Dancers' Paradise: Faybian Grizzle soaring to new heights with dance

After joining the Ashe Performing Arts Company in 2012, 23-year-old Faybian Grizzle just wanted to sing. But since training with the group for some time, Grizzle discovered he had a passion for dancing, which he pursued.

Today, having secured a scholarship to dance with the world-renowned Complexions Dance Academy in New York, Grizzle said that he has no regrets, and he is looking forward to the leaps he will make locally and internationally.

“I’ve been blessed to be able to dance with many local companies. I have danced with Dance Theatre Xaymaca. I am now a guest performer with the Movements Dance Company of Jamaica, and I’ve also danced with L’Acadco – A United Dance Force on their joint season with multiple companies. I have danced with the Plié for the Arts dance initiative, and I’ve gotten a scholarship from them, that was in collaboration with the Complexions Contemporary Ballet in New York, to do a summer-intensive this summer,” he said.

“Dance has opened many doors for me since 2012, and the best is yet to come. I am excited, and I am looking forward to the journey ahead because the best is yet to come.”

Grizzle, who is expected to leave the island in July or August for his scholarship, said that he is looking forward to entering this new phase of his life.

“I am very excited because I want to see where this opportunity can lead me, especially on the international scene. I want to see what kind of recognition and validation I can get. But more importantly, I’m looking forward to the training, because training in America for dance is really competitive but really good. There are a lot of strong dancers in America, and I want to get exposed to that,” he said.

“Dance is a means of expressing my talent, and it means the world to me. It’s my connection to myself and to what I want to share to the world. Dance means release, comfort, joy, passion, love. It’s everything to me.”

Aside from his stint in New York this summer, Grizzle is also knocking on another door. Back in February, he was short-listed among five other dancers for Disney’s Broadway production, The Lion King.

“I really have my eyes set on Lion King. I just auditioned in February, and it was a good audition. A very tough one, but very good. I was chosen among the final cut for male dancers in Jamaica, and I’m patiently awaiting an email that says I have been chosen to be part of the cast,” he said, adding that he wants to start his own dance company one day.

While he eyes the international market, Grizzle also noted that he is grateful for the individuals who have helped get him to where he is today.

“Ashe is where my training all started. Michael Holgate really saw my talent for dance, and he really helped to train me. He put a lot of interest and time into my development in dance, and so it has been a very good, inspiring journey,” he said, while also thanking Conroy B. Wilson for his guidance.