Community dancers awarded

By Hallam Hope

Demolition Squad, adult winners in Community Dance Fest 2009-2010, also carried off the “Best Male Group” plaque at the awards ceremony at the Warrens Office Complex Saturday evening.

Rico King received the award as well as the trophy on behalf of Demolition Squad for his group’s triumph in the dance festival.

Demolition Squad upstaged Alexandra School (second) and Praise Academy of Dance  - New Era World Changers (third) before a packed Wiley Gymnasium audience on January 21st in winning the dance festival staged and co-ordinated by the Community Development Department (CDD).

Founder of Tabia and dance choreographer Jacqueline Brathwaite received the award for her group which won in the childrens’ category. The St. Phillip-based group won from Israel Lovell Foundation Juniors (second) and Olos (third).

Minister of Community Development and Culture, Steven Blackett, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Shirley Farnum, Chief Community Development Officer Mrs Sandra Greenidge , Professor Edcil Wickham of the University of Calgary and Trimart Manager Whitfield Batson,whose company is  a new partner with the Department,  were in attendance. Minister Blackett, Professor Wickham and Mrs Greenidge spoke on the occasion.

The Best Anti-Violence Message award was made to Xtra Hype, the 2008 winners, Reactivated Squad won the award for the Best Substance Abuse Message and Les Filles Magnifique won the award for Best Female Group. The award for Best Anti-Violence Message was donated by the National Task Force on Crime Prevention while the National Council on Substance Abuse presented the award won by Reactivated Squad. The Bureau of Gender Affairs provided the awards for the Best Male and Best Female groups.

The ACE awards for consistently high quality performance, donated by the National Initiative for Service Excellence (NISE) went to Praise Academy of Dance – New Era World Changers, Adrenalin and Xtra Hype. 

Reactivated Squad and Les Filles Magnifique won plaques for “Significant Improvement”, while the award for Consistently Positive Message went to Praise Academy of Dance – New Era World Changers. Little People Fun and Frolic, a childrens’ group, won the Community Spirit Award. The Best Newcomers were Kuumba and Supa Crazy, while Adrenalin won the award for Most Original and Xtra Hype the award for Team Spirit.

There was also a presentation of certificates of participation to 14 groups.