Arabesque and Lowmans Leeward dominate Dance Festival

After a jam-packed evening of modern and traditional dance moves, colours and expressions, the Arabesque Dance Company and the Lowmans Leeward Primary School emerged triumphant at the finals of this year’s Kingstown Cooperative Credit Union {{more}}(KCCU) Dance Festival.

Eight dance groups performed to a full house last Saturday, October 4, at the Peace Memorial Hall, with Arabesque Dance Company scooping a whopping 14 awards, and the Lowmans Leeward Primary taking home eight.

The Dance Festival, which began on September 13 and culminated last Saturday, saw participants competing in the genres of modern, traditional, hip hop and social dance.

Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture Cecil McKie lauded the organising committee and the sponsors KCCU for executing a “fantastic” festival this year.

McKie said that he was impressed by the high standard exhibited by all the participating dance groups throughout the festival, and expressed his anticipation of the next – which will take place in 2016.

Also giving brief remarks was KCCU president Collin John, who pledged his institution’s full support for the festival for the foreseeable future.

“The Kingstown Cooperative Credit Union is happy to be partnering with the Ministry of Culture… to make this a reality,” he enthused.

In addition to being awarded Most Outstanding Group, Arabesque Dance Company received the following awards: Most Outstanding Dance Organization (seniors), Most Outstanding Dance Organization (juniors), Most Outstanding Traditional Dance (dance organization seniors), Most Outstanding Creative Folk (dance organization), Most Outstanding Social Dance (dance organization seniors), Most Outstanding Hip Hop (community group), Most Outstanding Modern Dance (dance organization seniors), Most Outstanding Modern Dance (dance organization juniors), Best Duet (seniors), Best Solo (seniors), Most Versatile Dancer (seniors), Most Expressive Dancers (seniors), and Most Promising Dancer (seniors).

The Lowmans Leeward Primary scooped Most Outstanding Primary School, Most Outstanding Traditional Dance (primary schools), Most Outstanding Creative Folk (primary schools), Most Outstanding Hip Hop (primary schools), Most Outstanding Modern Dance (primary schools), Best Duet (primary schools), Most Versatile Dancer (juniors), and Most Expressive Dancer (juniors).

The Girls’ High School won Most Outstanding Creative Folk Dance (secondary schools), Most Outstanding Social Dance (secondary schools), Most Outstanding Hip Hop (secondary schools) and Most Outstanding Secondary School.

The Junior Dance Club took home Most Outstanding Social Dance (dance organization juniors), Best Solo (juniors) and Most Promising Dancer (juniors).

The Renaissance Dancers (Juniors) received the award for Most Outstanding Traditional Dance (dance organization juniors) for its Maypole performance; the CW Prescod School won Most Outstanding Social Dance (primary schools) with ‘El Vals’; and Break Storm scooped Most Outstanding Hip Hop (dance organizations).(JSV)