Weekend show to name “Master of the Floor”
While Belizeans have been accused of imitating too much of what’s broadcast on American television, not all of it is bad. Tonight News Five’s Kendra Griffith takes a closer look at an off beat activity that’s giving young people a chance to shine.
Kendra Griffith, Reporting
For weeks, choreographer Joseph Stamp Romero has been touring Belize City high schools looking for dancers worthy of the title, Masters of the Floor.
After eight elimination rounds, the competition will climax with a finale on Saturday night at the Brodies parking lot on the Northern Highway.
Joseph Stamp Romero, Organiser, Masters of the Floors
“The Masters of the Floor is basically finding the best dancer, the best free-styler and this weekend we do a wrap up and find out exactly who has the right stuff.”
“The competition has all ages. We have a young man from Hattieville that’s amazing, another one that goes to St. Martin’s Primary School that’s amazing also, so it has young people and it has older folks.”
And while the audience has been determining the winner, come Saturday night, there will be three formal judges picking the Master of the Floor. There are ten contenders: David Moody, Sheldon Bodden, Joseph Gentle, Ryan Davis, Joseph Nunez, Calbert Young, Lincoln Jones, Tyrone Nunez, Alejandro Buller, and Michael Bennett.
Tyrone Nunez, Finalist
“My style of dancing is called crumping. I don’t know if anybody know what dah crumping yet, but dah wah thing weh I see pan TV as a documentary about a guy weh interpret the dance from Africa fi like get weh—tek out anger outta dehn. Dah kinda like wah vex dance. If you vex you could do that and try tek out all yuh anger through it.”
Kendra Griffith
“Did you think that you would have made it this far, seeing that you’ve been dancing for only six months?”
Tyrone Nunez
“Of course I have to mek it into the finals.”
Kendra Griffith
“So you’re that confident in your skills even though it’s new.”
Tyrone Nunez
“Yes.”
Kendra Griffith
“So what will you be giving the audience come Saturday?”
Tyrone Nunez
“Wah good show.”
Lincoln Jones, Finalist
“Come out Saturday and you’ll see dancing like you’ve never seen it in Belize.”
Kendra Griffith
“What are you expecting come Saturday?”
Lincoln Jones
“Excitement, drama, cause all the other guys are good dancers and different styles. The competition is going to be great.”
Kendra Griffith
“Do you have a specific style of dancing that you do?”
Lincoln Jones
“A dance of all mixes, soul, hip hop, pop, crump … whatever, just bring it to the stage.”
According to organizers, while the competition encourages self-expression, the event is also an opportunity for performers to improve their skills.
Joseph Stamp Romero
“With BET and MTV, young people are very exposed to that and I think competitions like these are very important, that we get them to understand that there are rules and there are certain things that they need to learn to perform better.”
“One of the things I would like to change if we have it again is just their presentation, what they bring to the stage. I would want to see more variety, but in terms of complexity, in terms of the guys really being creative, I see that. I see where there is growth and I can see where the guys really are good though.”
And to sharpen home-grown skills, Romero suggests dancers look outside the box.
Joseph Stamp Romero
“There are companies such as Ms. Balthazar, Ms. Rosita where you can actually learn technique dancing and that is important for them to learn the techniques that help them to be better dancers.”
“We are hoping that people come out and support the guys because that’s a big part of it. A lot of parents have asked me about the competition, so I know that parents are really into it, so we definitely are looking forward to seeing a lot of people out there supporting young men, making them know that it’s time for them to come out and just be creative and be positive about what they do.”
The Masters of the Floor finale starts Saturday at six p.m. at the Brodies parking lot on the Northern Highway. Entrance is free of charge. Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.
Masters of the Floor is sponsored by Positive Vibes Radio, Brodies and the Image Factory.
