Exuberant performances at dance and masquerade competition

The National Cultural Centre stage was yesterday swamped by ecstatic students as the Children’s Mashramani Competition continued with the second segment of Dance and Masquerade.

Dances were judged in four different categories; interpretive, religious beliefs, legend and tradition and social commentary. Participating in yesterday’s competition were high schools from around Georgetown with students 11-13 years taking the stage during the morning and 14-17 years students in the afternoon.

The event opened with individual performances, first, by Mika Clarke from Lodge Secondary entitled “Festive, Festive” which earned the school first place in the interpretive category. Placing second in that category was Christ Church Secondary’s Taraine Spencer with a piece called “Lone Reveller” and in the third spot was Community Academy whose entry was titled, “A Cultural Mix”.

In the Religious Beliefs category, Karishma Charles of Richard Ishmael Secondary took first place. She performed a piece called Faith and Hope. Second place winner was Kishana Harte, of Cummings Lodge Secondary, whose entry was entitled Wonderful Jesus. Being the only participant in the Legend and Tradition category, North Georgetown Secondary, with a performance done by Diane Rampersaud called Threads of Africa, walked away with the first prize. Also, in the social commentary category, being the only participant, Tutorial High School won first place with an entry called Ascend with Pride.

In the 11-13 years Masquerade competition, North Georgetown High won first place with a piece called “Flouncing” performed by Claudius Henry. Following behind with second prize was Kevon Roach from Tutorial High School with his piece called “The Explosion” and in third position was Lodge Secondary with “Flouncing Time” done by Mika Clarke.

Progressing into the 11-13 years Group dance segment, Richard Ishmael, with an intriguing piece called “Feel the Beat” walked away with the first prize trophy in the Legends and Traditions category. In that same category, was second place winner Charlestown Secondary with their piece entitled Kriyoro Dance and following in third place, was Chase’s Academic Foundation with a performance entitled Ekele.

In the 11-13 years group masquerade segment there were two participants. North Georgetown Secondary conquered St. Joseph High, with a piece called Mash Fever while St. Joseph performed a piece called Mash Invaders.

‘Pride of the Earth’, performed yesterday by Tutorial High, secured 1st place in the Legends and Traditions category as the Children’s Mashramani Competition continued at the National Cultural Centre. (Jules Gibson photo)

The Business School welcomed the afternoon’s segment with an interesting piece titled “Energetic Pride” performed by Leon Marks in the interpretive category. Christ Church Secondary School’s, Destony Bledman, placed second in that same category with Lodge Secondary placing third with a piece called Festive Gyration. In the Social Commentary category, North Georgetown Secondary captured the crowd with their “Desperate Housewife” performance done by Raynicka Griffith, earning herself first prize. In that same category was second place winner East Ruimveldt Secondary with a piece called Permanent Scars and in third, David Rose with “Voice of the Unborn.”  First place winner in the Legends and Traditions category was Chase’s Academic Foundation with a piece done by Natasha Smith called Ojuma and second place winner was St. Stanislaus College with their piece entitled Taste of India performed by Shivanie Rampersaud. In the Religious Beliefs category, Tutorial High School walked away with the first prize, after performing Stand Up and Praise, with St. Joseph High’s Crystal Barclay coming in second with her performance of Inspiration. In third position was David Rose Secondary, with a performance entitled “I dance for Mary”.

In the 14-17 years individual masquerade competition, there was an exciting performance by Tutorial High student, Keon Warren, called Rhythms and Feet which earned the school first place. Following in second place was North Georgetown’s Akeen Beckles, Ah meh Culture, and in third spot came Lodge Secondary with a performance called “Joys of a Masquerade by Aisha Allen.

In the 14-17 years group dance segment, social commentary, the first place prize went to East Ruimveldt Secondary with a piece called Dangerous Kind of Love. Following in second position was Christ Church Secondary with their piece called “The New School Yard Style Student Swagga” and in third, Caramel Secondary with “New Love.” St. Joseph’s High graced the stage with their Religious Beliefs piece, entitled “Praises”, earning themselves first prize. Coming in second was Queen’s College with a Hindi version of “Jesus Loves Me” and in third, North Georgetown Secondary, with an entry titled “Proclamation”. In the interpretive category, a piece called “Festive Time” performed by Richard Ishmael came in at first place while St. Joseph High, with “Cultural Explosion”, came in at second.  North Georgetown Secondary, with their “Glitz and Glamour” performance placed third. Tutorial High won the Legends and Traditions category with their performance called “Pride of the Earth”. In second place was Richard Ishmael Secondary with “Celebrating our Heritage” and in third position was David Rose Secondary with a piece entitled “Libation to the Ancestors”.

The 14-17 years masquerade competition had only two participants; Lodge Secondary coming in first with North Georgetown Secondary following behind with their piece called Masquerade Band.