Five Saint Lucian dancers are being hailed for representing the island on one of the Caribbean’s biggest stages after performing alongside international superstars at the 2026 Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, in what organizers say was a deliberate effort to showcase local creative talent to the world.
Professional dancer Terry Arnold, along with Sydelle Arthur, Claire Marissa-Smartt, Lian Desir and Adele Marie Hennecart, all earned spots performing with headline acts during the festival, marking a major milestone not just for their individual careers, but for Saint Lucia’s growing dance community.
Arnold, who was born and raised in Saint Lucia but now works professionally in Toronto, Canada, performed alongside iconic R&B superstars Brandy and Monica during their highly anticipated closing night performance on the main stage.
He described the experience as “life-changing,” noting that he was the only Saint Lucian dancer selected to be part of the internationally assembled performance cast.
“Just meeting all the dancers, being in the professional world, getting to rehearse in Los Angeles and performing in my home here at the Jazz and Arts Festival that I came to growing up every year, it’s just been an incredible opportunity,” Arnold said.
Arnold also said the experience proved that Saint Lucian dancers are capable of competing on major international stages once given the opportunity.
“People sometimes underestimate the level of talent we have in Saint Lucia,” he said. “But this experience showed that once we are given the platform and exposure, we can perform at the highest level alongside anybody in the world.”
Meanwhile, Saint Lucian dancers Sydelle Arthur, Claire Marissa-Smartt, Lian Desir and Adele Marie Hennecart were all selected to perform alongside Nigerian global superstar Tems during her historic Saint Lucia Jazz debut.
Their inclusion meant that every dancer featured as part of Tems’ performance was Saint Lucian, showcasing local talent before thousands of patrons and an international audience.
Arthur described stepping onto the main stage in front of her home crowd as a surreal full-circle moment.
She revealed that preparation for the performance was physically demanding and mentally intense, involving long rehearsals and constant pressure to remain sharp and adaptable at an international level.
“What helped set me apart was consistency, passion, and being open to learning,” Arthur explained. “This experience has definitely shifted my mindset. It showed me that I’m capable of more and that I belong in spaces like that.”
Smartt also described the experience as both “mind-blowing and nerve-wracking,” particularly knowing she was representing Saint Lucian dancers on a major international platform.
“I became a representation of the dance talent here in Saint Lucia,” she said. “Questions like ‘Will they like what we do?’ and ‘Am I a good representation?’ were constantly in my mind.”
Smartt noted that beyond dance ability, professionalism, adaptability, attitude and work ethic were all critical factors in securing opportunities at that level.
“Talent only gets you halfway there,” she explained. “It’s the work ethic, attitude to learning and the trust people have in you to execute that takes you the rest of the way.”
She also expressed hope that the performances would inspire a wider transformation within Saint Lucia’s dance industry.
“I pray that this is the beginning of the revolution of dance in Saint Lucia,” she said. “I hope it showed our industry leaders that their creatives are more than capable of rolling with the big guns.”
The achievement has been widely celebrated within the local creative community, with many viewing it as one of the strongest endorsements yet of the quality of dance talent emerging from Saint Lucia. For many observers, seeing an internationally acclaimed artist take the stage backed entirely by Saint Lucian dancers underscored the depth of local talent and the importance of creating opportunities for artists to perform at the highest level.
Chairman of the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, Thaddeus Antoine, confirmed that the inclusion of Saint Lucian dancers alongside international performers was intentional on the part of festival organizers.
According to Antoine, “the move formed part of a broader vision to ensure local creatives were integrated into major productions and exposed to international standards and opportunities.”
He said the festival must continue serving not only as an entertainment platform, but also as a developmental space capable of elevating Saint Lucian talent onto the global stage.
The performances by the Saint Lucian dancers have since generated widespread praise online, with many Saint Lucians celebrating what they view as a breakthrough moment for the island’s dance community and creative sector overall.
