Overwhelming response for POS Carifesta XIV auditions

SCORES of people turned out for the Port of Spain leg of auditions for the Carifesta XIV Roadshow leading the organisers to extend the event for an additional day.

Artistic coordinator Jamie Thomas told Newsday, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts, the response for the PoS auditions was “so overwhelming” that the one-day auditions for Saturday had to be extended to yesterday.

“We didn’t really want to turn down anyone.”

He said, on Saturday 80 people auditioned for the talent search – a first for the festival – for events throughout the days and about 20 for casting for the opening and closing ceremonies where they are primarily looking for professional dancers and performers. “We decided to make it a festival that is open to as much people as possible.” He said the festival is opened up in TT to any talent and any discipline.

“So we’ve seen pannists, we’ve seen folk dancers, hip hop dancers, we’ve seen East Indian dance groups, vocal groups, spoken word, everything you can possibly think of in the last few days. So it really allows us, as we get ready to go into the final details of putting together the ten-day run which will feature the contingents that are coming in from around the Caribbean.” The first leg of auditions was held in Arima last week and 30 people auditioned, while the total for the Port of Spain auditions was more than 150.

“What has surprised me is that it’s not the usual. We saw a rock band yesterday. We saw people from all different genres and walks of life coming in to the audition, and I think that is a good showing.”

He said Caricom officials are very happy the buzz has begun seven months before the festival.

Dancer Mashaiah Leopold, 22 of South Oropouche, was singled out by judges as a presentation “we need to look at.” She told Newsday her dancing really materialised in secondary school and she took part in Sanfest, Best Village and other competitions. She said she was not feeling well earlier, “but I am glad I was able to pull through and I glad they loved it.”

Naheelah Kojo, 28, originally from Belmont but lives in Central, performed her own composition “We are Free” with music by Sharlan Bailey, son the late iconic calypsonian Winston “Shadow” Bailey. Kojo said she has been writing for 21 years, singing for 25 years and has participated in the National Calypso Queen competition and also performs at calypso tents. She said she chose to audition for Carifesta “because it is showcasing the Caribbean talent and what we have to offer and I think it is only natural I come and showcase what I have because I am from the Caribbean and we are proud of who we are.”

Also auditioning yesterday was the drum group Blacks International from Laventille which was praised by judges for the phenomenal energy and “making the drums talk.” Group captain Kevin Griffith told Newsday the group has been performing for about 25 years and they only come together when necessary as the majority of members had regular jobs. He explained the performance yesterday was put together just the night before.

Griffith, a Best Village tutor for drumming, said he spends most of his time abroad performing, including with UniverSoul Circus in the US.

The next leg of auditions will be held on Saturday at the National Academy for the Performing Arts in San Fernando and requires online registration for which limited spaces are available. The final leg will be held the following week at Shaw Park, Tobago and it will be walk-in auditions.

Carifesta XIV “The Tangible and Intangible – Connect, Share, Invest” will be held in TT from August 16-25.