November 22, 1979 – Tavia Hunte was born to Fitzroy Augustus and Geneva Augustus-Greenaway of Guyana. Her early education began at the Swetes Primary School in 1984 before moving on to the All Saints Secondary School, where she discovered her passion for dancing at the age of sixteen under the tutelage of Veron Stoute.

Upon graduating from secondary school in 1996, Hunte enrolled in the Advanced Levels Department at the Antigua State College, where she pursued studies in Art, English, and Sociology.

Though dance was her calling, it came with challenges. Hunte faced early stereotyping from parts of society about what a dancer “should” look like because her curvaceous frame challenged the conventional image. Instead of shrinking under criticism, she turned it into a movement. In 1999, she founded Shiva’s School of Dance, determined to “break the stereotypes that existed in our community as it pertains to colour, class, and size, where persons believe that dance is only for slim people or flexible people or even young people alone,” as she shared in an interview with Art Culture Antigua (August 24, 2016).

Through Shiva’s, Hunte has built a haven where dance is for everyone. Her instruction spans Modern Ballet, Jazz, Folk and African Dance, Bollywood, Dancehall, and Soca, reflecting both the diversity of the Caribbean and her mission of accessibility. Over twenty-five years later, that mission continues: to ensure that dance remains a universal language, open to all who wish to move, learn, and express.

 Her dedication to both teaching and cultural advocacy motivated her to pursue higher education in her field. In 2011, she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Education at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica. In 2024, she completed a Master’s in Community Dance at Ohio University, focusing on how dance can empower and unify communities.

Agricultural Entrepreneur Stint

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when restrictions forced her dance studio to close temporarily, Tavia expanded her entrepreneurial portfolio into an entirely new sector. She partnered in the development of Hunte Chicken Farm, an operation that spanned primary, secondary, and tertiary agricultural production, truly farm-to-table.

The venture quickly grew in both popularity and consumer demand, earning the GARD Centre Entrepreneur of the Month Award in November 2020. It was yet another demonstration of Tavia’s adaptability, creativity, and capacity to build partnerships and lead.  A clear demonstration that her discipline and drive extend far beyond the stage.

Educator and Cultural Ambassador

Tavia serves as a dance instructor for the CAPE Dance Program, where she teaches Modern and African Dance Techniques and Dance History. She has facilitated courses in Creative Arts Business and Dance History, and mentored dozens of students each semester.

Her influence also extends far beyond Antigua and Barbuda. Over the years, she has represented the nation at cultural and educational events in Jamaica, Anguilla, St. Kitts, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, and Dubai. Her dance school has become a fixture in the local entertainment circuit, performing at major national events and staging original annual productions that blend technical skill with cultural storytelling.

In 2024, her impact reached new recognition when she became the recipient of the Billman Award at Ohio University. With that award, she launched “Dance4YourLife”, a five-day intensive camp in Antigua.

Tavia envisions that her professional life will serve as a living testimony for young people exploring career paths and for parents to see what is possible in non-traditional career areas.  Speaking specifically to dance as a viable career and educational path, “A lot of people don’t see dance as a feasible career choice,” she said. “They don’t think it has structure or educational value.” The commercial and youth development success of Shiva’s School of Dance speaks for itself.

Legacy in Motion

Today, Tavia Hunte stands as more than a dancer. She is an artist, educator, cultural leader, and community builder whose career spans two-and-a-half decades. She continues to champion the transformative power of dance as a means of expression, education, and inclusion.

“I’ve always believed that movement connects us,” she reflects. “Through dance, we preserve our culture, celebrate our differences, and find common rhythm as a people.”