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FREE UP Caribbean Movement

A space where art, culture, community and wellness collide.  

 

Chanel naturally found her love for dance through early exposure to cultural arts, tradition and music. She was born in Brooklyn, New York to Guyanese parents and spent a great portion of her life in sunny Florida. 

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During her early years, she performed in the choir, acted in plays, directed and choreographed routines for her high school and college dance groups and participated in Caribbean carnival parades. Additionally, she worked as a character performer for Sesame Street, Disney World and Disney Cruise Line.

 

As part of her commitment to community engagement and cultural promotion, Chanel served as a student leader for the Caribbean Culture Exchange group at the University of South Florida, as well as a board member and international health mission team member for the Caribbean Community Association in Tampa, Florida. 

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​Chanel completed the SHAPE UP NYC training course in 2018, and instructed group fitness classes in parks, hospitals and recreation centers across New York City.
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In 2023, Chanel accepted an invitation to serve as a Peace Corps Response Volunteer in Guyana, South America. She completed her 12-month service as a School Support Officer in the Ministry of Education, then transitioned to St. Vincent and the Grenadines to serve in the role of Support Services Officer for the Disabled in an NGO for a 12-month period. She is now a proud Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in her favorite part of the world. 

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As a licensed social worker, Chanel uses her passion for culture, arts and wellness, to serve children and families through counseling, mental health support, education, empowerment and community engagement. 

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"I don't have a life-changing weight loss story. However, I discovered that music, movement, engaging in arts, incorporating positive wellness practices and connecting with others, helped to soothe the symptoms of stress and anxiety. I just wanted to share that amazing feeling with everyone. That is FREE UP."

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