National Dance Fest opens

Feet will be tapping away at the Peace Memorial Hall this weekend as the 2006 Kingstown Cooperative Credit Union, KCCU, National Dance Festival kicks off officially this Saturday from 7 pm.

In a press conference held at the Cruise Ship Terminal on Tuesday September 5, Minister of Tourism Rene Baptiste encouraged dancers to participate in the festival but made a special appeal to male dancers to shine at the festival.{{more}}

She highlighted that dance was not just about getting on the stage and giving a performance, but was a skill which required good posture, co-ordination, timing and good mental development to remember choreography.

The Culture Minister pointed out that dance can be a career and hopes to offer more scholarships and training for students to learn the art form. She urged young people with the natural talent for dance to ensure that they also do well academically so that would be eligiblefor dance scholarships.

Baptiste appealed to the dancers to know their craft and to ensure that they not only meet the expectations of local audience but of the international arena. She described dancers as cultural ambassadors and emphasised the need for schools to understand the importance of building a nation of people who appreciate their heritage.

The Minister also expressed the hope of one day depicting the history of the country through dance and encouraged more people to learn traditional folk movements. In her closing statements Baptiste thanked the KCCU for it’s financial contribution and appealed to other businesses to assist the National Dance Festival.

Meanwhile Vice president of the KCCU, Annis Horne, pledged the company’s unwavering commitment to the festival, which she noted has been sponsoring the festival since it’s inception in 1994.

The festival which begins on September 9 with the Modern Dance continues on the 16th with Hip Hop and Social category, 23rd with Traditional & Creative and climaxes on 30th September with Grand Finale` performances of gold medal winners.