'Lamentation' earned the Tivoli Gardens High dance troupe the trophy for Best Modern Dance (intermediates). - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer TIVOLI GARDENS High continued its reign in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) national dance finals at the end of competition last Friday. The dance finals took place over two days at The Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Avenue, St. Andrew, and at the end of the competition Tivoli had won 17 trophies.
By the end of the first day of competition Tivoli had won six trophies, including the Eastern Regional Trophy. Lannaman's Preparatory won the trophy for 'Most Outstanding Junior'. However, for the first time in five years, Tivoli lost out on the Rex Nettleford Trophy, which went to Praise Academy of Dance.
Tivoli's consistency would, however, pay rich dividends. As part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the festival competitions, the JCDC presented a trophy to Tivoli for being the most consistent school over the years. Tivoli also became the first school to win the Ivy Baxter Trophy for three years running. The Ivy Baxter award is presented to the most outstanding school or group in the national finals. Tivoli first won it in 1996.
In the interim, the trophy went to Stella Maris Dance Troupe kept it for two years before it was won by Lannaman's Preparatory, which also kept the trophy for two years.
Tivoli won the Ivy Baxter again in 2001, and when they repeated the victory in 2002, became the first school to win the trophy three times. This year's win gave them the added prestige of being the first school to win it three consecutive years.
ADDITIONAL TROPHIES
The dance troupe walked away with three additional trophies for the overall competition. The group was named the best in both the intermediate and senior categories. Additionally, the Tivoli Tigi Tots dance 'Folkmatazz' earned the Arlene Richards plaque for best creative folk choreography.
To earn the trophy for best overall intermediate group, Tivoli won three trophies in that age group. 'Poco Jam' earned the award for best creative folk, while 'Lamentation' brought them the trophy for best modern contemporary dance. The final intermediate award came through 'Dem Gals Rock' for best popular dance.
In the senior age group, the troupe earned an additional three trophies. The first came in the popular dance category. Decked out in orange and white pigtails, which matched their outfits, the girls of Tivoli performed 'Dem Gals Rock' which earned them the trophy.
The troupe also earned the senior creative folk trophy. The dance 'Pepper Pot' was a humorous piece which also involved the use of the ingredients of pepper pot soup as well as a huge cauldron. However, the cauldron was not properly worked into the dance, though it evidently did not cost them much.
For the final trophy, the troupe overcame some impressive competition from St. Jago Boyz from the St. Jago High, who performed 'Controlled Chaos Reloaded'. The Class Five dance 'Braggin' added a bit of drama to its offering when it ended with the students miming an airplane which then taxied its way off the stage.
