About Us

MERAKI DANCE COMPANY BIOGRAPHY

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Meraki Dance Company (MDC) was created for the dancer who loves to dance and wants to grow technically in their art form. Our goal at MDC is to provide students from beginners to advance, with the classes they deserve and continue to stand as a leader in dance training in Dominica and the wider region by extension. Meraki Dance Company offers dancers a full schedule of weekly classes, guest choreographers, and auditioning opportunities.

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All of our offerings embrace ballet, the foundation of dance, and incorporate our MDC commitment to excellence through a variety of versatile dance genres, including, but not limited to; Hip hop, Salsa, Break-Dancing/B-Boying and Afro-dance. Our Studio has friendly, college educated, professional instructors who will push a student to their potential and not give up on them and a community of parents who support their dancers in our nurturing and fun environment. 

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Meraki Dance Company Timeline

 

• Originally, Meraki was a community based group which came about as a result of the need for community development and a means to which youth could have a positive outlet for expression. It was based in Soufriere, St. Mark Dominica and was founded by Vince Jnolewis a.k.a (Jaylen Olivaccé). The group took part in and organized various community events and activities which were geared at providing an alternative for young people from drugs, gangs and violence.

 

• 2009 – It wasn’t until 2009 that the group was named Versatile Dancers when we came to a realization that we did more than just one genre/style of dance. Apart from giving back to the community the group was becoming a popular growing movement and as such, it deserved to be branded and structuralized.

 

• 2013 – By 2013, the group had transcended from a community based group to booking shows at The Arawak House of Culture and as times were changing, not only did the size, members and venues change but so did the name of the group.

 

 

• Street Swag Royalty Dance Crew – After returning from Africa (Rabat Morocco) in 2013, Mr Olivaccé decided to change the entire concept of the group. Apparently the African culture and overall experience had inspired him and so Street Swag Royalty Dance Crew was formed! Street Swag Royalty Dance Crew was geared at providing individuals with the opportunity to learn and grow through performing arts. It was a movement that provided individuals with an outlet in which they could feel free to express themselves creatively while gaining positive exposure that they could benefit from in the future. Street Swag Royalty Dance Crew went on to become a household name, booking shows at Q95 Star Quest, Summer Splash, World Creole Music Festival and opening up the show for Grammy Award winning Artist Mario at Caribbean’s Got Talent 1.0 in Portsmouth Dominica, just to name a few of the achievements.

 

 

• 2015 – As much as comfort is satisfying, growth and development is always needed and as any business, organization or group, it was time for change. The success of Street Swag Royalty Dance Crew 99 was at its peak and being that the main purpose of the crew was to give back and to create opportunities of others, it was only fair that the crew extended an invitation to the public for new members.

 

 

• C&Jay’s Dance Experience – Sadly not everyone is comfortable with change. Some people prefer to play it safe and stay in their comfort zone which is not and never will be what we stand for and so the “original” crew was dissolved when new members were accepted and thus started a completely new journey; “The C&Jay’s Dance Experience.” This movement focused solely on finding the best dancers on the island and creating a dance empire that would be able to book gigs, do events, promotions and become the leading dance crew in the entertainment industry on the island. The goal remained the same; to provide opportunity for others, but when people lose sight of that goal, things don’t always work out as planned and so C&Jay’s Dance Experience took a step back in other to recollect, reanalyse and regroup.

 

• Meraki Dance Crew – in 2016 it was decided to rebrand the crew as “Meraki.” We wanted a fresh start. We wanted the success that Meraki Dance Company was able to gain over the years but it wasn’t the same. Meraki was the humbleness and common ground that we needed to remind us of what the journey was all about… Our passion for dancing and our dedication to our craft which brought us the pleasure of sharing our talents with others.

 

• Meraki Dance Company/ComSeeTv – in 2017 Meraki Dance Crew signed with ComSeeTv for Managerial guidance and the crew was officially branded as Meraki Dance Company.

 

The journey is only beginning and as long as there is a dream, a drive and a passion, there will always be Meraki. Thanks to everyone who has supported our journey over the years and to those who never did, we appreciate the motivation to be better.

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Jaylen Olivaccé Owner/Artistic Director/Choreographer

Carine Darius Part Owner/ Artistic Director/Choreographer