Recently, the University of the West Indies Guild of Students continued the over 50 years old tradition of UWI Carnival with four days of March Soca Madness.

Under the theme Going Hall Out: Colours, Fun & Vibes UWI Carnival 2010 started with a party in the usual Thursday integration hours. Music from Code Red, ZJ Chrome and Third Dimension, giving patrons an onslaught of the vintage soca favourites and a taste of soca and dancehall hits for 2010. The night proved only a glimpse of the the days of none stop ‘palancing’ that was to come.

Friday night saw the Students Union transformed into a colourful frenzy as DJ Kurt Riley, Code Red, DJ Billy and Trinidad’s Doug E Slaughter selected the best of soca while patrons in true J’ouvert fashion, painted from head to toe gyrated to the music. In the wee hours of the morning the painted patrons flocked to the Ring road in a colourful display parading and dancing to the rising of the morning sun.

For Ring Road, the patrons did not get much rest as only a few short hours after J’ouvert morning the energy-filled costumed revelers went ‘Hall out’ behind three trucks and several bands and crews making a just over three-hour parade around the Ring Road. The event saw hundreds of patrons ‘palancing down di road’ and had a final stop in front the Students Union where revelers and patrons were feted to a performance from Barbadian soca artiste Rupee. To the disappointment of many the event had a premature ending from the earlier anticipated 11:00 pm.

The final night of Carnival did not disappoint as Wavez Beach in Portmore hosted the final hurrah of UWI Carnival 2010. The massive crowd was only eclipsed by the vibe at party as by the looks of it the revellers were by no means affected by the four days of partying as fatigue was no where in sight.

Sanjay from Coppershot joined the line-up of Third Dimension, Code Red and DJ Billy selecting tunes from Soca to Hip Hop, from old school to new — truly making the party a party for all tastes. There was also a short performance by special guest artiste Aidonia.

And so the four days of ‘palancing’ and soca madness came to an end. All in all UWI Carnival 2010 was a success.