Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

The Jamaican team which went to the 2006 World Championships of the Performing Arts. - Contributed

The ESOR Dance Ensemble was the pride of Jamaica at the 2006 World Championships of the Performing Arts, held in August in Hollywood, California.

Dubbed the 'Entertainment Olympics', the competition provides the opportunity of being seen by industry professionals and various talent agencies, as well as a chance at winning scholarships valuing over US$50,000 from the New York School of Film and Television.

Over 50 Jamaicans attended the event's 10th staging, which attracted 4,000 contestants from across the globe. They competed in vocals, dance, instrumentals, modelling and acting, coming home with over 100 medals.

The ESOR Dance Ensemble, made up mainly of girls from the Mona Prep Dance Ensemble and headed by their dance choreographer and Mona Prep teacher Sandra Rose, stood out. "In 2004 we won the Best Junior Group of the world. In 2006 over 50 countries entered and we still placed in the top five for Junior Dance," Rose said. The dancers range from six to 13 years old.

With only one minute allowed to impress the judges, the group combined the modern and the traditional in an ethnic/folk and pop piece, dancing to Beenie Man's Chakka Chakka. "It was the Jamaican music that got us to the international final; they loved it," Rose said.

The ESOR Dance Ensemble is based at Mona Prep, which most of its members attend, but is open to other students.

Other top achievers from Jamaica were Kareen McLean, who sang with Joel Wright. Nadje Leslie, who is also a part of the dance ensemble, played the violin and Joel Wright played the saxophone.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

"They won't forget it, they went to an old theatre there called the Palladium and they all want to go back next year. They got the chance to walk on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Some girls said that some day their names are going to be there too," Rose said.

The preparation involved "hard work, dedication, rehearsals and more hard work, and the girls understand that," Rose said.

One parent, Patricia Smith, said "The judges were so impressed with the talent; they want to come and scout down here."

Trinidad and Barbados also made strides at the competition. Trinidad and Tobago won the Best National Costume, followed by Jamaica, while Barbados was also in the top five of the Junior Dance finals.