Amidst the fire scare at the National Cultural Centre, Administrator of the Education Ministry’s Allied Arts Units said, “We will resume the activity.”
And resumed it did, after a lapse of about an hour for the Centre’s officials to return things to normal.
Under a scorched banner, the Children’s Dance and Masquerade Finals went on with performances that took the audience to another level of surprise, the first owing to the scare of the fire.
All 10 administrative regions were represented under the categories: Dance group, five to seven group; Masquerade, five to seven flouncing; Masquerade band, five to seven; Dance group, eight to 10; Masquerade, eight to 10 flouncing; Masquerade band, eight to 10; Dance individual, 11 to 13; Dance group, 11 to 13; Masquerade, 11 to 13 flouncing; Masquerade band, 11 to 13; Dance individual, 14 to 17; Dance group, 14 to 17; Masquerade, 14 to 17 flouncing; and Masquerade band, 14 to 17.
Masquerades aside, the dances were performed under the themes Religious Beliefs, Inspirational, Legends and Traditions, Social Commentary and Interpretive.
Regma Primary, from Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice), was unanimously judged the performers of the day. Titled ‘Battle of Love’, the group of dancers in the 11 to 13 category wowed the audience with their creativity. Dancing to the popular ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ the youngsters managed an excellently choreographed piece that included angels, devils and, of course, the couple caught in the ‘Battle of Love’
However, despite being dubbed the best for the day, they did not place first in the category, Dance group, 11 to 13. In that position is Richard Ishmael with a performance titled African Vibration.
The category Dance individual, 11 to 13, saw St. Margaret’s Primary in first place.
In the Dance group, five to seven, St. Margaret’s Primary from Georgetown placed first.
For Masquerade, five to seven flouncing, Aurora Primary, from Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) copped the top spot.
Masquerade band, five to seven, saw Mackenzie Primary, in Region 10, at first.
In Dance group, eight to 10, Georgetown’s St. Margaret’s Primary took away the prize.
A Region Four (Demerara/ Mahaica) school, Clonbrook Primary, came out on top in Masquerade, eight to 10 flouncing.
For Masquerade band, eight to 10, Mahaicony Primary from Region Five (Mahaica/ Berbice) came first.
Masquerade, 11 to 13 flouncing, saw Ann Grove’s Primary from Region Four in first and the Masquerade band, 11 to 13, had Wisburg Secondary from Region 10 at the top.
Dance individual, 14 to 17, and Dance group, 14 to 17 ended with Tutorial High School as winners of both.
Mackenzie High School placed first with Masquerade, 14 to 17 flouncing, and with Masquerade band, 14 to 17, New Silver City Secondary came out on top. Both schools are from Region 10.
The winners were selected from performances that encompassed themes such as Dance Mania, another electric performance by Regma Primary student Teryka Mohabir; Togetherness, Worship and Praise, Colours of Heritage, African Freedom, Chutney Remix, Snake Charm, Teenage Dilemma, Cultural Magnitude and Diverse Festivities.
Each managed to capture the essence of this year’s theme ‘Embracing Diversity, Celebrating our Heritage’ and at the same time engender enthusiasm from the audience.
A laudable feature this year was the use of props, signaling much innovation on the part of the organisers.
The innovation extended to the inclusion of  live drummers accompanying dancers and the choice of music, a few of which were combination of popular tunes.
The members of the audience readily sang along with the songs.
And they all had a whale of a time.