Biography - Sirena Dance Troupe

CINDY YOUNG: Choreographer - Sega & Maloya

Personal Background

Coming from a multicultural family of half Asian and half Creole origins, Sega has always been part of every family gathering. The first time I performed Sega was in front of an audience of 300 people and I was extremely nervous, but when the music started all I could hear were the sounds of rapid drumbeats, pounding rhythms and I became one with the music. It was the most exhilarating experience and I instantly fell in love. Since then I've been dancing Sega for about 15 years and today I am proud to be a part of Sirena. I feel priviledged working with the other Sirena members who are very dedicated and talented. They have motivated and inspired me to continuously find ways to come up with unique ideas and techniques fusing Sega with other dance styles.

Current Profession

I'm currently working as a Technical Project Manager for an airline telecommunication company.

Dancing Skills

I’ve been dancing Sega for about 15 years, as well as 4 years of Maloya, 6 years of professional courses in various Latin dances (Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Afro Cuban) and 4 years training in various Caribbean dance styles.

My Interests

My interests are cooking, kickboxing, weight training and traveling.

SABINE AUGUSTIN-FILS: Choreographer - Carribean & African Dance

Personal Background

I was born in Montreal but have lived in Laval most of my life. My parents are from Haiti. Martine and I are best friends and it's because of her that I joined the original three girls to create Sirena. I sat in on one of their practices to see how it would go if I joined the group. Cindy demonstrated some moves and was amazed to see me execute them exactly the way she wanted. It was a great opportunity for me, because I discovered a real passion in dancing.

Current Profession

I'm currently a laboratory technician in a pharmacy doing pre-clinical research.

Dancing Skills

I've studied four years of ballet, one year of latino dancing (Bachata, Merengue), two years of Baladi and at present, four years of Sega. I also dance Kompa, Zouk, Reggae, Hip Hop, Soca, Coupe Decale and Dombolo.

My interests

My primary interest besides dancing with Sirena is martial arts.

MARTINE M. : Animator Personal Background I was born in Africa center, and from a young age I grew up surrounded by the sound of drums. When I came to Canada at the age of 10, I was adopted by Mauritians. I've always enjoyed dancing and Sega was something new for me that I really loved in their culture. When I met Julie (the costume designer), I was working as a manager in a retail store. Julie and I shared a passion for Sega, and she approached me to start dancing for a restaurant once a month to entertain the customers. Since I love dancing and grew up surrounded by Mauritian culture, I was more than happy to play a part. For me it was a way to represent the Mauritian culture in Montreal. I was thrilled and very excited when Julie introduced me to Cindy (the choreographer), who taught me new techniques of Sega, and from there, Sirena was born.
Current Profession I am a Human Resource recruiter. Dancing Skills I was born in Zaire, so my origins include Coupé Décalé and the Dombolo. I've also taken some Latin, Brazilian, and Soca dance classes, and I grew up dancing Sega. At school, in my art class, I always enjoyed doing the animation (MC'ing), being with the crowd and making people laugh. My Interests My interests are dancing, traveling, cooking, and finding new ideas for my group.
JULIE YEW HIN: Costume Designer Personal Background Cindy and I had the idea of Sirena four years ago when we put on a show for a Liming event. It was my first show and I had asked Cindy for help with choreography. We asked a friend to be a third dancer, I designed and fabricated some costumes, and the show was a complete success. The choreography was excellent and the costumes were gorgeous. We talked about the possibility of doing it professionally at the time but the topic did not come up again until a year later when a friend opened a Mauritian restaurant and wanted a troupe to perform monthly. At the time, I was Co-Manager at Danier leather along with another future member, Martine. Coincidentally, Martine grew up in a Mauritian family and was very familiar with Sega. We asked her to join and she brought along another friend, Sabine. We had fun starting Sirena and we are still having fun to this day. We are four friends who get along really well who share similar passion for dancing.
Dance Skills I've never performed Sega professionally but was always on the dancefloor if I heard it playing. After all, I grew up in Mauritius and my classmates and I used to always be involved in Sega shows, although back then I mostly sang and played the triangle. Now, with Cindy's patience and more detailed choreography, I've learned the different techniques and styles of Sega. Current Profession Massage Therapist (Specializing in sports massage, therapeutic massage, deep tissue and foot reflexology). My Interests Art (Majored in Arts in Secondary school and took Fashion Design in College in Montreal) To this day, I still design clothes (including all of Sirena's costumes) and paint. I like craftwork in general. I love working with my hands and love the outdoors. I enjoy the company of my german shepherd on my time off at home, taking long walks down the river that crosses in front of my home.
CAROLINE CHARLES: Performing Artist Personal Background I started dancing Sega at the age of 8, for festivals organized by the association from Mauritius in Montreal. Dancing both traditional and modern Sega styles has always come naturally to me. I’ve performed for several Mauritian groups in Montreal for many years, for events such as festivals, parties and concerts. Approaching my teens, I discovered I also had the talent for singing in creole and dancing. In 2005, Cindy attended one of my performances and asked if I’d be interested in joining Sirena. They had a different concept compared to other groups, which I found very interesting. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to not only perform Sega, but also learn other folkloric dances such as Maloya, Afro Cuban, Soca and African Dance. Dance Skills At a very young age my mother taught me how to dance Sega at family gatherings. Until this very day, it's a part of my life. Dancing Sega professionally has taught me to be very flexible and over the past years has challenged me to find new and original ways to dance. Current Profession I have a DEC in Hotel Management, working presently as a secretary in a hairdressing salon. My Interests Music and dancing have always been my passions. The arts, painting, drawing, sculpture, fashion and hairstyling have also always fascinated me. I’ve always loved working with other people and learning about new cultures.

JENNYFER POMPEE: Performing Artist

Personal Background

I was born in Sorel, Quebec, but I'm originally from Mauritius. I first saw Sirena perform at the Spectrum and was amazed by the way they were able to entertain and capture the audience's attention. I admired their determination, teamwork, the bonds they had with each other, and the fact that they each had their own style. At that moment, I knew I wanted to take part in the group. I've been a stage performer for three years. I've had the wonderful opportunity to take part in Sirena for a year now.

Current Profession

I'm a full-time student, majoring in Education.

Dancing Skills

Sega has always been a part of my life, since both my parents come
from Mauritius. All my life, I've seen my aunts, uncles and friends dance
at family parties, and my parents were also part of a Sega troupe when they were younger.

My Interests

Other than dancing with Sirena, my other interests also include practicing martial arts (Taekwondo). I love to go out with friends and party, go to the mall or see a movie.