15) St. Lucia Above The Bay.

KIZOMBA & BACHATA AFFAIR.
KBA FESTIVAL 2nd – 4th May 2025 At the Bay Heights Escape Rodney Bay

Reasons To be Cheerful

The KBA FESTIVAL Saint Lucia 2025 (a Kizomba and Bachata affair) is to be held at the Bay Heights Escape Rodney Bay during the Jazz Festival season. It’s a dance-arts festival for all ages, sizes, colours or creeds. It really is a celebration of movement and art, with Latin dance styles being the heartbeat of this event.

Samba – Brazil’s carnival dance! Full of bounce and energy, samba is a non-stop party on the dance floor.

Salsa – Fast, fun, and full of spins, salsa is a social dance that thrives in clubs and parties. It’s the dance of the people, with Cuban roots and worldwide appeal.

Cha-Cha – Named after the sound of the dancer’s quick steps, is playful and cheeky, perfect for anyone who loves a little flair.

Rumba – “The dance of love.” The most romantic and seductive of them all, rumba is slow and dramatic. The rumba is a genre of Cuban music involving dance, percussion and song, originating mainly in urban areas of Havana and Matanzas. 

Bachata – Originating in the Dominican Republic, this dance is slow, sensual, and intimate, with lots of hip movement and close connection.

Merengue – Has simple addictive, easy-to-follow steps leaving plenty of room for creativity and fun. This dance is supremely popular in the Dominican Republic. 

Afro-Latin – Encompasses a rich tapestry of dance styles rooted in the fusion of African and Latin American musical and cultural traditions; characterized by the blending of African rhythms, movements, and musical traditions with those of Latin America, particularly the Caribbean and Brazil.

Latin dancing is more than just moving your feet—it’s an electrifying mix of passion, rhythm, and a little bit of sass with extra hot sauce. Whether you’re twirling in a sultry salsa, shaking it up with samba, or gliding through a romantic rumba, Latin dance is an adventure that takes you from the streets of Havana to the festivals of Brazil—all through dance. This can all be experienced at KBA.

The event is also a cultural arts melange of the Kwéyòl language, yoga, visual-arts, dominoes, and music, a true miscellany that everyone can enjoy. 

ABOUT THE ORGANISER.
Natasha Fontenelle is a renowned artist of Saint Lucian heritage, born in the UK and based between London and Saint Lucia. A Royal College of Art alumna, Natasha’s artistic journey blends painting, ceramics, performance and a range of materials, guided by themes of intuition, vulnerability, ritual, and movement. Her work is deeply rooted in cultural and societal issues, often reflecting a delicate interplay of sound and silence, nature and life both past and present. 
Natasha Fontenelle

ELDON: Taking part in the KBA festival 2025 will be the celebrated St. Lucian virtuoso violin player “Eldon”. A proud Saint Lucian who plays music, ranging from traditional St. Lucian folk tunes to modern classics .

Eldon is the quintessential performer of the arts: a dancer, singer, actor, violinist and symphonic conductor there are few areas of stage he has yet to grace with his talent. His classes promises to be fun, interesting and unforgettable. 

The St. Lucian artist Sabrina Romulus

Top Tip: Do yourself a favour, and join in, and just let yourself go. 

Buki is a joyful yoga teacher with professional experience in designing and leading vinyasa and hot yoga classes. Her classes create a space for individual healing, allowing inner peace through the use of breath, meditation and asanas, all within the peaceful Caribbean Island of Saint Lucia. 
Buki is versed with in-depth knowledge about breathing techniques, postures and how the spiritual elements of yoga practice can improve both the mind and body.

Top Tip: You Should Try It! The beats of Latin America are impossible to resist. Even the most reluctant dancer (I count myself in the bashful category) finds their foot tapping when the congas, trumpets, and guitars start playing. 

St. Lucian artist Alwyn St Omer Masquerade moon dancer “Ukombozi” 01

Dancing, especially Latin, isn’t just a workout (though you will feel it)—it’s a confidence booster, a social connector, and a mood-lifter. It’s an invitation to let loose, feel the love of music, embrace the joy of movement, and expression. 

So, whether you’re stepping into a dance studio, throwing shapes on the beach, or just grooving at home, remember to shake those hips, and let the rhythm take over. Latin dance isn’t just about technique—it’s about feeling alive. It’s not about being correct, it’s just about feeling RIGHT! 
Top Tip: Don’t forget your talcum Powder. 

Festival Line Up:
Audrey – Bonifacio – Buke – Dre – Eldon – DJ Fofo Jah – Ken’n – Ludo – Lurlynn Mahara – Mike Alphonse – Nikita – Noemie & Ludo – Peter St Rose – Petite Madame – DJ Pressure – Poussy & Aischa – DJ Romi – DJ Sabura – Shani V – Stacy – Tara & Kendal – Wahid.

Acknowledgments:

• Kwéyòl Dictionary Ministry of Education 
• Tony Nayager for corrective guidance. (He knows what I mean!)   
• Marilyn St Rose for keeping me right. 

End of Reasons to be Cheerful Part Fifteen

If you liked or have any comments that you would like to offer. Please share. 
Thank you.