KIJANA LEWIS: A from-the-heart dancer, peer educator and actor
The versatile Kijana Lewis in action
The versatile Kijana Lewis in action

 

THERE is a dancer, a peer educator, and most outstanding actor bottled up in one Guyanese guy who could easily have been average, but dares to push the barriers. From a clan of 4 boys whose siblings are all outstanding sports personalities, while he can play a mean game of lawn tennis, he is a sold-out arts enthusiast.

Kijana Lewis, based in Turkeyen, Georgetown, is a high school and University of Guyana graduate with a degree in Public Management. He has worked at the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the National Council on Educational Resource Development (NCERD), and the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE). However, while he could have been stuck in the mould of a corporate career, his heart — his true calling — was in the Performing Arts.

Kijana’s passion for the arts started in high school, and was caused by his cultural upbringing. His yearning to dance and appeal to the masses led him to join the Theatre Guild of Guyana, where he has been an active member for more than ten years.

The versatile Kijana Lewis in action
The versatile Kijana Lewis in action

His first major play was ‘Legend of the Silk Cotton Tree’, Directed by Al Creighton and staged at the National Cultural Center for CARIFESTA X. His Performance in that play propelled him into the spotlight, and he was soon cast in numerous plays and short films, earning him 7 Best Actor Awards to date from the Theatre Guild Awards 2012; National Drama Festival Awards 2011, 2012 and 2013; and the Merundoi Drama Awards 2012.

He is also a prominent figure in Guyana’s longest satirical review comedy presentation, the “Link Show”; and was also a professional dancer in the National Dance Company of Guyana for over six (6) years, performing in several countries across the Caribbean.

More recently, his latest performance was done in Trinidad and Tobago, where he auditioned and got lead roles in 3 productions, but time only permitted his participation in one.

Kijana has earned himself a place in the Astor Johnson Repertoire Dance Company and the Mt D’Or Culture Performance Company, all of which are based in Trinidad and Tobago. He is expected to return to the twin island republic shortly to begin his tenure. One of his lifelong goals is to own a performing arts company.

A one-time lead dancer with the Classique dance company, Kijana dares to rise above the stereotypes and dances from the heart, baring his soul, always mesmerizing and captivating those who fear as he dares to draw them in.

 

By Alex Wayne

 

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