By Alex Wayne

OVERSEAS-based Guyanese actor/runway model Launce Northe has now attained international fame, leaving many locals in his wake.

Those who knew him well will remember the shy and secluded kid who was quite comfortable to sit in the shadows, reading text books and novels, seemingly lost in a quiet world of his own.

No one could possibly imagine he would rise to great heights of fame as he has done today. As a youth, he had practically no interest in the field of dancing, modeling and drama that have now propelled him up the ladder of success.
At present, Northe is back in Guyana where he is carded to perform with the cast of the U.S. based ‘Laramade Musical Theatre’ which will stage one of its signature features at the Pegasus Hotel, on December 18, 2015.
The event, dubbed ‘Joie de Vivre’, is an initiative made possible through a joint collaboration between the U.S. based Theatre Company and the Pegasus Hotel, and will be staged as a dinner theatre production. Northe is one of the main producers of this prestigious event.
Northe is among the most sought after models and actors in the USA and is still spellbound as to how he became caught-up in this whirlpool of glitz, glamour and fame.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN
After the many urgings of his peers in 1972 while in Guyana, Northe reluctantly joined a dance school belonging to legendary dance instructor, ‘Shaft’ of Guyana. He was enrolled in this school until 1977 and it was there that he grew to love the art, having realised that deep inside a fire for dancing was quietly burning.
After this extended stint in dancing, Northe was soon living, breathing, talking and walking dance.
Soon after he migrated to Toronto, Canada and was enrolled in the George Harvey High School. While there, he again reluctantly entered a model search contest and was such a ‘spitfire’ on the runway that he soon garnered fans far and wide. At that time Northe practically knew nothing about fashion or runway modeling.
It was there he entered the talent search ‘Explosion’ initiative which featured before and after makeover show cases of the participants, and Northe shone like a diamond at this forum.
His images were soon placed on billboards in and around the subways in Canada. He was proud to acknowledge that it was only he and an East Indian female model who made it to the top for Guyanese contestants. Northe informed that it was a Broadway dancer who further inspired his dancing career.

CHALLENGES
Like any other successful star, Northe certainly had his share of challenges and was not ashamed to admit this.
While his biggest problem was actually to ‘get out of his skin’, he was able to successfully express his individuality and find his true ‘inner self’.
Soon he was admitted to the Toronto Dance Theatre, but had to give up dance eventually since he was forced into modeling by associates who were very close to him. This happened in the year 1981.
Sensing his dancing talent, an agency pushed him forward and he was soon a member of the Model Search America, John Casablancas Modeling School, where he did exceedingly well. This allowed him to travel all around the world, making a name for himself in the arena for elite male models. How he did all this still remains a mystery, since he was very shy and is still reserved today.
What he possessed however, was a rare streak of ‘naturalness’ in fashion and that special suave look that singles out the naturals among a clan of celebrated models.
He claims he hates too much publicity and quite often he would be anxious for the flashing neon lights, whirring cameras and wild cheers of the audience to subside. He would often take refuge in going home to his family and the quiet and peaceful tranquility of his bedroom.

HOMELAND
In 2011, Northe began to come home to Guyana regularly on vacations.

He met fellow producer Oral Welshman in 1984 and the two combined their talents with others to showcase many ventures similar to the ‘Laramade Musical Theatre’ that will be hosted here in December 2015.

Now he is back in Guyana again and is willing to share his expertise with persons who are interested. He has every intention of hosting workshops in the areas of dance, drama and fashion while in Guyana.

After his time at the John Casablancas Modeling School he began to engage in freelance modeling which allowed him to explore other interests he had buried while caught up in that whirlpool of demands one encounters as a celebrity. He took time off to visit Paris and many other locations around the globe.

He is particularly elated that he is back in Guyana at this time since remaining in Paris might have found him in the areas that were subjected to recent terrorist bombings. He has also performed in elite shows like ‘Retrospect of Rhythms’, ‘Blues Chicago’, ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’, ‘Nudity’ and many others.
His advice to persons wanting to follow in his footsteps is to love what you do, stick with one thing, and be the best you can be in all your endeavours.