Children’s Mash Competition kicks off with Calypso and Dramatic Poetry

Social issues plaguing society, including abuse, violence and suicide were highlighted in the form of dramatic poetry and calypso, as the Georgetown leg of the Children’s Mashramani Competition kicked off at the National Culture Centre (NCC) today.

More than 70 Nursery, Primary and Secondary city schools participated as students; teachers and parents were treated to spectacular performances from the participants who impressed the judges with their creative pieces.

Michael Blake of Anais Private School during his Dramatic

Poetry presentation entitled “Mice”

Regional Literacy Officer Collette Horatio said that the Children’s Mash is one of the events that is becoming more competitive in terms of performance, noting that this year’s competitions will be the better since there are more entries.

Horatio highlighted that participating in the performing arts helps to foster discipline in the pupils, and the Ministry of Education has sought to provide the platform for students since it launched the event in 1992.

Khrista Christina of North Ruimveldt Multilateral School

during her performance “Celebrating Customs and Mash

in Guyana” in the Dramatic Poetry 14-17 category

“It takes great courage to get up on a stage and do what you have to do without making any mistakes, so participating in these events does help with the development of self confidence which leads to personal benefit,” Horatio stated.

She urged the students to always embrace Guyana’s rich history and culture in their presentations which give them and the audience an opportunity to feel a great sense of national pride.  She also reminded that the judges’ decisions are final.

This annual event creates a platform for students at the nursery, primary and secondary levels to display their talents in dramatic dance, masquerade, physical display, costume competition dramatic poetry and calypso, while teachers are also afforded a chance to showcase their creativity.

In the Dramatic Poetry Nursery category, Alexander Village copped first place; Anais Private School placed second and Sophia Nursery third, while Precious Jewels, Head Start and East Street Nursery secured  first, second and third respectively in the Calypso Nursery category.

A section of those gathered at the event at the National

Cultural Centre

Green Acres copped first in the Dramatic Poetry 5-7 age category followed by F.E Pollard and Smith Memorial which placed second and third respectively. For the Calypso 5-7 age category, Stella Maris primary placed first; St Stephens, second and St Angela’s Primary, third.

For the Dramatic Poetry  8-10 category, Green Acres copped first; Winfer Garden’s Primary second  and Smith’s Memorial, third, while in the Calypso, Resource Unit for The Blind and Visually Impaired copped first, followed by Smith’s Memorial Primary and Winfer Gardens second and third respectively.

A Lodge Secondary school student during his Calypso “Suicide” in the 11-13 category

North Ruimveldt Multilateral copped first in the Dramatic Poetry 11-13 category, St Joseph High, second and Stella Maris, third. In the Calypso 11-13 category, North Ruimveldt Multilateral copped first, followed by Lodge Secondary second, and South Ruimveldt Secondary, third.

For the Dramatic Poetry 14-17 category, St George’s High, North Ruimveldt Secondary and Tucville copped first, second and third respectively.

Regional Literacy Officer Collette Horatio handing over a

trophy to Alicia Richards who copped first in the Dramatic

Poetry 11-13 category

Dolphin Secondary and Tutorial High were the only two entries for the Calypso (14-17) age category and the judges had some difficulty judging this particular category because neither of the school’s performances was good. However the judges will allow Dolphin Secondary to represent Georgetown at the regional competition.

This year the Georgetown district saw a total of 225 entries. The Dance and Masquerade Competition will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday at the same venue, followed by the Costume Competition on Thursday and Physical Display on Friday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.