Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Michael St. Geoarge works with young people in Portland on his project called 'Tap', which teaches them the arts. - Contributed

'Tap' has several meanings and, for dub poet Michael St. George, quite a few apply to the two-week programme he is involved with at the Titchfield High School in Port Antonio, Portland.

After all, the project, involving students from three primary schools in Portland, Titchfield High and children from August Town, St. Andrew, is called the Tap Project.

'It's really a Turnaround Project,' the Canada-based Jamaican poet told The Gleaner. "We are looking at how the tap works in terms of movement or sound. Even tap, the action, is gentle and it works in a number of ways."

St. George, who is from Portland and has Dubbin De Vibes and Root 2 Fruit among his recorded work, with books of the same titles to his credit, said the programme is the pilot of a five-year commitment.

Target audience

It is geared towards children from seven to 14 years old a few up to 16 ended up being included.

The limit was 110 participants and St. George said that the best turnout on a single day was 105.

The Tap Project started on Monday, July 2, and will end on Friday, July 13.

"We involved drama activities, creative writing, art and craft, which helps to build any kind of prop, masks, minor costumes to performances. We have music, we have a number of sports activities just to break the ice, we have theatre as well," St. George said.

"We aim to use the arts as a catalyst. We maintain that the artistic experience is essential to any human being's development, especially a child who is going to function in the society, whether you decide to be a professional artiste or not," St. George said, noting that in business pursuits creativity is still essential.

He said the objective was: "to evaluate, to move oneself beyond their current environment. We are hoping the participants will find that. We look at social issues and challenges."

The idea

The idea of hosting this kind of programme had been on St. George's mind for some time, with the logistics being looked at from as long as five years ago. The actual planning took about a year and St. George said the movement from idea to implementation "happened in a sort of divine way. I started teaching a course at Brock University (in Canada) last year ... In the end of teaching the course, it came about that I was talking about some of the things I wanted to do".

With that school connection it is no surprise that 16 Brock University students, 14 of whom are in drama education, have come to Jamaica to be a part of the Tap Project. In addition, a professor in the school's Drama and Education Department participated with a Women's Studies professor also making an input, as 13 of the 14 are female.

They all paid their way to Jamaica, funds were raised from Brockand St. George did fund-raising, performing with his band. "We were able to raise funds to take care of accommodation," St. George said, expressing thanks to College of Agriculture Science and Education, where they are staying.

In addition, supplies were shipped from Canada, some of which will be left with Titchfield, are and donations also to be made to a Portland community.

"We have primary and high schools, country and town, foreigners in the mix," St. George said, noting that he has seen a strong relationship developing.

And, as for the Canadians, it is "an experience they would not have from a tourist perspective".