Joan Ford - Elgin Taylor

Lately, there has been some concern in society as to whether upcoming generations have been playing their part in the preservation of our island's culture. Joan Ford, a performing arts teacher, has assured The Star that not only are young people playing their part, but have been doing so in an enthusiastic manner.

"They are very much involved and excited about folk music, kumina, bruckings and ring games," she asserted.

She was also quick to point out that young people are also integrally involved in other areas such as speech and drama. She further suggested their affinity for music and dance may have stemmed partly from the various competitions they view on local televisions.

Born in Old Harbour, in St. Catherine, she said her love for the performing arts started when she was a student at Horizon Park All Age School (now Primary). She later thought of becoming a teacher and had training at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in St. Andrew.

As a freelance performing arts teacher, she has worked closely for more than 20 years with the St Catherine branch of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC). She works with two schools, McCooks Pen Primary and North Street Basic School in the parish. She said a third, Planters Hall All Age & Infant, will soon be added to the list. She serves as the public-relations officer for the Planters Hall Citizens Association.

Other schools she has worked with include Old Harbour High, Innswood High, Horizon Park Primary, Old Harbour Bay Primary and Old Harbour Bay SDA Basic.

As a freelance performing arts teacher, she works with guidance counsellors and culture agent teachers in these schools.

Accomplishments

Ford has taught drama, dance, speech and music several schools and community groups throughout the years, resulting in gold, silver and bronze medals in the JCDC annual competition. They have also participated in competitions or at functions involving the Optimist and Lions' clubs.

She has been credited with being the first drama teacher at Innswood High School in St. Catherine and founder of the Old Harbour High School Choir, which latter has distinguished itself in the annual TVJ's 'All Together Sing' competition.

Ford is also a poet and author of a poem dedicated to Courtney Andrew Walsh, Jamaican and West Indies cricketer, on the occasion of him taking 500 wickets in Test cricket. This tribute to Walsh was broadcast on local television.

Ford said she is happy to have contributed to Jamaica's heritage, to have enriched the lives of her students, and pledged to continue doing so in coming years.