the renowned Tivoli Dance Troupe. She has been dancing with this group since 1997.
However, her dancing career did not begin here. She first started dancing with her primary school, St. Jude's, in 1994. "I always loved to dance," she says. Thus, knowing that the school had a dance group, she sought them out and joined them. Through this group, she was taught about modern, pop, jazz and folk dancing, all of which she enjoys doing.
Subrena points out that she enjoys dancing with the Tivoli dancers because she gets several benefits. "It's good, because they encourage you," she says. "It teaches you a lot about how to interact with each other and lets you meet new people and go to new places," she explains. She then goes on to point out that, in addition to all this, being in the dance troupe teaches discipline.
There is another benefit which Sabrina gets from her involvement, however. She notes that she loves performing and dancing and the Tivoli troupe allows her to indulge in that. Not one of those to shy away from the limelight, she points out: "I'm not shy and I enjoy the attention I get on the stage."
The best thing to have come out of her membership with the troupe, however, is a trip to New York City. Subrena points out that they stayed for two weeks, which she enjoyed very much. What seemed to have appealed to her most is the fact that she was away from her family but was with people she knew -- and thus had fun.
In light of Subrena's seemingly outgoing nature, which allows her to desire being on-stage, it may come as something of a surprise that her career goal is accounting. This is if one believes the television myth that all accountants are boring and introverted. If you know her, however, this should not be surprising, as Principles of Accounting, along with Office Procedures and English Language, is one of her favourite subjects.
Subrena points out that though she would like to dance professionally, she has not thought about it much. However, she intends to keep dancing with the Tivoli Dance Troupe, even after graduation.
Dancing is by no means Subrena's only passion. She is also a sports woman. She is presently on the Tivoli netball team, for which she plays goalkeeper. Sabrina also enjoys playing football. Nonetheless, although she would love to join the school's team, she is unable to, as each student is only allowed to join two teams, she explains.
Subrena's admiration is for two women -- her mother, Beseta Linton, and her dance teacher, Ms. Jennifer Garwood. She points out that both of them have taught her a lot.
In spite of her love for her extracurricular activities, Subrena is also aware of the importance of her education. She notes: "If you don't go to school and take what you should get, in the long run you will feel it."
