Di Creative Claude McKay
PARTICIPATION, Perseverance for Production: The Claude McKay High School motto rang true at their well-rehearsed execution of talent at the TeenAGE Expressions Tour.
Brenda Weathers youth marketing officer and Leighton Cole, a teacher at Claude McKay, were the hosts who ably engaged the audience throughout. Judges were Chavon Panton (teenAGE Observer), Danielle Lawrence (head girl), Shantay McGarth (prefect), and Ann-Marie Powell, teacher at Claude McKay.
First up, a dub piece by members of the drama group, entitled Education a de Key, which entertained with a motivating and exciting performance. Abigail White was next with her perfectly touching rendition of CeCe Winan’s Alabaster Box. A melodic medley of popular reggae songs was done by Oraine Corney, who owned the stage, and had the audience rocking throughout.
The first set of trivia questions saw teacher Rushaine McLean and student Kamesha Grant winning, earning for themselves prizes from the respective sponsors.
Ashton Howitt’s dub poetry entitled Ghetto was well-executed as he spoke of the chronicles of life in the ghetto. JCDC music festival performers, the Claude McKay Choir, was up next; their organised selection of reggae songs was well done and in turn well-received by their audience.
Niela Lewis was the first of her schoolmates who correctly answered the trivia question based on the day’s teenAGE Observer. A dance challenge to the well-known Gangnam Style saw Christine Graham, winning the favour of the audience who seemingly were the judges, hence winning over her male competitor.
Nelthashaye Williams followed the dance-off with a dub entitled Last Words, a dub poetry that had many listening keenly. Aaron Edwards was next to the stage with a sobering piece called Child Molester, which was extremely touching despite being relatively short. A break in performances saw Kemarie White correctly answer a question related to Flow — one of the Expressions Tour sponsors.
A musical interlude took place, music provided by DJ Cash Price where the students had a chance to sing along to their favourite songs. The intermission ended and Glenardo Simpson won the trivia question which followed.
Hilarious, short and spicy Life Pon Di Church done by Norris Ingram had his audience captured in bouts of laughter. Di Crew (of six boys), clad in merinas bearing the national flag ably did their dub piece Jamaica with fascinating lyrical content that proved to be an exciting performance.
The exciting affair of Cool Fruit Drink-Off saw student Ariel Shaw being the first of his six schoolmates to finish within the constraints of the rules. After much prompting, five teachers appeared on stage and Rushaine McLean was again a winner. Female members of the drama group performed Let’s Rise, a a well-written and inspirational dub.
Takeel and Company entertained with their gymnastics and dance moves to popular dancehall selections. Winding things down was Crime and Violence by Hakeem Blair.
Incognito, Di Crew appeared on stage for a second time, revealing themselves after much anticipation to ‘shell’ the place with Jacket and Tie. Closing the show was a performance by guest artiste Road Elf, who had the crowd waving their teenAGE Observer while he delivered his set.
The scores we tallied and handed over to the host which revealed Di Crew as both first and second place winners for ‘Jacket and Tie’ and ‘Jamaica’ respectively. Norris Ingram copped third place. Presentations of gifts were handed out courtesy of the sponsors by their teams.