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Caribbean Life, April 21-27, 2022
Guyanese couple celebrate 35th wedding anniversary
By Tangerine Clarke
Robin and Barbara Williams, a New Yorkbased
couple, returned to their homeland
Guyana, to celebrate their auspicious 35th
wedding anniversary with friends and family,
in the Savannah Suite of Georgetown’s
Pegasus Hotel.
With COVID-19 restrictions lifted, Robin,
a hospital administrator, decked out in a
tuxedo, and Barbara, a retired JP Morgan
professional, stunned, in a white lace-overlay
gown designed with diamantes, and
a long train, professed their love for each
other in a regal setting, fit for the king and
queen they are.
In memory of that beautiful day when
they first joined their hearts as one, the
couple was uplifted in prayer by a family
friend after they entered the delightfully
decorated room, highlighted with gold and
red, and crystal center pieces. Elegantly
dressed flower girls and boys, maids-ofhonor,
and bridesmaids, also made a grand
appearance, to hyped-up DJ music.
The breathtaking backdrop of the head
table, and the three-tire celebration cake,
were all befitting the incredible milestone
the couple celebrated.
The parents of three sons and seven
grandchildren who released red heartshaped
balloons outside the Pegasus before
commencing their engaging celebration,
later, placed crowns on each other’s head,
in a loving gesture to each other, before
asking other couples to join them on the
dance floor for the first dance, and a toast.
Emcee Carl Ferdinand, then opened the
floor to well-wishers who shared affectionate
sentiments with the couple.
The charming duo, who, no doubt celebrated
their significant milestone, of
three decades and five years because of
their commitment and love for each other,
throughout the evening, playfully, enjoyed
each other’s company, as they danced the
night away.
Robin, a former Stonybrook University
staff, who later served 22-years at the US
Department of Justice, said there is no
secret to a long marriage or relationship.
“Our enduring relationship has to do
with having good communication, supporting
each other, spending quality time with
each other, having shared values and goals,
and unselfishly attending to each other’s
needs. These are a few of the values that
contribute to our lasting union.”
Declaring his love for his wife, Robin
said. ‘My dear wife, thank you, so much for
the love and joy you brought into my life.
When I married you, I discovered my place
in the world.
“Thank you for everything that you have
done for Me. It doesn’t matter how many
times I’ve told you that I love you. In fact,
saying it never gets old.
“I love you now and forever and can’t
imagine how my life would have been without
you. Your smile brightens my life, and I
am eternally grateful to call you, my wife. I
know our love will grow stronger, and you
and I will share many more happy, healthy
and exciting anniversaries, said Robin, currently
a hospital administrator in Queens
New York.
Robin, whose elderly mother Frances
Wallace- Williams, was in the audience,
married his sweetheart on Marcy 30 1987,
in Georgetown, before they migrated to the
US, 34 years ago, have received numerous
accreditation and awards from present and
previous jobs.
He refers to his partner, as ‘sweet wife,”
noting that she is 10 years now retired from
JP Morgan Chase, and is a beautiful and
contented housewife.
Barbara, responded by saying. “Finding
a devoted husband like you is one of the
best achievements in my life. I’m so very
thankful, forever grateful and unbelievably
Robin Williams with his grandchildren. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
blessed. I also thank God everyday because
he’s been very kind to our family,” she said,
ending with. Happy Anniversary honey.
Dance Theater of Harlem’s Wonder-ful ‘Higher Ground’— Signed, Sealed, Delivered
By Vinette K. Pryce
It’s not unusual to hear dance fans
shout ‘bravo’ after seeing a program they
approve.
However, rarely does intermittent cheers
follow each plie, twirl or movement executed
at recitals. On a recent occasion City
Center, patrons to Dance Theater of Harlem
shouted whole sentences approving the
matinee offering.
“I want more of that!” a vociferous aficionado
said.
The request endorsed “Look Around,” the
first of a series of choreographed dances by
Robert Garland set to the music of Stevie
Wonder.
Along with standing ovations to express
approval of the New York premiere presentation,
the overwhelming response confirmed
why audiences filled the lobby from early in
the afternoon to secure seats to the limited
performances which ended on April 10.
“Higher Ground” is the actual title of a
six-song movement dedicated to the Motown
Records composer who best addressed the
complexities of the society. His 1973 soulful
renditions musically connected society’s
disproportionate distribution of wealth
while satiating the appetites of fans who just
wanted to boogey to the beats.
Wonder’s lyrics illuminated by visual
interpretations featured bare-belly, hipshaking,
toe-tapping, hand-gesturing signals
offered nostalgic throw-back to the
tenor of the times while amplifying the
2020 call that Black Lives Matter.
And while the score blares attention,
the socially endearing vocals never overwhelmed
the movements or costumes
Pamela Allen-Cummings draped beautifully
against toned-bodies traversing the stage
to renditions titled — “You Haven’t Done,”
“Heaven Is Ten Zillion Light Years Away.”
“Saturn,” “Village Ghetto Land” and “Higher
Ground.”
Sheer rust-colored chiffon and subtle
lighting by Roma Flowers provided earthy
tones to toxic topics set to ballet, contemporary
and classical movements Wonder
punctuated with music.
In the opening segment Garland exceeds
finesse to whisper instructions executed
by Amanda Smith, Daphne Lee, Alexandra
Hutchinson, Anthony Santos, Micah Bullard
and Kouadio Davis.
Six dancers paid tribute to Wonder’s 1973
“Higher Ground” with grace, flexibility,
poise, talent and wonderment.
Through each offering the dance heightens
to peak at every chorus. By the time the
lyrics reach “Saturn” a planetary movement
seems to transport the audience to an elevation
interpreted in steps that led to “Higher
Ground.”
Garland describes the ballet as representative
of “a Sankofa-esque reflection on
our current times.”
Irrefutably wonderful, the soundtrack
compatibly married the message, motions
and movements to reference another signature
composition the music legend released
with his hit Signed Sealed and Delivered.
And while Garland’s premiere piece
delighted patrons, choreographers Marius
Petipa and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa did not
disappoint.
Their varied offering presented dancers
Crystal Serrano, Ingrid Silva and Smith, the
triumvirate to cheer “Odalisques Variation”
from “Le Corsaire.”