[dropcap]K[/dropcap]iddie revellers went all out to wow the audience with their performances during their own Junior Carnival at the William Peter Boulevard last Sunday. Nine bands participated: Just Us Kids, Royalty Kids, Just4Fun, De-lights, Storm, Motion Studios, Insommiel, Gros Islet and Vieux Fort. This was a great time for all juniors to shine, to jump and create fantastic memories. They were allowed to spend hours dancing in eye-catching costumes depicting themes including favourite Disney characters, candy and aquatic life. It was comical watching them run up on stage, bursting a little freestyle dance move here and there! And which child wouldn’t be happy with the wares of the vendors: toys and sweets?
What was attention grabbing was the way Just Us Kids had put so much effort into their appearance with meticulously detailed costumes. Their chosen theme was ‘Fancy Sailors: Catch of the Day’ with band sections portraying fishes of the sea: Blue Marlin, Atlantic Spear Fish, Tiger Shark, Red Snapper, Pink Butterfish, Mackerel, Starfish, Dolphin, Pot Fish and Jellyfish.
Motion Studios also stood out with costumes capturing their theme of ‘Fairytale Wonderland’.
On the other hand, something that was not impressive was how some of the young ones, including those no older than the age of five, were dancing inappropriately: whining to the ground and on each other, “twerking” and sticking their little posteriors up in the air. This is Saint Lucia so, of course, there were adults cheering them on but I, for one, do not believe that this is how a child should dance. Then again, they were just copying what they regularly see all around them.
Before the prize-giving there were live performances by one of the island’s favorite professional musicians, Teddyson John, followed by several young, aspiring soca/calypso artists.
After wins in 2008 and every year from 2011 to 2015, Just Us Kids were justified in walking away with the title ‘Band of the Year’ for the seventh time.
Final results for the Junior Carnival:
Individual’s category: third place – Nya Gustave (Just Us Kids) portraying Red Snapper; second place – Vivian Calderon (Just Us Kids) portraying Speared Fish; first place – Amelia Charlmagne (Just Us Kids) portraying Star Fish.
Junior King of the Band Category: third place – Jessie Corniburt (Just Us Kids) portraying Something Fishy; second place – Jarol St Omer (Just4Fun) portraying Savage Indian King; first place – Limarni Lewis (Just Us Kids) portraying Fish for Sale.
Junior Queen of the Band: third place – Kioni Akufoo (Just Us Kids) portraying Dolphins; second place – Zannik Mangal (Storm) portraying Queen of Jab Jab; first place – Nyla Alexander (Just Us Kids) portraying Pot Fish.
Band of the Year: third place with 299 points – ‘Savage’ by Just4Fun Kids; second place with 344 points – ‘Fairytale Wonderland’ by Motion Studios Kiddies Carnival; first place with 415 points – ‘Fancy Sailors: Catch of the Day” by Just Us Kids.
