Students and teachers hailing from all 10 of the country’s administrative regions ventured to the National Cultural Centre on Thursday to participate in the annual Children’s Mashramani Dance Competition.
The two-day event is being supported by ANSA McAL, which injected $1 million into the competition. The cheque was handed over at the commencement of the
Students of the Tapakuma Lake Primary School receiving their trophy
competition on Thursday.
The much-anticipated competition saw the best performers from each of the 11 education districts vying for top honours. Hundreds of primary and secondary school students filled the theatre to show support for their respective schools or regions.
Guyana Times caught up with the Administrator of the Education Ministry’s Allied Arts Department, Lorraine Barker-King after the first half of the event. She expressed that the necessary measures were taken so that the competition would run more smoothly and students would be able to go home earlier than previous years. Barker-King noted that they saw great performances from the younger students and were anticipating even better presentations from the students in the 11-13 and 14-17 categories.
Among the winners Thursday were Westfield Prep (Georgetown); Uitvlugt Primary School (Region Three); and Tapakuma Lake Primary School (Region Two).
The excitement will continue today (Friday) with the Calypso and Dramatic Poetry leg of the competition from 10:00h at the National Cultural Centre.
Then the series of competitions will culminate on Saturday, February 17 with the grand float parade and costume competition. The parade will kick off at 10:00h sharp. The mini revellers will assemble at Parade Ground and then move east into Middle Street, north into Camp Street, east into Lamaha Street, north into Albert Street, then on to Thomas Lands to conclude at the National Park.
