By Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance WriterTHE ECSTATIC shouts that bounded around in the Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Drive, St. Andrew, on Wednesday afternoon belied the fact that only seven trophies had been given out at the first day of competition of the 2004 National Speech Finals in the JCDC's festival of the performing arts.
The students' joy was in response to the golden reward of all their hard work as they had progressed from first parish to regional and then won at the national level. However, the sounds of joy were not the only ones to be heard. A few students were overcome by their defeat and some resorted to tears.
Either way it was a day of achievement, because to get to the national finals all the entrants had to have received the highest gold medal in their class at the regional finals. Interestingly, however, most of the shouts of joy came from the throats of boys, as only a single girl had been victorious.
That lone female was young Cleopatra Carr of Calabar Primary and Junior High. Carr had delighted with her rendition of Parents which declared how 'confoundedly confusing' parents can be. All the other winners, whether ensemble or solo, were male.
Wednesday's performance featured competitors in the junior class and several of the competitors in the adult class. As a result, only the trophy for 'Most Outstanding Dub Poetry' in the adult class was given. This went to Christopher Gordon representing the group Nomadzz, which had performed Silent Tears.
TWO TROPHIES
Mona Preparatory was the only school to skip home with two trophies. Class two entrant Jabari Anderson earned his trophy for 'Most Outstanding Standard English' performance with Nap Taker. The second trophy, for 'Most Outstanding Speaking Ensemble', went to the class three speaking ensemble performance of Aunty Roachy and No Boring Parts.
Little London Primary's performance of My Hero and Fireflies earned them the 'Most Outstanding Experimental Speaking Ensemble' Junior's trophy.
Lannaman's Preparatory earned the 'Most Outstanding Dub Poetry Ensemble' trophy with their performance of Di Calamity. Miguel Foster's performance of Cassandra Reid's Stop Di Crime earned him the trophy for 'Most Outstanding Dub Poetry' Juniors. The student of Swallowfield Primary and Junior High was competing in class three.
The national speech finals ended yesterday.
Next Monday will see the start of three days of music finals. Two days of traditional folk forms finals begin on Thursday. The festival returns the following Tuesday with the two days of dance finals, before culminating with the drama finals on Thursday and Friday.
However, Friday, July 9, marks only the beginning of a season of performances. The best performances from the finals will be creamed off and displayed in the 'best of' season of concerts, which begins on July 26, with 'Dancefest' and continues through the weeks ending with 'Dramafest' on Friday, July 30. The 'fests' will take place at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on Hope Road.
Additionally, the most entertaining pieces from the competition will be featured in Mello-Go-Roun on August 5, 2004.
