The Wasafoli Dancers, noted for their West-African-influenced style, thrilled patrons at the Divali Nagar when the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) hosted the third annual Rainbow Dance Festival, to mark the 52nd anniversary of Independence on August 30.
The 40-odd member troupe, led by Xavier Phillips, truly demonstrated the meaning of their name, Happy To Play–We Dance. We Drum. We Sing.
Also performing at the festival were the Amritram Shakti Dance Company, Radha Krishna Dance Group, Krizeri Shakti Company, Tridevi Dance Company, Khalnayak Dance Academy, Nalini Akal and N9, Shakti Devi Dance Company, Xtreme Breakers and Kiss Natraj Dance Company. Special appearance was singer Nirmala Sensarayan who appeared with dancer Brian Mangaroo.
The show lasted for just over three hours. And judging from the appreciative applause, it was clear the audience enjoyed it.
Surujdeo Mangaroo, PRO of the NCIC, said the organisation continues, "to knit the national society with its diverse cultural strengths since its inception some 50 years ago."
Mangaroo said the festival was named after the "Rainbow Nation" description given to T&T by South African archbishop Desmond Tutu during his visit to T&T in the 1980s.
NCIC president Dr Deokienanan Sharma said that the festival was organised, "to showcase the various cultural streams of our country in the field of dance. It has so far been a very successful event by the NCIC and we have continued every year since to present the festival in the true spirit of cultural camaraderie.
"The idea of the Rainbow Dance Festival was further strengthened by the fact that the government has established the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism, hopefully giving equal status and recognition to all cultures practised by our citizens."