I am Ella, a born Jamaican woman of the soil. I travelled to the UK from Clarendon, in my early 20s to gain further experience of teaching abroad. I am a secondary school maths teacher for 34 years, with MA Education, BSc in Management Studies, and Diploma in Maths and Science. I am trustworthy, approachable, caring, nurturing and family orientated. I am a mother, love to socialise, entertain, cook and dance.

In my teenage years, I saw Quadrille dancing on television during Independence celebrations in Jamaica. I wanted to, but never danced it until I came to England. I attended a JÁNUKA concert in 2016 and was absolutely gobsmacked by the creativity, costumes, accompanying music, dance movements and patterns. In 2017, I joined this noble group, yearning to learn the dance and about its cultural significance.

When I dance the quadrille, knowing that our ancestors were not allowed to dance their cultural dances, it evokes a sense of sorrow, mixed with pride of the bravery, resilience and their determination to survive enslavement. Quadrille dancing helped to keep their spirits high and to overcome pain. Likewise, it makes me happy and physically energised.

I dance to entertain and increase awareness, especially within the Caribbean diaspora, present and future, of the rich cultural heritage of Jamaica, that it is not just about food and reggae music.