FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas – Members of the Bahamas Dance Theatre (BDT) Dance Ensemble performed a Modern Dance on the final day of the Dance Adjudications at the 2012 E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival in Grand Bahama, that garnered them a 98 out of 100 at the event.
Dance Adjudicator and Bahamian dance icon Mr. Lawrence Carroll said, at the Grand Lucayan Resort, in Freeport, that the performance was “a piece that everyone could learn from” at the adjudications that day.
“It was quite a very good number,” Mr. Carroll said. “It had all the elements that I look for, in terms of choreography, staging, placement, and the like. Technically, it was very strong, the choreography was very sound and the formation change and everything about it was exciting; so they deserved the mark they got.”
BDT Artistic Director Jullion Collie said the group felt “fabulous” about the score and hope that it holds up throughout the rest of the Festival’s run.
“They did extremely well and I am very proud of them, even the members who performed solo,” Mr. Collie said.
The age group for the BDT Ensemble ranges from 13 to 22 years and the members were elated with their performances and scores.
Khia Munroe, 22, said she felt honoured and excited by the grade, especially in light of the firm, but fair scores given that day.
“I am very proud of the group and I think we did well overall,” Ms. Munroe said. “We are at the top right now and we worked hard to get there.”
“All of us look up to Mr. Collie as like our father at the studio.”
Business Administration student at the College of The Bahamas Collette C.V. Parker said that she felt wonderful about the score and the opportunities it could afford the ensemble.
“Hopefully, we will be travelling to Nassau to participate in the overall show, where all of the winners will perform,” she said. “That was actually our goal, so we came here looking to go towards Nassau.”
“We are very blessed and proud that Mr. Carroll came and saw our routine and loved it.”
Mr. Carroll added that, overall, the performances in Grand Bahama were getting very interesting and that participants are now taking his remarks during adjudications not as a “defeat”, but as pointers for making the execution of their craft better.
“Each year I see something new,” Mr. Carroll said. “That is a level of improvement, so that is good.”
By ERIC ROSE
Bahamas Information Services
