About

I was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario to Jamaican parents but was raised by my mother along with my two siblings: Siobhan and Ryan. I am strongly defined by my Jamaican culture; this is where I get my spirit and essence. You can see the influence through the way I dress, speak, and move. My family and upbringing have greatly influenced me too. I was surrounded by a strong group of individuals who have done their very best to overcome adversity especially given their limited access to resources. We grew up in a Toronto Community Housing complex in the Jane and Sheppard area for pretty much half of my life. It was there where the foundation of my upbringing was set.  Housing helped strengthen my values surrounding my work ethic, courageousness, and determination. Most of us knew there was so much the world had to offer beyond the brown fences. We could do anything - if we wanted to. The environment developed a resilience and confidence only us living there could understand. Growing up in that area, your future pathways were pretty much defined for you by society, media, etc. Being so close to the Jane and Finch area, we were often stigmatized and were not offered the same opportunities as surrounding communities. The effects that has on your mindset is enormous. Imagine being made to feel that you were less than or not good enough, or that you were destined for trouble. I had felt this everyday. You had to prove to yourself that you are as great as you think you are. Dance was my outlet.

I am a multi-passionate person, but ever since I was a child you could find me dancing. I was exposed to dance and music since I was a baby. There are numerous videos and photos of me barely being able to walk and yet was still dancing! I danced everywhere; church, school, social engagements, in the house while my mom was cleaning, Jane and Sheppard parking lot jam sessions; everywhere. I enjoyed all music; but reggae, r&b, and hip hop was played the most. The “soca train” in my life did not leave the station until my university days (in case you were wondering). I always knew dance would be a part of my life, but never knew to what capacity. Child beauty pageants, high school cheerleading teams, hip hop dance competitions in university, Toronto Marlies dancer, flash mobs, cabaret shows - the list goes on!

As a dance performer I have been able to grace the stages and/or work with many amazing clients such as: Cityline, CP24, Lululemon, The Marilyn Denis Show, Toronto Sun & more. I am blessed to have transformed my passion for dance into a business, a lifestyle, and a source of inspiration for others. However, when I dance, I have a strong ability to connect with my audience. They FEEL something that cannot be ignored. I light something in up in them! When I teach, my purpose is to share that light… and for my clients to learn how to create a similar light on their own.

My love for fitness came later in life. With maturity and training I came to learn how great movement truly was for the body and how dance and fitness have such a beautiful relationship. I take my role as a fitness provider seriously. There is an energy in my sessions that fires people up! It excites and creates a confidence in participants that they may never have tapped in to before. Participants carry that energy with them and THAT changes how they show up in the world. If you ask anyone who has taken my class, they will tell you it is full of "vibes"! Why? It is because my sessions create a space for participants to bond, grow, and have fun with those around them! Being supported through your journey while enjoying what you are doing is a key to staying motivated in fitness.

When most hear my name however, they cannot help but think of Caribbean Carnival. Aside from me being a proud Jamaican Canadian, in 2013 I founded CARNIVAL SPICE™ fitness, entertainment, and community. The company launched with an intention to bring movement to beautiful mas and create space for Black and Caribbeans dancers. Carnival Spice has now become a global community that empowers artists of color through training, mentorship and access to opportunities, while educating the community at large about the history of the masquarade and the significance of Carnival in Caribbean culture.

As the entertainment division started to grow, I learned how important the company truly was. The whole experience was quite humbling -  I was able to put money in the pockets of my friends! Praise God. The platform provided paid opportunities to artists of color, added validity to carnival work (70% of carnival wasn’t paid up to this point despite the millions of dollars Caribana brings into the city annually), and then there is the huge educational component that we offer. Providing awareness about Caribbean Carnival with artists who are fun to work with, talented, professional and reliable is what made us a force. These are standards we value even now. As years went on, a demand developed for those wanting to learn the dances we performed - this initiated the start of our fitness classes. Now the classes have grown into yearly programming with an amazing community of instructors, clients, and connections. The global pandemic really gave us a challenge, but we stayed the course - pivoted - and began offering affordable and accessible Carnival Spice classes online.

As I grow as a woman of God I have realized that we are meant to face the obstacles that come with life and share what we have learned along the way. That is where the true healing lies, and further, that is how we can complete our true life’s work, by providing service to others. I may not have all the answers, but I have certainly seen a lot with the time I have been blessed with thus far on earth. The trials and tribulations of my journey birthed a greatness in me with wisdom and insight that I am sure can help others flourish. I gather you ended up here via social media, seeing me speak or appear on television,  heard about me from a client, or maybe you took one of my classes. However you stumbled upon this site - it was for a reason! I aim to support you by providing positive lifestyle content that can inspire, motivate, or educate you throughout your journey.