KCCU National Dance Festival climaxes in style

With the excellent showcase of skill, versatility and creativity, dance in this country seems to be stepping toward a higher plateau. This was evident at the grand finale of the 2006 Kingstown Cooperative Credit Union, KCCU, National Dance Festival on Saturday September 30 at the Peace Memorial Hall where the Stubbs Primary School emerged top in the junior category with six awards and the Friends Dance Company rose to the pinnacle in the senior category, with seven awards.{{more}}

The Stubbs Government school’s remarkable performances earned them in the junior category the Most Outstanding Social Dance, Most Outstanding Creative Folk and the Most Outstanding Traditional Dance. Individual awards were also given to Shaze Yammi for being the Most Expressive Dancer while Rosnelle Snagg took the awards for the Most Versatile and Most Promising Dancer.

The Friends Dance Company in the senior category copped awards for the Most Outstanding Modern Dance, Most Outstanding Social Dance Piece, Most Outstanding Creative Folk and Most Outstanding Traditional. Also sweeping up the award for the Most Promising Senior Dancer was Rebecca Haddaway of Friends while the Most Versatile Dancer went to Juanita Phillips who also won the Most Outstanding Duet award when she teamed up with Stanley Johnson.

Other commendable performances were given by Rhythm and Soul who took two awards for the Most Outstanding in the Hip-Hop category and Most Spirited Group.

The Allegro Dance Company, which also snatched two awards thanks to the talented Nicholas Bartholomew, took the Most Outstanding Solo and Most Expressive Senior Dancer titles.

While the Avenue Dancers took the Most Outstanding Hip-Hop award and E’cole de Ballet took the Most Outstanding Modern Dance Piece.

Minister of Culture Rene Baptiste who had the packed hall cheering as she and host of the evening Anthony Denny showed their dance skills said she was not afraid to show why she was head of culture.

She however invited all dancers during this month to audition for the inauguration of the National Dance Company, which she said, would be one of the showpieces of the country.

Baptiste urged dancers with the talent to stop talking about establishing the National Dance Company but come forward and serve.