Last Video Blast

Today was a crazy day. There is a lot going on behind the scenes for the upcoming national finals on December 7. Before I go further though, let me say a big thank you to the CBC for their continued support of Independance Festival and to their commitment to the community. This post will feature the final videos from the Zone Finals.

An apology is in order to the performers at the St. Micheal North Zone finals. I am having a bit of a problem with the video of this show. So to the fans and the performers - I'm sorry. The remaining video is of the groups of the St. Michael south Zone. Enjoy and... you know it, share your comments.


Higher Level Empire


Mysterious 7


Restoration World Changers

You Review - Southern Zone

Hi folks, today I am posting video from two zones. I want to push on with the big event at hand - The National Finals, slated for the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium on Sunday 7th November from 6:00pm. So today take a look at the videos and you decide. Have fun and don't forget you can leave a comment. Let me hear what you think if you were at any of the Zone Final shows.

Southern Zone


Junior Group Tabia in action


Revolution Squad the other junior group in this Zone


The very popular Equilibrium


The energetic AquaTech

Video from the East

A quick post of video from the Eastern Zone Final. Enjoy Gall Hill Dancers and Adrenaline as requested by you. It appears these two groups are extremely popular with their communities. Look out for my brief reviews on the other zones, including photos and video, and keep those comments coming.


Gall Hill Community Dancers


Adrenaline

Review - from the North they came

The Northern lights shone on the stage at the Coleridge & Parry Secondary School auditorium on Friday 7th. Featured was the second in a five night series of Zone Finals. Four performing groups from this zone prepared to show an eager audience what dance meant to them and why they should be in the chosen National Finals few. The hall was well appointed for a community event such as this and as mentioned by Mr. Alba Hood, Vice Principal of Coleridge and Parry, "was built with the performing arts in mind".

The zone included the junior group Olos (see video in post "Crowed Halls Cheering Crowds"), a cute, dynamic young group, dancing to the popular track I'm alive by Celine Dion. Dressed like little angels in white satin bell dresses, these six petite dancers wowed the fairly large crowd. It was easy to see why Olos was such a favourite with the crowd.



Next group up was Alexandra Hip Hop, made up of students of the Alexandra Secondary School. The dance was a fusion of modern and hip hop, a combination used by some of the groups to get their messages across. The music chosen was not only up beat but a gospel track that helped the group tie the whole piece together. On stage this group, made up teenage girls and boys, had lots of energy and had an almost fresh approach.

Alexandra Hip Hop



Haynesville Dancers are no strangers to performing and it was obvious from their approach that a deal of imagination and some research went into the piece presented. A journey into the the rites of passage to manhood of two young village men. This presentation offered variety to the night's contest, but fitted into the theme of ancestry that was the focus of the show overall.


The night's final performance came from yet another Alexandra Secondary School group, this one the Alexandra School Dancers, dancing in true celebration style to a spirited gospel number. Once again, although the move in this performance were familiar, the overall presentation felt light and fresh. The choreography was well constructed and lots of energy was exuded on stage.

Hey, remember, your comments are valuable. If this information was useful leave a comment.

Final for the Finals

Today I am taking a little break from the reviews to give you news of this year's finalist. You heard it correctly my friends the chosen finalists are here, but I must update an earlier post, the magic number is 16. Yes, 16 groups are going forward to the Barbados Community Independance Festival 2008 National Finals, on Sunday December 7. These groups include 12 adult groups and 4 junior (child) groups. Sounds like a long show, but based on the energy and creativity displayed during the Zone Finals, patrons will be entertained till the end.

The groups moving into the finals are {drum roll here}
From the Eastern Zone - Gall Hill Community Dancers and Adrenaline

Gall Hill Community Dancers

Adrenaline

The Northern Zone - Olos, Alexandra Hip Hop and Alexandra Dance Group

Junior Group Olos

Some members of Alexandra Hip Hop

Alexandra Dance Group on stage

The Southern Zone - Tabia, Revolution Squad, Equilibrium and Aqua Tech

Members of another junior group, Tabia

2nd Junior group from the South, Revolution Squad


Members of the very popular Equilibrium

Aquatech Gave a good account

St. Michael North Zone - Dancing Africa, Xtra Hype, Hypnosis and New Era (Praise Academy of Dance)

Xtra Hype at Combermere

A small section of the performance by the junior dancers of Dancing Africa.

Hypnosis presented a creative hip hop/modern fusion

New Era will definitely be seeing all you there


St. Michael South - Demolition Squad, Mysterious 7 and Restoration World Changers

Demolition Squad created a powerful HIV performance

4 of the Mysterious 7

Restoration World Changer looking to make a difference come December 7

Tomorrow I continue with the reviews of the Zone Finals and later in the week a special look at the structure of this year's zone finals, followed by a special introduction to the judges and the judging process. In the meantime I would love to hear your comments.

Independance Review - It Began in the East

This year's Zone Finals carried an Africentric theme

The Community Independance Zone Finals kicked off this year at the Lester Vaughn Memorial Secondary School on a beautiful Thursday evening, and although it was evident that there were still some bugs being ironed out, the presentation was for most, worth the wait.

The format for the Zone Finals this year incorporated an Africentric theme which ran throughout, with a strong message of community unity based on high spiritual values, respect for elders and the youth, and an overview of ancestral culture. The show which feature only two competing groups, was conceptulized by national coordinator Tyrone Trotman and displayed strongly, various element of his dance message which have be taken to communities around Barbados, St. Lucia and further afield.

Paying respect to the beautiful mothers of our communities.

THE GROUPS
Gall Hill Community Dancers and Adrenaline, the two groups that were judged in this zone, showed why they were so highly anticipated by their fans.


Some Members of the Gall Hill Community Dancers


Gall Hill Community Dancers

Gall Hill Community Dancers
The interpretive, silhouetted piece performed by the Gall Hill Dancers was well received by fans and general audience alike. They presented a message of feminine unity against abuse and chauvinism. Movements were well executed and a good understanding of the use of stage was shown. Adrenaline, an all male group, on the other hand, muscled their way on stage to a resounding roar. The full interpretation of the piece was not entirely clear to me, but the entertainment level was a must see. This group is rapidly becoming a the group on the street to beat. The energy exhibited by these six young men renders the name a very fitting one. Adrenaline is definitely one of the groups to see this year.

Adrenaline

Adrenaline on stage

Adrenaline in action

Crowded Halls Cheering Crowds

The Barbados IndepenDANCE FESTival is the toddler in the family of local festivals, but if the crowds and fans keep feeding it with the kind of support just witnessed over the last five nights, then ladies and gentlemen we have a giant in the making. Twenty community based dance groups from around the country showed off their danced skills to judges, fans and the capacity audiences that came out to participate in the Zone Finals of this, the third year's Dance Fest.

Thursday 6th November was the beginning of an action packed mini-week. The Eastern Zone ran first and although only two groups performed, a blazing platform was set for those that followed. Dance genres ranged from African to fusions of modern and hip hop, group sizes from two to 30. Those attending witnessed genuine effort displayed by most performers, and all will agree that the Independance Fest is earning it's place as a must see Independence event.

Comment if you were at any of the Zone Finals lets hear what you think. Now here's a photo look at some of the action. I have included some short video clips which you may downloaded. Over the next few days I will be reviewing each final, and in the weeks to follow, present to you

those who work tirelessly to bring this festival to our communities.

Will Higher Level Empire Surf their way to the National Finals?

Powerful HIV Aids Message

The Race is definitely on for the Gymnasium

Maybe Divine intervention will be this group's winning tool.

The following videos may take a while to load, however quality would be compromised if they are made smaller. Have your say. How would you like to have your video posted?

Dance – moving a community closer

Dance generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting.

How many of you remember during the eighties, here in Barbados when groups of young men travelled around some communities armed with rolled up linoleum and a large “beatbox”? It was breakdance war in the streets back then. Clashes between Webopp 2 in St. Michael and … in the famous Studio 10, or on Combermere home turf. Young men, some educated, some not walking around looking to share some serious dance licks.

In fact, some names at that time became household names – Fonzie, Jamal, Ramoun, Ricky Taylor and others not to mention, earlier dance heroes from the funking seventies like Brazain, Sheriff, Ghost, I C & I am. Some of these names when called today still ring “sweet” of the good old party days at Skate on, Rendezvous Room, Unicorn 1 and the Djs that made feting the necessary weekend activity. The dancers of these times, the fete venues and the Djs – Anthony lowhar, Franz Phillips, Eddie Cheeseman all rightfully called “old School” bring to mind an era when dance was a great binding force that held some of communities together.

Today, the scene has changed a bit but dance is still very much alive around Barbados. The difference maybe the amazing widening of dance genres. In the seventies and eighties there were three main groups of weekend dance activities. The late thirty and older group worked up their sweat at “Dances” – Socials where mostly music of the fifties, sixties and early seventies (oldies) was played. Couples danced to the music Sam Cooke, Brooke Benton, Skeeter Davis, Paul Anka…you get the picture. Under thirties were split into two groups – those that partied to the latest (now old school) r&b, pop and funk, with a little reggae and calypso thrown in. The other group was the roots group, they flocked the “dub outs”. Dances where “dub”, hardcore reggae was played for the entire “session”.

Young dancers from competing groups at a recently organized Inter-community Social

The scene is way more varied today. On the social scene you can find clubs and night clubs where the hottest dances from around the Americas and further world are performed. Everything from professional ballroom and Latin to Jamaican Passa Passa. During this years Independance Festival groups are even competing with their versions of line dance. Many young men still want to do dance battle, and popping, waving, head spinning and scrambling are still moves in their repertoire, but gone are the "congoleum" and big radios, and now there are opportunities (at least once a year) where these skills can be put to use on a national scale for big prize monies. Dancers, young and old from across the island, can participate in the annual Independance Festival, a great outlet for their skills and talents and a powerful tool that can bring communities closer.