Festival of Arts Competition in North Caicos
North Caicos is clearly not just the garden island due to its lush produce borne from the island’s vegetation for it would seem that it is springing a bountiful set of young and talented youths in the creative arts. This conclusion was drawn after an overwhelming display of talents from students of the Charles Hubert James Primary School on June 17, 2017. The event was a festival of the arts competition showcasing talent in six categories -Nursery Rhyme, Poetry, Song, Drumming, Costume and Dance. Students from as early as Kindergarten level and through to Grade Six level competed for prizes in
each category. It is evident that the event was well-organized and that students
were prepared to deliver the highest quality performance. The show’s originally advertised venue was changed from the North Caicos Community Centre to the Horse Stable Beach Complex. The panel of judges at the competition included cultural guru, David Bowen, Director of the Raymond Gardiner High Performing Arts, Marguerite Anderson and resident hairstylist, Patti DesLauriers. Mr. David, Bowen gave a special appearance on stage with his riveting storytelling-a medium which continues to promote the preservation of our islands’ culture. Bowen said he was honoured to have been invited to be the Head Judge for the event and expressed his pleasure to see such talented young people grace the stage. He added that the key, now, is for the school, the parents and the community to continue to support and nourish the students’ talents and passions. The former Director of Culture said he was particularly impressed with the young drummers and has subsequently invited those drummers to perform in his up-coming Island Review show to be held in Providenciales on September 30 th at Brayton Hall.
Marguerite Anderson, Coordinator of the Raymond Gardiner High Performing Arts said that it was a delight to witness that more and more, students and their teachers are placing emphasis on the maximization of talents. Not only is it the art of perfecting one’s own creative strength, she added, but it also frees an individual to excel in an area that he/she loves. The following individual/groups emerged as winners for the competition in the various categories: Nursery Rhyme1st Place winner, Mirsendy Obei, 2nd Place winner, Aliesha Harvey and 3rd Place winner, Justin Corvil; Poetry- 1st Place winner, Wassly Romain, 2nd Place winner, Gabrielle Clunis and 3rd Place winner, Kevaughn Rolle; Dance- 1st Place, Hot Chilli Steppers, 2nd Place, The Dance Scrapers, and in 3rd Place, The Mighty Movers; Drumming- 1st Place, Rocky Drummers, 2nd Place, Bush Beaters, and 3rd Place, The Golden Drummers; Song- 1st Place, Kirk Gardiner, 2nd Place winner, Danielle Clunis and 3rd Place, Archelande Joseph; 1st Place Winner in Costume Tania Herrera
and finally in Costume- 1st Place winner, Tania Herrara, 2nd Place, Lauren One and 3rd Place winner, Ciara Hall.
School administrator, Ms Comonseta Campbell extended gratitude to all the sponsors who helped to make the event a tremendous success and thanked her dedicated staff for working assiduously behind the scènes in preparing the competitors for the event. She added that she would have loved to see greater community support from North Caicos. Nonetheless, the event was “more than my money’s worth”, as summarized by one very satisfied patron. Cultural guru, David Bowen awards 1st Place winner in Poetry, Wassley Romain
(L-R) Winners of the Costume segment-2nd Place winner, Lauren One, 3rd Place winner, Ciara Hall and 1st Place Winner, Tania Herrera
1st Place winner in Drumming, The Rocky Drummers