The legacy of the late Theresa Hall, affectionately known as “Ma Hall”, echoed through the quadrille steps of the Helen Folk Dancers (HFD) at Thursday night’s La Bel Kweyol: The Icon Gala. Founded by Hall in 1990, the group performed as a tribute to a woman who helped preserve and elevate Saint Lucian folk culture.
Talent from across the island joined the HFD on stage in homage to Hall. The evening featured ten acts showcasing the richness of local artistry – their voices and movements grounded in Saint Lucia’s folk and creole traditions, backed by the rhythms of Manmay La Kay, Lapo Kabwit and the Royal Saint Lucia Police Band.
Decked in traditional fabrics, each ensemble tailored into unique expressions of identity and pride, patrons, diplomats and lovers of the arts filled the seats of the Pavillion on the Ramp in Rodney Bay.
The event reached its crescendo as guests enthusiastically flooded the dance floor – on invitation – for a final, spirited dance.
“Oh, I enjoyed it from beginning to end!” one patron told the St Lucia Times.
“I really enjoyed tonight,” said Nereus Auguste, a long-time member of the Helen Folk Dancers. “I said to one of the other members, ‘The only person missing tonight is Mrs Hall’. She would have loved this.” Auguste said the evening served as a reminder that icons should be honoured while still alive. “We could have recognised Mrs Hall as an icon way before, but nonetheless tonight was excellent.”
Murchel Hippolyte, director of business development at the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF), which organised the event, echoed that sentiment.
“Every year, the CDF selects somebody who’s made a massive contribution towards our cultural heritage in Saint Lucia. And Mrs Theresa Hall was a pioneer when it comes to everything folk,” he told St Lucia Times. “We’re talking about folk dance, traditional wear, the music itself… we’re just happy to be here and share the legacy of who she is.”
The CDF director hoped the cultural showcase would inspire young people and foster “a great deal of national pride.”
The CDF is the executive producer of Art in the City, the “art” component of the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival. Throughout the season, everyone on the island can expect a wide range of opportunities to engage with local art and cultural exhibitions, Hippolyte said.
In the spirit of keeping Saint Lucian culture alive, Auguste said the HFD remained committed to carrying on the legacy of their founder, Theresa Hall, despite a changing cultural landscape.
“We are keeping the culture alive,” he said. “We’ve found it difficult to do that more so because of the changing environment in Saint Lucia.
“The cultural landscape has become a bit difficult but what we have decided to do is to move with the times and sort of go through an organic development of our cultural performances, trying to reflect and at the same time attract people to the culture and we see it working.”
Auguste said increasingly more young people were showing an interest in local art and culture.
I hope the family members of the Icon were invited to the gala??? — just asking for a friend.