Belize District High School Festival of Arts

Leroy Green

A little over a month ago, the Preschool Festival of Arts was held at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts. Since Wednesday, the high schoolers have been taking the stage…this time at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall for the District festival. Simultaneously around the country, the Belize District High School Festival of Arts is being held under the theme “Inspiration, the Rudiments of Artistic Expression.” Performances from fifteen schools and organizations are participating in the event. News Five spoke with National Coordinator, Leroy Green, about the event which is underway at this time.

Leroy Green, National Coordinator, Festival of Arts

“We had displays in drama, dance and music and almost all the items that went on last night got a gold. They were very good. We had outstanding vocal performances by some young ladies from E.P. Yorke, YWCA. We had dances from Ebenezer Youth Group, SJC. We had two outstanding performances from the youth hostel also.  When we looked around at what is happening in today’s society and we realize that there are quite a number of youths of high school age who are not in a regular high school, we decided to open the festival to institutions that cater to these young people and fortunately we were answered and we have entries from YWCA, the Belize Youth Hostel, the Belize Cadet Corps and the Skills training Center which was recently opened. We have seen an increase in the number of institutions. Last year we had ten, this year we’ve gone up to fifteen; not specifically in terms of number of items, but in terms of participants. Why the number items might not increase is because we asked the schools to and up only the best of their items and if they have twelve and four they think are worthwhile sending on to the stage, [then] send that particular four because we are looking more for quality and not for quantity.  After all the district festivals are over, each district can send in, will select, six of the most outstanding items to be showcased in early June at the Bliss. This year to raise the interest, the Bliss and myself have been in discussions and we’ve come up with something new. In early June, the last week, there will be what will be known as a High School Festival Superstar Competition. Three of the six which will be showcased will compete against each other for that title. The prizes will be gotten by the Bliss but they said that they will try to get things like computer and so on. The prizes have not been finalized, but they will be good prizes.”

The primary school festival of arts will commence in May.