Standing Room Only... at ECDT Festival – The Dancing Child

"Fan Sin Ting" performed by St. Catherine Prep School

 Some 270 dancers converge on stage at the YMCA in Kingston last Sunday, May 27^th, 2012. The atmosphere was described as electrifying, children, teens and adults were very engaged throughout the day. The program started ½ an hour late but by lunch time the schedule was back on track. The magic of dance and talent from 8 parishes continued to unfold as the program flowed. There were no hitches between items and the children all danced and raved throughout the festivities. Fatalic Sound System kept up the vibes despite at times the music being a tad bit unbearable for the ear drums. It was all youthful exuberance and bouncing with eager energies.

The event started with a devotion led by the presenters, by this time there was a buzz of activities as vendors set up their tables inside the large auditorium. It was clear from very early that there was going to be a challenge with seating... after devotion the participants were separated in their various groups in the hall partitioned by blackboards and rail barriers. Toddlers and their parents were on stage jigging and jiving to the song “I Can...,” the class led by 4 presenters, Denise Reynolds, Kamaria Williams, Tameika Jackson and Tristan Rodney gave parents an opportunity to be engaged with their little ones in dance for an hour. In front of the stage Floyd Carson drilled the teens, a clustered mass of bodies competing for space on the floor, arms swinging, legs kicking as they danced to Ska, the energy in the hall continued to build as the primary level students the largest of the participants were separated in 4 groups at the back of the hall and a 5^th spilled over into the adjoining building, the presenters were Yvette Gayle, Kerry-Ann Smith, Debbie Smith, Christina Gonzalez and Rudolph (Junior) McFarlane. Teachers were in the meantime participating in their own dance workshop led by Anthony Carson (Choreography), Nicola Walton-Robertson (The Dancing Child) and Kofi Walker (Planning your dance program). From 10:00 am – 12:00 pm the program was completely invigorating, parents who were reluctant to dance would soon later be compelled to during the program that ensued after lunch.

ECDT Festival Team 2012

By 1:00 pm 19 of the 28 groups that had registered to participate in ECDT Festival 2012 were ready to present their works of arts... the toddlers went first followed by the primary schools, secondaries and professional groups. There was very little time to contemplate errors and hick-cups on stage, the items rotated very quickly, and music continued to fill the atmosphere. Suggestion was made that this should be a ¼ event, it was a great start for the future to match and surpass the mark set by the pioneering performers of this year. Teachers were really enthusiastic about the program and the students loved it. Most importantly it did not matter if you danced poorly or extraordinarily well, the audience was encouraging to everyone who ventured on stage. The Master of Ceremonies Tanisa Rowe kept the pace and Walker could be seen skipping, leaping sometimes running and jumping, scurrying around the auditorium and grounds, ensuring that the event was running smoothly. If a child was missing from any piece he could be seen hustling them on stage! Quite a host!

Standing room only at ECDT 2012! Though the audience make up was majority participants, more than 150 parents and friends showed up in support of this event. Because there was no competitiveness encouraged performers sought to do their very best on and off stage. The program was incident free and we would like to acknowledge Andrews Memorial Hospital for offering our association 15 days credit - insurance cover for the event. Sales of booths and table did not go so well but for the few persons who took vending space reported a profit with the exception of the Restauranteur who arrived 12:30... ½ an hour to the end of lunch time.

Volunteers:

All the presenters and crew volunteered their time to this initiative. Had they not done so this event would not have been a reality and for this we thank each of you for your time, expertise and skillful magic that you brought to ECDT Festival – The Dancing Child...! Despite not being funded AIR & PAASA Foundation continue to make strides in its effort to improve and develop children and youth experiences in dance and performing arts program in rural and urban schools across Jamaica. The YMCA was very generous to us and we are thankful to the staff for their support. Meek and Tidy Maintenance Services also did a magical job in cleaning the venue in under an hour.

Thanks to the schools, principals, teachers, parents and performers for making this such a fantastic and memorable experience. We must acknowledge Israel Ministry singers and the Silver Bird Steel Band Orchestra guest performers who had the audience moving and on their feet. The gospel DJ & Song artistes were appropriate choice for a Sunday event and were also appealing to the age groups; this was an added twist to the magical performances presented on Sunday.

The program took just under $40,000.00 this meant that we were able to pay for the venue, cleaning, transportation for Sound and other incidental expenditures. We did not expect that the event would bring in a surplus and as such are happy that we broke even to cover the essential costs. This is another powerful signal that anything is possible once you believe in yourself and the creative energies of others around you. Thank you angels of dance, thank you all and continue the amazing work, the dancing never stops...!

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Dancing in all its forms cannot be excluded from the curriculum of all noble education; dancing with the feet, with ideas, with words, and, need I add that one must also be able to dance with the pen? ~Friedrich Nietzsche

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AIR & PAASA Foundation Limited

is a registered company limited by guarantee no 80947 Date: 11 Oct, 2010.

Funding

Special thanks to the principal and parents of Rosedale Basic School your contributions helped feed the volunteers. Lori, Kellie and Marjorie you kept me mobile so this project could be possible we give thanks.

We are not funded, and anxiously need donations and sponsorship to continue our work. Please contact us if you're interested.

Applications

Application forms, guidance notes and deadlines can be obtain by request.

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Additional Services

We are currently seeking feedback on how we can expand and diversify our work - both to further benefit our performers and our audience.

Festival Dates

We cannot yet confirm dates for our next festival/s.

ECDT Festival 2012 - The Dancing Child (Cast & Crew)

PRESENTERS: 
Kofi Walker, Denise Reynolds, Anthony Carson, Nicola Walton-Robertson, Tameika Jackson, Kamaria Williams, Tristan Rodney, Yvette Gayle, Rudolph (Junior) McFarlane, Kerry-Ann Smith, Debbie Smith, Floyd Carson & Christina Gonzalez.

FRONT OF HOUSE:
Tanisa Rowe, Nadine Issacs & Sashanna Bernard 

FATALIC SOUND:
Kangwa Sambo, Mumba Sambo & Jermaine Thomas

STAGE MANAGERS:
Dale Harrison, Triston Rodney, Rudolph (Junior) McFarlane, Yvette Gayle

PARTICIPANTS:
YMCA, ECDT Festival 2012, The Dancing Child, Dance, Toddler, Children, Teens Adults, Rosedale Basic School, Jamaica House Basic School, Icelin Baker Memorial ECDC, Cherubs Educational Centre, Mona Prep, Mt. James All Age, Port Morant Primary & Junior High, Bridgeport Primary, St. Catherine Prep, Retreat Primary, Fruitful Vale Primary, St. Andrew Technical High School, Donald Quarrie, JJAOPA Dance Academy, Jonathan Grant High, Energetic Xpressions, 

GUEST PERFORMERS:
Silver Bird Steel Band Orchestra & Israel Ministry & Crissy D.

Summer Camp 2012 @ the YMCA

July 2^nd – 31^st, 2012

Please request an application form by contact us.

Mob: (876) 405-2800 / (876) 773-9343

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Tread Lightly
Tread lightly upon this earth, seeing, understanding but never imposing. Thoughtful, independent, be gracious in victory and defeat. Free of possessiveness, so ease of mind sweetens relationships. Like the scent of a rose the untroubled spirit imparts a lasting fragrance.

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Sr. Devki