A Christian dance group in Barbados remains disqualified due to its biblically based performance on gender identity despite an arbiter rescinding his decision to uphold the ban, according to reports.
The National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) in October disqualified the Praise Academy of Dance Barbados from a national competition, accusing it of “exceeding the bounds of good taste” and making “defamatory claims,” according to rights group Christian Concern.
Attorney Gregory Nicholls, a Labour Party senator in the island country’s Upper House, had upheld the decision as an arbiter for the dispute on Nov. 17, but he rescinded his ruling in a recent letter to Praise Academy of Dance Barbados.
“I accept...that a fair-minded informed observer would conclude that there was a real possibility of bias in the present matter,” Nichols wrote. “I have therefore decided to rescind my arbitral decision of November 17th, 2023, in the interest of fairness to all parties concerned.”
In a press statement, Christian Concern noted that lawful arbitration must involve impartiality on legal matters, and any perceived bias means a decision should be set aside.
Despite Nicholls revoking his decision, NIFCA judges refuse to rescind the ban. Praise Academy of Dance Barbados is consulting with the Christian Legal Centre in the U.K. for advice on a legal response, including a potential investigation into alleged actions by Nicholls.
Attorney Davida Maynard-Holligan, representing Praise Academy of Dance Barbados for the Christian Legal Centre, said justice had been delayed while the original ruling remained in place.
“If we had not challenged and exposed what had happened to the group, there is no way that Sen. Nicholls’ would have withdrawn his ruling,” Maynard-Holligan said. “What he did therefore remains a highly concerning precedent which must never happen again on this island.”
Maynard-Holligan added that the ruling presented a “chilling message” to all Christians living in Barbados, a former British colony in the Caribbean region, and especially young students refusing to conform to gender identity ideology and extremist teaching.
“Senator Nicholls’ judgment, issued publicly, amounted to an LGBTQ takeover of our legal rights and freedoms in Barbados and cannot go unchallenged,” Maynard-Holligan said. “We will continue to seek full justice in this matter and believe an impartial investigation should be conducted into Sen. Nicholl’s actions and what led to them.”
Praise Academy of Dance Barbados, based at Sifa House in Upper Collymore Rock in St. Michael, produced a performance called “Speak Life,” which presented Christian views that there are only two genders, alongside the biblical perspective on sexual orientation. Performed by teenage students, “Speak Life” told the story of a 15-year-old girl struggling with her gender identity who finds peace and her true identity in a relationship with God.
The plot promoted parental rights and freedoms for Christian parents to rear children within biblical norms, rather than LGBT ideology, according to the academy.
A banner on stage includes the biblical verse Gen. 1:27, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
After widespread viewing of a video of the performance online, NIFCA disqualified the group from the national competition. The academy appealed to an arbiter for the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), arguing that the decision was illegal and unconstitutional, and that there was no clarity about what broke the rules or had been deemed “bad taste.”
Praise Academy of Dance Barbados uses dance, drama, gymnastics and music to convey a gospel-centric message about Christ that “the nation and nations may recognize and appreciate the relevance of God to their everyday lives,” according to the arts school’s website.
The academy focuses on supporting youths “with the intent of equipping and encouraging them to lead a godly and productive life.”
Praise Academy of Dance Barbados is affiliated with schools in Jamaica and Trinidad and has addressed various social issues in arts performances over the past 20 years. The group has never before been disqualified because of their Christian beliefs, according to Christian Concern.
Marcia Weekes, founder and artistic director of Praise Academy of Dance Barbados, has led the school in a number of previous appearances at NIFCA. The academy has also been utilized at various government, corporate and church events.
“Marcia’s love for God is borne out in the poignant, relevant and inspirational dances the Academy produces,” the group states on its website. “She believes that she exists to be salt and light in any environment in which she is placed.”
