A delegation of 34 Belizean artists in different genres left Belize today to participate in the eleventh Carifesta which is being held this year in Surinam. It's a big deal because Belize missed the last Carifesta in 2008 in Guyana. So, you can call it a comeback as they are taking the biggest contingent in memory, including dancers, craft-makers, fashion designers, literary artists, visual artists, and a film-maker. We spoke to some of the team before they left today:…
Karen Vernon - Carifesta Contingent Manager
"We have representations from music bands, theater, fashion in jewelry and clothing, the literary arts and visual arts so we have a broad representation and that is what we're taking with us to Suriname."
Denise Enriquez - Marketing & PR, Dance Company
"Performing abroad is no new thing for us because we were in Europe for two months last year, so we really understand what it is to perform at that level. Well we have every confidence in our abilities and we're taking our strongest and best dancers. We feel that we'll be able to dance that stage off. It's kind of a change for us that we'll actually be participating in a festival that has other countries that are doing similar things. Jamaica and Barbados have pretty much the same creole background that we have, but we've seen them perform before and we know we can bring it."
Joshua Aranda - Galen Eagles, Music
"Usually what we play mostly is traditional Garifuna music but since we started with this trip, we decided that we wanted to represent Belize on a holistic point of view - so now we're doing some Creole songs from Lela Vernon. We definitely want to represent all aspects of Belizean culture as possible. We come with a special kind of music, the Belizean feeling and roots - nobody else in the world has that. We plan to bring what we have and represent Belize as best as we can."
Shannelly Sutherland - Galen Eagles, Music
"I think the type of music that Belize has, it's a distinctive type of music and as well we have a passion for what we do. We do it to the best of our abilities and we practice countless hours so we're going to put our best out there. I'm a proud Belizean and I'll hold our flag high and our cultural outfits - we'll fling it on stage, we will 'mash-up' things and just represent Belize."
Karen Vernon
"We want people to realize that Belize is talented - we have talent here as well and that's what we want to showcase. We want to showcase Belize and what we have to offer in all aspects."
Joris Hendrick - Groennendaal - Fashion Designer
"The selection that I'm showing in Carifesta is actually inspired in Belize, the Caribbean Sea and the picturesque ambience that we have in our country. That's how fashion is linked to the Caribbean Festival of Arts. We're going to be having a fashion show on the 19th of August at Suriname and I'll be facing designers from all over the Caribbean representing their countries just as myself. It's very exciting to represent Belize in this."
Jules Vasquez
"Do you expect to blow the competition away?"
Joris Hendrick - Groennendaal
"I do."
Karen Vernon
"The models will rocking Joris' fashion and Kadijah's jewelry so it's taking on a whole different aspect of just displaying our music and dance."
The festival will be held from August 16th to August 25th, and we'll have periodic updates.
The theme for CARIFESTA XI: Culture for Development: Celebrating our diversity and promoting the central role of culture in economic, social and human development".
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