Michelle Loubon

A pot­pour­ri of dance ex­plod­ed at the Na­tion­al Acad­e­my for the Per­form­ing Arts (Na­pa) au­di­to­ri­um, Keate Street, Port-of-Spain, last Mon­day. Oc­ca­sion was the In­de­pen­dence Folk Fes­ti­val. Pro­gramme man­ag­er Nor­van Fuller­ton said the pre­sen­ta­tions were ex­cel­lent. De­spite the pow­er out­age, the show con­tin­ued.

Fuller­ton said: "Am­ri­tam (Ca­roni Cen­tral) is one of the bet­ter groups tak­ing part in the com­pe­ti­tion. They are the front run­ners in the East In­di­an cat­e­go­ry. Most like­ly they will re­tain their crown. Nar­itya Group seems to be one of the new­found groups that the Best Vil­lage Com­mu­ni­ty be­lieve would pose a chal­lenge."

Fuller­ton added: "In the Africa in­flu­ence, SIA Per­form­ing Arts Com­pa­ny, St An­drew's, St David, seem to be giv­ing North West Laven­tille a strong chal­lenge as far as the African dance is con­cerned. Diego Mar­tin Foot­prints and N'be­lese Cre­ativ­i­ty For the Arts, they are very in­no­v­a­tive and cre­ative. The pre­sen­ta­tions were ex­cel­lent." In a nut­shell, Fuller­ton said the com­mu­ni­ty and crowd re­sponse to the events like La Reine Rive pre­lims and the Folk Fair had been "good so far." Seiz­ing the op­por­tu­ni­ty, Fuller­ton paid trib­ute to the late great Pat Bish­op. He rem­i­nisced on the ko­dak mo­ment when Bish­op had car­ols ring out on tas­sa drums played by Mal­ick Tas­sa Drum­mers at Queen's Hall, Port-of-Spain. He said: "We have lost one of our lead­ing cul­tur­al lights. She was tru­ly blessed and gift­ed. May a great pa­tri­ot rest in peace."