NIFCA Dance finalists ready for the stage

Twenty-six talented acts will be in the spotlight showcasing their skills and vying for spectacular prizes during an evening of excellence dubbed Sankofa: A Night of Discoveries on Thursday.

It will happen during the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) Dance Final at the Frank Collymore Hall, starting at 7 p.m.

The cultural extravaganza will spotlight brilliance across a plethora of genres, including ballet, lyrical Jazz, street dance, modern contemporary, African and Caribbean folk, as well as Liturgical (praise dance).

“We have 26 strong final pieces [and] I am extremely pleased with the way the show has come together,” said Cultural Officer for Dance at the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) Alicia Payne-Hurley.

“The show is about the participants and they are putting in the work and are coming out … to exceed expectations.”

The finalists are Pearls Dance Academy, Gentle Steps Arts Academy, Friendship Community Centre, Kendra Leacock, Barbados Dance Centre, Bajans in Movement, Anika Small, Haynesville Youth Club, The Ellerslie School, Shaunelle Neverson, Sneverson Dance Company, Praise Academy of Dance, Akil Ifill & Faith Williams, Kemal Marshall, Elevé Performing Arts Centre, Multifarious Dance Crew, Gem.In.I Project, Dreaming Black Boy Productions, Issachar Arts, Dancin Africa (Jada Best) and K-Eve (School of Performing Arts).

Payne-Hurley said the night’s theme, Sankofa: A Night of Discoveries, aims to reflect on the past by taking a look back at some of the people responsible for 50 years of NIFCA dance.

“It’s also a night that we are going to discover lots of new fantastic dance talent. So, the big names that we are accustomed to are there, but the majority are talent coming out from Barbados Community College and the University [of the West Indies] programme and general dance groups and schools who have been honing their skills during the COVID period and chomping at the bit waiting for NIFCA to definitely come out with a bang,” she added.

The NIFCA Dance Final concludes this season’s performing arts competition which is celebrating the 50th anniversary of NIFCA under the theme, 50 Years of Excellence Remembered.

Payne-Hurley also noted a refreshing increase in solo dancers who seem to want the opportunity to be judged by themselves and to win some of the coveted awards and scholarship opportunities. These include the Prime Minister’s Scholarship; the Richild Springer Award of Excellence; the Madame Ifill Award of Excellence; the Prime Minister’s Award for the Best Original NIFCA Dance Entry; and four scholarships to the Barbados Community College for training in the Associate Degree programme in Dance.

New awards up for grabs are the Gene Carson Award of Excellence for the highest scoring junior entry achieving a score of 91 per cent or greater in NIFCA Dance Finals; the 50th Anniversary of NIFCA Award – to be awarded to the Most Outstanding Presentation; and two scholarships to the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council for training in the NVQ Dance Choreography.

(PR/BT)