Dance Kaiso, founded in 1987, first appeared in Carnaval San Francisco  in 1988--a small group of percussionists and dancers wearing raffia and leopard. In subsequent years, Robbin and Wilfred played Carnaval, first with the group Mas Makers and then with All Ah We.

  In 2002 they were back with their own contingent. Dance Kaiso's Bat  Mas won several awards that year. In 2003, 60+ students joined 70 adults to play Carnival. Their theme: a "Mass Affirmation of Peace," aka "Make Art,  Not War!"

In 2004, 75+ students from Sanchez Elementary, John Swett, and Meadows-Livingstone Schools to play "Jester" along with 60 adult Jesters and French Quarter Ladies in our Mardi Gras-theme contingent. Dancers performed a Dixieland jazz choreography, accompanied by Big Chief Takawaka and The Gumbo Band. Mardi Gras! 2004

DANCE KAISO 2005 contingent dancers‹in red, black, and white, representing the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago‹perform a calpyso to live drum and percussion music. They are joined by students from Sanchez Elementary and Meadows-Livingstone Schools and stilt walkers from Women Walking Tall.

MUSIC: DRUMS & PERCUSSION (VARIOUS DRUMS + BRAKE IRON + SHEKERE + BAMBOO)

1) Calypso Dancer/Women's Costume - $65 Costume Includes: White skirt w/black satin ruffle Red lacey halter top & sleeves Trinidad flag head tie & waving flag You Provide: Strapless bra & black fishnet stockings

2) Men's/Unisex Costume - $35 Costume Includes: Black fringed t-shirt with Trinidad flag motif Trinidad flag head band & waving flag You Provide: White pants

3) K-12 Students' Costume - $25 Costume Includes: Black fringed t-shirt with Trinidad flag motif Trinidad flag head band Red umbrella You Provide: White pants

QUESTIONS? CONTACT ROBBIN EMAIL: dkaiso(@)earthlink.net PHONE: (415) 282-9620

Artistic Directors
WILFRED MARK, a native of Trinidad, was a principal dancer with Repertory Dance Theatre of Trinidad and Tobago for eleven years and a dancer/actor with the Derek Walcott Theatre Company for four years. Wilfred has taught on the faculties of San Francisco State, Sonoma State, and Stanford Universities.

ROBBIN FREY studied Haitian dance with Jean-Leon Destiné in New York and Trinidadian folkloric and jazz fusion styles with Astor Johnson in Port-of-Spain. Robbin has a Master's degree in Dance Ethnology and has been teaching and performing Caribbean dance since 1983.

  For information on Dance Kaiso, contact Robbin Frey or Wilfred Mark, voicemail: 415/282-9620; email: dkaiso(at)earthlink.net.