FOURTEEN OF the 36 dances which vied for national trophies on day two of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's dance finals were in the popular category, but only two would come away with the national trophies.
Day two featured the intermediate performers competing as school and community groups or studio groups.
Dressed in blazers, dress shirts, trucker hats and jeans, the boys of Mona High delivered a stunning medley of well crafted current moves, and then some, to walk away with the trophy for Best Popular Dance from a community group or school. The group was clearly one of the audience favourites as they were greeted with deafening screams when they were announced.
"It bad Miss. It bad," explained one girl who had been screaming loud enough to shake the theatre's rafters. As Mona delivered their dance dubbed 'Tek it To Dem' it was evident that their talent was worthy of the screams. Indeed, some of the excitement followed them off the stage as they got a few more screams when they entered the theatre later.
SCHOOLS TO BEAT
The schools and community group category featured most of the dances. As such, Mona had to defeat Bethel Primary and Jr. High, Denham Town High, Mount Alvernia High, Edwin Allen High, St. Hilda's High, Marymount Dance Troupe, Glenmuir High, the Portmore Dancers Cultural Group and Porus High School to get their trophy.
The studio group category featured three contestants and Tivoli danced away with the trophy. Tivoli had presented 'Popular' a dance of dual personality where the dancers were dressed as men and women. Each girl wore on one side a dress shirt and black jeans and on the other side a flared skirt and tiny top.
Though it is not in the popular dancing category, Eltham High presented a dance skit, 'Chaka Class' which pulled on the popular dance genre. Dressed in a glittery parody of a school uniform they were able to cop the intermediates trophy for best dance skit for a community group or school.
The dancers had competed in several other categories including creative folk and modern contemporary dancing, with creative folk being the second highest contested category. Contestants also competed as solos, duets and small groups of either trios or quartets.
Those deemed the best performers will get to show their skills at Dancefest on Friday, July 29 which will culminate the week of 'fests'. The week, featuring the best of the performing arts competition will begin on Monday, July 25, with Folkfest. Dramafest follows on Tuesday, July 26 while Speechfest and Musicfest take place on July 27 and 28 respectively.
- Tanya Batson-Savage.
