Steel Expressions 2015 slated for December 27

Rodney Small’s 2015 edition of Steel Expressions will this year be held on December 27 at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex under the theme ‘Circle of Life’.

The event, into its fourth year, is designed to showcase local talent, both mature and growing.{{more}}

During the event’s media launch last Wednesday at the Grenadine House, Small, the event’s founder and executive producer, said that he gave birth to Steel Expressions as a project for his final exam at the Edna Manley School of the Visual and Performing Arts in Jamaica and after presenting it to the judges (Michael Cooper, Marcia Griffiths and Roger Williams), he was told that the show was “ready for the road.”

“I was rather obedient and decided to take the show on the road to SVG,” said Small, who said that since 2012 the show has been steadily gaining momentum and this year, Circle of Life intends to highlight the different aspects of the creative arts and feature local talent.

He said that the show, which begins at 7 p.m., will be a high energy production, “showcasing different aspects of life that we face each and every day in a theatrical and musical way.

“We are living in an era where reading and reasoning is a thing of the past, so I considered all that and decided to get my message across by using the creative arts,” said Small.

Some of the themes that will be present at the show are love, wrath, roots, joy, inspiration and next generation.

Small said that the circle of next generation will be the highlight of the event and will feature performances from among other 11-year-old Milan Compton on violin, Cassique Ollivierre from the Potential Steel Orchestra, ‘Gem’ from Creative Entertainment and the 2014, 2015 National Calypso Monarch Zamfir ‘Man Zangie’ Adams and Arabesque Dance Group (juniors).

Performances will also come from established performers like Shaunelle McKenzie, Gamal ‘Skinny Fabulous’ Doyle, Urban Xpressions Creative Group, Resistant Heartbeat Drummers and Rodney Small and the Ultimate Band, powered by Platinum Sounds.

“The fusion of all these performers using different genres will ensure that our patrons’ appetites will be satisfied at the end of the event that they may want to leave an extra contribution at the exit for our Arts Alive Development Youth Programme,” said Small on Wednesday, adding that some proceeds from the show will go towards funding the Arts Alive programme.

This year’s Steel Expressions is sponsored by, among others, FLOW, Baptiste and Company Law Firm Inc, Julia’s Fabric, LIME, Courts SVG, Grenadines House and Coreas City Store.

Small, thanking the sponsors, said that by putting their support behind the event, sponsors are helping promote live music and culture from all angles, while they are also supporting the Arts Alive programme. He said also that the sponsors help young and upcoming artistes showcase their talent outside of Carnival.

The media launch also heard from Sean Frederick, lawyer René Baptiste, manager at Coreas City Store Jean Johnney-Findlay and sales marketing and communication manager at FLOW Corey Garrett.

Addressing the gathering, Frederick said that Steel Expressions has become a household name and on December 27, persons at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex will experience “the ups and downs and the ins and outs of love, life, the journey with people thrown from Africa and our own Vincentian folk form and different aspects of life.”

He said that the show is designed to entertain and educate, positively expose young people, showcase new talent and create an avenue and a platform for performers to showcase their talent.

“This is not just another show, it is an high class event”, said Frederick, who opined that it is also a tourism event, as there are persons who travel from the diaspora to attend the show.

Former Minister of Culture René Baptiste urged persons to support Steel Expressions, as she stressed that Small and Frederick and the other young organizers involved in the event are persons who can positively represent a brand and give value for money.

Johnney-Findlay said that she is excited about the event, and she is looking forward to performances by the younger entertainers; while Garrett of Flow stressed that he is glad to be part of the journey.

He said that FLOW is always happy to be part of anything that involves art, culture and the youths.

The first Steel Expressions was held at the Peace Memorial Hall in 2012, the Russell’s Auditorium in 2013 and at the Arnos Vale Playing Field in 2014.