Climbing The Hill

GET ACTIVE! LOOK GOOD! FEEL GOOD!

Esther Clarke a mother based in Moss Side, Manchester. Like any mother she has to juggle her family life and career, however she still finds time to be involved in a huge number of Dance and Music projects in her City.

Her parents are originally from St John in Barbados and settled in the UK in the 1960's. Esther is director of Universal Connection, who are the pioneers of Soca Aerobics dance in Manchester. Soca Aerobics is a great way to exercise using Dance and Soca Music from the Caribbean.

Since launching Universal Connection in 1999 Esther has worked with a huge number of Schools, Youth Groups, Community Centres. Local Authorities, and Festivals to share this special approach to exercise.

Esther also teaches Afro-Caribbean dance and drumming in Schools, Colleges and Community Groups using a workshop type format, so that everyone can experience Caribbean Culture for themselves.

In addition, she established Female Fusion who are an RnB Dance Group for 16 to 20 year olds and Universal Connection Youth, the younger version for 7-16 year olds. The latter are themselves in the process of preparing to perform in Signatures Dance Showcase to be held in Manchester in October 2007.

As an event coordinator for Carisma, a Hulme based Community Alliance, Esther also organises the Peace Week Launch in Hulme in Manchester. This is a youth talent show which gives local young people an opportunity to express themselves through music and dance in a positive way. This event has been completely sold out in the last 2 years and is a well renowned annual event.

Finally, Esther is a member of a band called Kokoriko, playing the percussion. The band plays a mixture of Jazz, and Afro-Beat and Latin.