Sadeke Brooks, Gleaner Writer

Dessie (Jerry Benswick) holds back Patsy (Dahlia Harris) from beating Lisa (Marsha Campbell) who broke up her 15-year relationship with her lover Winston in the 'Concubine', now playing at The Pantry Playhouse.- photos by Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer

For some the visual and performing arts are viewed as a hobby, but Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts has been the hub in Jamaica for those wanting to turn their art into a profession.

It is not usually the path that parents want their children to follow. However, there are some parents who respect the ambitions of their children. Through this respect and the dreams of these students, the Edna Manley College has been working to harness the talent of many.

The institution is the only one of its kind in the Caribbean, as the students are trained by professionals in the creative industries. It now offers degree programmes, such as the BA in Arts Management, the Bachelor of Arts in General Arts and the Bachelor of Fine Arts, to complement their existing diploma and certificate programmes.

Final-year student in the School of Visual Arts at Edna Manley, Duane Bennett, was happy to find a place at the institution as he had no interest in working outside the arts. Duane started the Réve Jewellery collection with his sister Tesea Bennett, making jewellery from natural products that can be found in Jamaica. They were recipients of the Van Garde Award from the Youth Entrepreneurship Association in November 2007, as well as being named Avant Garde Designer for the year.

"Artistes aren't made, they are born. I am trying to put Jamaica on the map as having distinguishable jewellery. My sister and I have been referred to as the Versace duo," said a proud Duane.

incredible experience

Like Duane, Vestina Oates of the School of Drama says she was happy to be a part of the school, which was called The Cultural Training Centre from 1976 to 1995. The government then reclassified the school as a tertiary institution and the name was changed.

Oates says she was advised not to attend the college by her parents. However, after visiting a career day there she was determined to get a taste of the Edna Manley experience.

"At the career day everybody was given the opportunity to express themselves. First impression counts and it was the only place to offer a degree in the arts," said Vestina.

Oates says it has been an incredible experience that she would gladly relive, and says she has grown tremendously as a result of her tenure at the college. She says she now has a newer approach to life because of Edna Manley. She says she now wants to transform people's lives through theatre, and has been part of a skit called 'The Boom Boom Bus' that was done as a class project.

The skit, which was shown at the music school's auditorium on December 11 last year, tackles issues like skin bleaching, teenage sex, peer pressure, bus and taxi drivers, men wearing tight pants and teenage girls. She says the class invited students from high schools and teachers' colleges as part of their effort to make a positive impact.

Past student of Edna Manley, Othneil Halliburton, made full use of the opportunity to attend the college as he was involved in several areas. He studied at the School of Music but was actively involved in tap and folk dancing, as well as acting. He even played a small part in the Jamaican soap opera Royal Palm Estate as young lawyer Shane. Halliburton is also a guitarist for the band In-2-Nation, which has played Richie Spice, Tanya Stephens, Etana, AJ Brown, Jah Mason and Chuck Fendah.

freedom of expression

"It was a rounded experience, but trying to balance it was a task. It's about creativity in the performing arts. We have freedom; people just live. We are uninhibited; you can go to class barefooted because there is not a hard and fast dress code," said Othneil, who completed his studies in 2002.

There are other Edna Manley success stories, like that of final-year student Robert Grant, who is using his fine art ad sculpture skills to impact on community building.

School of Drama alumni are impacting on the entertainment industry as well, with big achievers like Christopher McFarlane in Jamaica 2 Rhatid, Jerry Benswick who hosted for Mus Bus Big, Sabrena McDonald in About Eve and Zandriann Maye in Jamaica 2 Rhatid and Hot Spot.

From the School of Music C-Sharp has produced an album, toured internationally and is gaining recognition. Kevon Webster is making his mark, as he currently plays keyboard in Shaggy's band. Dwayne Livingston, a bass player, has worked with Chevelle Franklin and Maurice Gordon, who says he is one of the best bass players in Jamaica. Garth Forrester, a guitarist, plays for gospel artist Moses and Ziggy Marley.

The School of Dance was instrumental in facilitating Dancin' Dynamites, with lecturer and choreographer Neila Ebanks being a judge of the contest in which first runners-up and current students 'Kimbe' Kimiko Miller and Benton Morris competed. Miss Jamaica World, Yendi Phillipps, is also a past student of the School of Dance.

Neila Ebanks (left), a judge on the MiPhone Dancing Dyna-mites show and a lecturer at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, demonstrates a dance move to a student during Independence City Primary School's Girls Day in Portmore, St. Catherine, in 2006.

C-Sharp Band. - Contributed