Jr kings, queens grace QPS stage

Pageantry and splendour reigned on Wednesday at the National Carnival Commission’s Junior Kings and Queens of Carnival finals and the Senior Kings and Queens of Carnival semi-finals. The results of the competition were not released up until press time on Thursday.

Fifteen Junior Queens and 12 Junior Kings turned up at the Queen’s Park Savannah to vie for the top positions.

The creative topical category dominated the junior competition, with ten queens and seven kings presenting in this category.

There were presentations on the musical aspects of TT such as J’Anna Bethel’s It’s Celebration Time; Netanya Phillip’s Dance La Reine Rive; Antonio Rampersad’s Pan Explosion; Jarel Peters’ A Musical Explosion; and Kymani Brooklyn Browne’s Pan Under the Stars.

The pandemic was touched on by a few masqueraders with presentations by Josiah Sutton portraying Mistah Pandemic; Josiah Ferrier’s Outside Nice; and Surayya Carrington’s Mutation.

Nature and man’s effects on it were the focus of several presentations, including Jewel of the Reef by J’Nai Edwards; Oil Spill in the Gulf of Paria by Jada Charles; and Makayla Questle-Frederick’s Moonlit Matura.

The band Passage to China brought out several interesting portrayals, including Can This Dragon Dance by Peter Barrow; Guardian of the Shaolin Temple by Xavi Harriot; Beautiful But Deadly by Azelia Mills; and Jade Princess by Bryell Mills.

The Senior Kings and Queens competition saw almost ten moko jumbie portrayals, including Shynel Brizan’s Aimee A Dancer of Freedom’s Cousinship to Epitaphs of Fate; Joel Lewis’ Waterfall Oracle; Narusaruman by Keston Benthum; The Resurrection Mule by Russell Grant; Tekel Sylvan’s Believe It or Not They are Here; Glen De Souza’s Pterolycus – The Winged Wolf; Kyle Matas’ Creatio Ex Nihilo; and Leah Noel’s Queen of the Recycle Zesser, among others.

Reigning King Joseph Lewis’ Udeveli Oluhlaza – The Haunted Jab of Canboulay took a look at the historical aspects of traditional mas characters and their contribution to Carnival past and present, as did the three other members of his band, Ravi Lakhan’s Tribute – Jesters of the Tainted Past, Dana Rampersad’s For the love of TT – A Tribute to TT, and Savitri Holassie’s Masquerade – The Hidden Beauty.

Among the interesting individual costumes were Ruth Adams Mendez’s The Emergence of the Maraval Lily, made partially from recycled materials and calling for peace to return to Maraval; and Ah Sailing by Joanne Thompson, in which the sails of her boat seemed to be made from crochet.

Traditional and fantasy characters were also popular, with the theme being explored by Raymond Mark’s The Feathered Serpent Creature Ku Kul Kan; Zeltron the Ice Dragon by Earl Beckles; Hyarima, Who Speak the Bird Language by Nigel Baptiste; Nia Nathu Hari’s Khione – Winter’s Enchantress; The Soucouyant Sexy Ball of Fire by Quincyann Alexander; Athena Goddess of War and Wisdom by Laura Rampersad; and Splash, The Spirit of Water by Aiesha Blaize, among others.

Aspects of Carnival in various forms and cultures also engaged the imagination of the masqueraders, as seen in presentations such as The Spirit of Carnival – Tribute to Roland St George by Takeyah Fletcher Marshall; Priya Nagassar’s The Mother of All Carnivals Celebrations; A Sambista – The Samba Dancer by Jacqueline Collins-Taylor; Krystal Thomas’ Sa Sa Yea; Let’s Celebrate the Pan by Erron Sookdeo; Franklyn Jagdeo’s Explosion of Our Diverse Cultures; and The Procession (Culture on the Move) by Lester Wells.

The cleaners were very efficient and drew applause from the audience as they charged across the stage following performers who would have dropped glitter and bits from their costumes.

The masqueraders performed to an almost packed Grand Stand.

In total, both competitions took approximately four hours.