Carnival Opens In Living Colour

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Carnival

Friday, 11 May 2012 02:30

By Alex Holder

Antigua St John's - In Living Colour. That is the theme that will carry the revised approach to Carnival in Antigua as the CDC forges forward with the staging of the Caribbean’s greatest summer festival – Antigua Carnival 2012.

The vision of the theme brings into focus the pervasive colours from pre-Carnival fetes to last lap, and encompasses also the music, dance, characters, costumes, performances, and revelry, with colours being the vivid continuum that defines the festival.

“The festival is alive. It is art… Carnival 2012 is in living color,” said CDC Chairman Kayode O’Marde.

Officially unveiled in grand style on May 9 at the Grand Royal Antigua Resort, O’Marde said unlike previous Carnival celebrations, his CDC brings with it a road map crafted in notable detail before the first step was taken forward with this year’s celebrations.

He said in a brief speech that the CDC's mandate this year is not only to manage the 2012 events, but rather to steer Carnival in Antigua on a path of continued growth and improvement.

“That is where we want to take the Carnival," he said. "We want to take it to the next level. We want to repair the foundation that was already built.” This, he said, will only be achieved through the extended darning of the relationship with the stakeholders across the board, beginning with participants and sponsors.



Local artists, mas builders, sponsors, Carnival enthusiasts, the media, and public officials attended the launch, which opened to music by Halcyon Steel Orchestra.

A twist to the presentation, broadcast live on the state-owned ABS TV, saw interviews with key officials and other personnel and stakeholders, as well as brand exposure for sponsors.

O’Marde admitted that when he and the rest of the new CDC team accepted the office and assignment to deliver this year’s Carnival, they were far from prepared for the realities of the situation at the CDC.

“There were lots of things that we did not know," he said. "So we had to spend time going through a lot of black and white… a lot of bills. It started off as an uphill battle, and I thought that was what it was going to be for the next four months. But… there were some hard decisions that needed to be made. And we have managed to creatively forge a way forward and the color of carnival came back into everything that we were doing.”



Wednesday night’s launch also featured five of the six beauties vying for this year’s coveted Queen of Carnival crown. The six include Tenisha Sabastian, Davelie Payne, Renee LaRonde, Alana Michael, Kimberly King, and Andrena Athill.

The evening’s entertainment was kept local, with live performances from Hard Knaxx, Xephora Dance Troupe, the Antigua Dance Academy, De Bear, Tian Winter, and Claudette Peters.

Mas Bands Presnet included Dynamics, Beautiful People, Scorch, and Myst.

Click here to see more photos

Carnival 2012 Schedule

Saturday July 28 - Scotia bank opening parade

Sunday July 29 -   LIME junior carnival Mas. State Insurance Corporation Junior Calypso Monarch

Monday July 30 - Queen of carnival

Tuesday July 31 - The Source Teen Splash

Wednesday August 1 - LIAT "We are the ones" Melting Pot Concert

Thursday August 2 - ACB Panorama

Friday August 3 - Jaycees Caribbean Queen show

Saturday August 4 - LIME Party Monarch

Sunday August 5 - Wadadli beer Calypso Monarch

Monday August 6 - Carnival Monday

Tuesday August 7 - Carnival Tuesday

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