Blink BMobile Shiv Shakti Dance Company Limited will honour survivors of breast cancer this year at its annual Mother’s Day Spectacular. Billed as the biggest event in local Indian dance, the show takes place tomorrow at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (Sapa), located at the corner of Todd Street and Rienzi Kirton Highway, San Fernando, at 7 pm.
Michael Salickram, choreographer and backbone of Shiv Shakti, a 2004 Chaconia Medal (Silver) awardee for culture, said special tribute would be paid to Megan Ramroop, one of the organisation’s dancers who survived cancer as a child.
Salickram started the Mother’s Day show eight years ago as a tribute to his late mother (Sumintra Salickram) who died at 66. He said people should always be mindful of the important role mothers play in the life of all individuals. He said that tomorrow’s spectacular is “a one-of-a-kind event that pushes the envelope in dance, filled with creative choreography to stir emotions in patrons of all ages.” He said the production will also be a long lasting visual experience.
Salickram, one of the country’s foremost choreographers for many years, said: “Mothers are the people who encourage and guide us in the right direction of life; they are the people who extend their arms and a loving heart to us in our times of need and despair. Despite all their troubles and difficulties, mothers will do everything in their power to help their children grow, and it is to mother we owe all our achievements.”
“Breast cancer is undeniably difficult to overcome and for this reason, we have chosen to honour women who have conquered cancer,” said Salickram.
“Breast cancer is a disease with an international impact that not only affects the victims but takes a toll on their families as well.”
For more information, go to Shiv Shakti’s Facebook page or call 779-6783 for ticket information.
WeBeat St James Live overcomes challenges
With less than one month and limited resources, the Organising Committee of WeBeat St James Live is hoping to live up to its pledge to stage the annual Festival which boasts of “an expression of diverse rhythms of our merging culture.” Scheduled for June 3-12, the 16th edition of the St James Community Improvement Committee (St James CIC) production takes place at the St James Amphitheatre, Western Main Road, St James.
Though challenged by the staging of this year’s event, the St James CIC remains undaunted and is optimistic that support will be forthcoming to “give life to WeBeat St James Live 16.” Two years ago, the festival’s cancellation was averted at the very last minute by the intervention of the former Minister of Tourism Stephen Cadiz.
With little support from the community, the committee is plodding ahead with its plans and hopes corporate T&T will rally to the cause. The organisation has named the few government ministries, corporate bodies and individuals that have shared its vision and lent support to the festival through the years, hoping that more will come aboard.
They include the Prime Minister’s Sport & Culture Fund; Caribbean Bottlers (Coca Cola); Carib Brewery; Angostura Ltd; Rent-A-Amp; Media 21; RBC Royal Bank; National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA); Exim Bank; Nestle Trinidad Ltd; POS North Lions; Marlene Goddard, Kenneth Atwell Creations and the media.
Vice-president Cecil Tomkin, whilst appealing to the business sector, vowed that despite the odds this year and with very limited resources, the committee will not be deterred from achieving its goal of showcasing the community’s cultural heritage.
“All contributions are welcomed,” he appealed.
The St James CIC and the resulting WeBeat St James Live were born out of a pilot project of the Renaissance District concept in 2001 by then Tourism Industrial Development Company (Tidco) which rationalised strengthening tourism linkages to local events and culture.
The (1995) plan also encouraged the development of community tourism where tourism development projects were expected to provide economic benefit to the citizens living in the project communities.
And in St James’ case, St James, aka “the city that never sleeps,” has always exhibited a natural aptitude for entertainment in all forms, highlighting it as the city as “the Cultural Centre of the Caribbean.”
WeBeat St James Live also marks the anniversary of the incorporation of St James into the City of Port-of-Spain and is under the patronage of the Mayor of Port-of-Spain.
In this “guava season” and period of dropping oil prices and revenue, there is a rising chorus amongst the populace for diversification to enhance the country’s fiscal assets. Culture and domestic tourism are two sure avenues to acquire critically-needed revenue and the WeBeat St James
Live, like Pan in De Countryside, Tobago Jazz Experience and last Saturday’s International Panyard Jam Session, is a readymade commodity to fuel such a thrust.
Pan goes to Las Cuevas
The second in this year’s Pan in De Countryside series will take place in Las Cuevas at Las Cuevas On The Greens on Saturday, May 21, at 3 pm. The popular steelband activity is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Community Development, Arts & Culture and Pan Trinbago.
Seven steel orchestras have been selected to entertain patrons, including First Citizens Supernovas, CAL Invaders, NLCB Fonclaire, Western Stars Philharmonics, Trinidad East Side Symphony, Pan Jammers and community band North Coast Serenaders.
The Red Hill D’Abadie Parks Foundation Limbo dance troupe and a popular DJ will also be in attendance.
As is the norm, patrons will be able to purchase produce, local foods, art and craft from members of the community at the venue.
Limited maxi taxi seating at $150 per head return is available upon request.
Interested persons can contact Pan Trinbago’s Head Office, Victoria Square North, Park Street, Port-of-Spain, for further information.
Weekend of fun
All roads lead to Point Fortin this weekend for the annual Borough Day Celebration. The Traditional Pan Fiesta will be held this evening, from 7 pm, at Market Square. Tomorrow morning will see J’Ouvert and the Traditional Mas parade at 4 am, and the main event of the festival takes place at 4 pm when 18 steelbands will parade the streets of the Borough in the Pan on the Move.
Tomorrow, the Guardian Neediest Cases Fund will hold its fund-raiser—Pan Under the Stars III—at PCS Nitrogen Silver Stars Pan Theatre, Tragarete Road, Newtown, at 7.30 pm.
There will also be swinging parties tomorrow night at De Nu Pub (The Mas Camp), Woodbrook, Issa’s Pub, 130 Henry Street, Port-of-Spain, and Moonlighting Pub, EMR, Tunapuna.
On Sunday, at 5.30 pm, a wonderful event is being held at Kaiso Blues Cafe, 85 Woodford Street, Newtown. It is Overjoyed...A Mothers Day Celebration features Pelham Goddard & Roots, Moricia Cagan, Nigel O’Connor, Natalie Yorke, Jason “Fridge” Seecharan and the Jacobs Family.