Menu
May 24 – June 1, 2024
This journey to Martinique is centered around the world of dance and the intersection of cultures. Participants explore the history of dance and music, learning about everything from Western African and Brazilian dance to the French Caribbean diaspora’s history of Zouk music, discovering how societies come together through cultural crossroads. Creole cooking classes and cocoa farm visits provide additional immersive opportunities to understand what it means to be a Martinician and how the intersection of cultures creates this unique identity.
Travel from Los Angeles to Fort-de-France, Martinique.
Settle into the picturesque oceanside town of Les Trois-Îlets with a discussion on the trip’s driving question and the global pillars of equity and justice, sustainability, and civic engagement. Get to know the area with a stroll on the beach.
Start your day with an introductory French lesson that will allow you to chat with the locals as you explore the island. Then head to a cocoa farm to learn about the history of the crop in Martinique and get to participate in the different delicious stages of chocolate making.
Learn more about the history of the people of the island with a museum visit. After, get out on the water yourself with a traditional yole sailing class. The yole was formerly a traditional fishing boat but has now become a unifying sporting activity for all Martinicans.
Spend the day exploring the historical town of Fort-de-France. Get to know the city with a street art walking tour. Then continue exploring the artistic tradition of the island by exploring how Western African and Brazilian dance influences have shaped the local dance styles.
Discover the islets of Robert Bay by kayak. Paddle through mangroves and sandy ocean floors, spotting endemic iguanas of Martinique and seagrass beds full of starfish.
Back on land, learn two ballroom dance called Biguine and Mazurka, tropical adaptations of the waltz.
Spend your day on an agricultural and cultural farm. You will get to witness the Martinician history of farming as it relates to bèlè culture first-hand before enjoying a farm-to-table meal that was made using local ingredients grown on site.
After your farm-to-table meal yesterday, now put your own cooking skills to the test at a Creole cooking class with a local chef. You will learn how to make an appetizer, main course, and dessert, all to be enjoyed with your group. Then spend the rest of the day at two different dance style workshops–intuitive dance and breakdancing.
Continue exploring the variety of dance culture on the island with a Zouk workshop. Zouk is a popular music genre with the French Caribbean diaspora. Then, explore the landscape of the island by visiting Mount Pelée and enjoying lunch by the rainforest. Once you are fed and energized, take a Caribbean modern jazz class from a famous local dancer.
On your last morning, attend a Danmyé initiation which is a martial art in which two fighters, called “majò”, are performing to demonstrate their strength and agility to the sound of “bèlè” drums, ti-bwa, and responsive chants. Enjoy a final meal with your group before beginning your journey home.
Insight has delivered international trips for a wide variety of audiences, including both adults and youths, since 2013. Our top priority from start to finish is the health and well-being of our participants. In the event conditions change while on trip, Insight may need to adjust the itinerary to ensure participant health and safety.
As with all trips, risks do exist and participants will need to complete Acknowledgement of Risk documentation prior to departure. Insight will take every precaution to ensure this experience is truly unforgettable, all for the right reasons. To learn more about our health and safety practices, please contact us.
Please refer to instructions sent by your school.
We take students out of the classroom and challenge them to learn about how the world really works in different places, delivering truly unique study abroad and student travel opportunities.