Little bodies moving to calypso rhythms on the stage at the National Cultural Center, and the clapping of their small hands and pattering of their small feet all added to the dramatic performances as the  2010 Children’s Mashramani Competition got under way on Monday.
Ms. Donna Chapman, Deputy Chief Education Office (DCEO) Development, pointed out that the organisation of the Mashramani celebrations has grown and that investing in the future of expressive arts is a must.
She also lauded the efforts of the Georgetown Department of Education.
Addressing students, teachers as well as a few parents, Chapman noted that Mashramani is an integral part of Guyanese life and added that in schools the celebrations impart an appreciation for one’s heritage.
She said the Children’s Competitions will illustrate this year’s theme ‘Embracing our diversity, Celebrating our heritage’.
On Monday the calypso and dramatic poetry segments saw everything from the clearing of throats, nervous off- key notes and bouts of stage fright; also confident voices came from small bodies.
One such budding artiste was five-year-old Prince Cozies, from South Ruimveldt Park Nursery, who thrilled the audience with his dramatic presentation of the poem ‘Looking at your hands’.
Donned in a white shirt, a black jacket and ankle length black trousers the youngster was at home on the stage.
Speaking to him after the performance, young Prince said, “I felt like singing too.”
When asked if he was scared, Prince said he was not but instead had fun with his performance.
“Dying was the best part,”’ he said referring to a line in the poem that required his ‘artistic skills’ when he pretended to die, dropping to the floor and slamming his small palms against the ground to emphasize his words.
Prince copped the first prize for dramatic poetry at the nursery level and Zaria Gray came first in the calypso competitions at the same level, with her rendition of ‘Cultural Privilege’.
In the age five to seven category, Ronaldo Ramsay, from St. Andrew’s Primary, came first in Calypso with ‘Teacha teach meh’. In the same category, Valencia Spencer, from West Ruimveldt Primary, came out shining with her poem ‘Mash in Guyana’.
In the eight to 10 category, St. Pius Primary student, Anton Savory, topped with the Calypso ‘VAT’, and Tatyana Gibbons, from Stella Maris Primary, came first with the poem ‘This phone business de shows pun the TV’.
In the 11 to 13, category another St. Pius Primary student, Andre Duesbury, shone with his Calypso ‘Teacher, Teacher’ and the poem ‘I cried for Mama’ done by Aaliyah Roshuevel, from North Georgetown Secondary, copped first place.
The 14 to 17 category saw poem ‘Judgment Day’ at first place. It was performed by Saints Stanislaus student Jennell Pierre. And the calypso ‘Happenings Around Us’ done by Tiffany Lowe, from the International Business College, coming first.
The International Business College participated in the competition for the first time this year.
The competitions continue today with part two of Dance and Masquerade.
Part one of Dance and Masquerade took place yesterday.
The audience was regaled with performances titled ‘We Celebrate our Heritage’, ‘Hot Fever’, ‘Mash Vibes’, ‘Soca Rebels’ ‘Dis Ah We’, ‘Diversity’ and ‘A Taste of We Cultural Spice’.