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From all the various categories showcased, it was evident that the schools took their ‘A Game’ to the front, and produced very impressive entries in the Dramatic Poetry, Calypso, Costume (Topical and Fantasy) and Dance segments.
It was quite a stirring experience to observe the nursery schools put forward their presentations in the areas of dance, choral singing, drama, calypso and costume. Some were feisty and others were amusing, but performances were beyond expectation.
Taking top spot in the Nursery Choir Contest was Genesis Early Childhood Education Centre, with ‘The song of Guyana’s Children’. This was followed in second place by the Hague Nursery School’s rendering of the folk song ‘Bamboo Fire’.
At the primary level, Den Amstel Primary was first, with Genesis and Vreed-en-Hoop Primary schools following in second and third positions. While the winning school rendered ‘Song of Guyana’s Children’, Genesis executed ‘Let us Cooperate’ and Vreed-en-Hoop serenaded with ‘Little Angels’.
Carting off the first prize in this group was West Demerara Secondary, while Patentia and Vergenoegen placed second and third respectively.
Much anticipated
Fun and excitement dominated when the nursery schools teamed up for the much anticipated dance off. Taking the lead in the ‘Ring Dance’ segment was Tuschen Nursery, while Anna Catherina and Belle West nurseries came second and third.
In the religious beliefs grouping, Shirley Merle Nursery copped first place, with La Grange and De Kinderen nurseries in the following two spots. The Legends and Traditions category saw Vreed-en-Hoop Nursery taking first place, followed by La Jalousie second and Jasso’s third.
The Fantasy segment saw La Grange Nursery emerging first, with New Annlegt Nursery second and Vreed-en-Hoop third.
La Jalousie Nursery was first in the Dramatic Poetry segment, followed by Tuschen second and Anna Catherina third.
The very entertaining Calypso segment saw two schools battling fiercely, but eventually it was Bagotville Nursery that took the top spot, leaving Tuschen to settle for second.
The Costume segment was divided into two categories, and it was La Jalousie Nursery which placed first with its fantasy display, while Genevieve and L’Adventure had to settle for second and third, in that order.
The topical costumes were a rush of Caribbean colours, but none could match the brilliance of Shirley Merle Nursery, which grabbed the top position, leaving Cornelia Ida and Goed Fortuin in second and third positions.
The primary schools took up the mantle on January 29, and put on quite a show when it was their turn at the same venue. The Dramatic Poetry segment saw evolution of rich, untapped talent.
In the end, Tuschen Primary’s Latchmin Persaud stole the judges’ hearts with ‘Old Age’; Patentia Primary’s Victoria Samuels was second with ‘Domestic Violence’, and Genesis Primary’s Taga Ross-Thorne placed third with ‘Prayer for our Nation’.
Lone entrant
The lone entrant in the Calypso Competition was Grace Charles of Vreed-en-Hoop Primary.
It was all ‘Mashramani fire’ when schools contested their group and ring dances; and although the contest was fierce, Vreed-en-Hoop demolished Tuschen to emerge winner. Genesis was the only entrant in the ‘Fantasy Segment’, and therefore took the prize.
Competing in the Religious Beliefs arena, it was the lone competitor Genesis that was declared winner with the entry ‘Holy Ghost Gym’.
Onifa Pearo of La Retraite Primary won the Dramatic Poetry category with ‘Changing Times’, followed by Esther Dover of La Grange Primary with ‘Violent Killings’. In third position was Breanne Boucher of Genesis with ‘Watch de Ride’.
The scene in the 8-10 years Calypso category was electric. None could stop Boucher, who placed first, while Vreed-en-Hoop and Patentia Primary battled for second and third places respectively. Those schools were represented with ‘No child must be left Behind’, ‘GPL tek way de Light’ and ‘Stop de Killings’ respectively.
Genesis Primary seemed to be on fire in the 8-10 Religious Beliefs Dance categories, and placed first with ‘Nobody is Greater’. La Grange took second place with the same entry, whilst Zeelugt took third with ‘Just like you Jesus’. In fourth place was Vreed-en-Hoop with ‘Diversify our worship in Christ’.
In the Interpretive Dance segment, La Retraite Primary took first place with ‘Mash Jump Up’ and second place was awarded to Leonora with ‘One’, while Two Brothers Primary placed third with ‘Soca Fusion’. Fourth was Genesis Primary with ‘All Around’.
Legends and Traditions saw Genesis Primary emerging winner with ‘Jehovah’. Mc Gillvary Primary placed second. Capturing the third place was Wales Primary, doing a pulsating Indian dance.
Lots of talent was exhibited in the 11-13 Calypso showdown. However, it was Patentia Secondary’s Akeshia who won with ‘Take your Time’. Close behind her was Nakeisha Paddy from Genesis with ‘They taking Over’. Vreed-en-Hoop’s Dacia Walcott was third with ‘Security in School’.
In the 14-17 Calypso faceoff, Patentia Secondary’s Melissa Wilson was first with ‘21st Century Teacher’.
