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16. FRIDAY, JULY 12, 2013. THE VINCENTIAN
Carnival Heat
The ÂKingÊs BallÊ is the Best Section Story by KARISSA CLARKE photos by ORIS ROBINSON VICTORIA PARK WAS TRANSFORMED into a Royal King’s Ball on the night of Steel and Glitter 2013, Friday 5th July, at least for the ‘Glitter’ half of the show, that segment being given over to the Section of the Bands competition. This year’s Section of the Bands winner, the “King’s Ball’ from Players’ ‘The Garifuna Story’, featured a king, a queen and their subjects parading on stage, with pomp and ceremony that Victoria Park has not seen in a very long time. Carnival costumes are not simply meant to portray something — they are also expected, when properly presented, to evoke emotion. The ‘King’s Ball’ did just that, taking the audience through interesting twists of 18th century ball dresses that complemented the men’s red and white attire. Even as they gracefully waltzed in the height of the gay abandonment that is carnival, the audience was enthralled, maybe even spellbound. Defending champions, Blondie Bird and Friends, from their presentation ‘Jewels of the Caribbean’, offered a section named ‘Harrison’s Cave’, a portrayal that set the masquerade in ‘entrapments’ of green and gold, paying respect to one of Barbados’ treasured tourist sites. They placed second. Owen Ralph and the Professionals gave indication that they were not going to roll over and die. They set the evening aglow with a ‘Gold Rush’, a section from their presentation ‘Shades of Colour’, and copped third position. Digicel Carib Nelson Bloc’s ‘Magical Firebird’ channelled the phoenix through lots of reds and yellow, on the way to a
sfourth place. Their presentation for 2013 paid tribute to the ‘Legends of the Masquerade’. Seven other bands made presentations at the Steel and Glitter Show. From Beautex International’s ‘Reflections’ came ‘Gold Traders’ appropriately in dripping gold. Melbourne Artisans presented ‘African’ which featured fabrics and symbols typical of Africa, from their band ‘Carnival reincarnated’. Xtreme fanatics put on a good show with ‘Glamorous’, featuring show girls adorned in red and gold, from a band ‘A Passion for Neon The ‘King’s Ball’ winner of the Section of the Bands 2013 – from SVG Players International. (Playing with Neon)’. Hairoun Tribes’ presentation of ‘Soca Monster’ released neon green and orange monsters from their presentation entitled ‘Carnival is we’. Stag, The NEWS Dragons also unleashed a ‘Monster’ from their 2013 offering called ‘A Touch of Class — A Tribute to Vincy Music’. Imagination Mas Band, from their ‘Trails and Nature of SVG’, displayed an interpretation of ‘Hell’s Gate’, with a generous use of impressions of fire. And Metrocint General Insurance The Vincentian Hairoun High Voltage Mas Gold Rush’ – 2nd Runner-up Section of the Bands – ‘Harrison’s Cave – Ist Runner-up Section of Production revisited with the Bands – from Blondie Bird and Friends from Owen Raloph and the Professionals. ‘The Bridge Boys’ of the 1960s , from their band ‘Tribute 50’. This year, 2013, marked the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the open Band of the Year competition. The sections displayed at the Steel and Glitter show gave indication that mas makers were prepared to put their best feet forward, in quest of a 50th anniversary one time, Digicel Carib Nelson BlocImagination Mas Band- ‘Hell’s THE NEWS Dragons- ‘Monster’ $50,000.00 first prize. ‘Magical Firebird’ Gate’