High schoolers take centre stage in Festival of Arts
For years advocates have been appealing for high school students to take centre stage a la their younger peers in the Festival of Arts. And though this is not the first time secondary schools have participated in the event, when the show officially opened this morning, it was clear that the Belize district institutions were out to make their presence felt. News Five’s Karla Vernon reports from the Bliss.
Karla Vernon, Reporting
Whether they believe they can fly … swim like an Olympic champion … or dodge bullets like movie stars, Belize district high school students are a galaxy of talent. Today?s performances got two thumbs up from main sponsor the National Institute of Culture and History, NICH.
Yasser Musa, President, NICH
?The performances this morning prove why we need a festival for secondary schools. I believe there has been a vacuum as it relates to how do we reach out to the high school community, the secondary school community and bring them in to the Institute of Creative Arts, the Bliss Centre. To put them on stage, to have them participate the same way that we have done so effectively with the children?s festival at the primary level.?
The influence of foreign music was obvious during today?s opening, but according to NICH President Yasser Musa, imitation of popular performers is an important first step for young aspiring artists.
Yasser Musa
?That is only natural that when somebody starts off young in the arts, that they have to be mentoring and they have to be imitating what exists, because that is how they define themselves, by the heroes that they respect. But eventually, as they come into their own self, they will realise they have the gift to create something. And so there is no artist on the planet that started off inventing onto his or herself, so that is only natural and I don?t think we should be judging that. What we should be judging is their enthusiasm, their drive, their passion, their desire and I think what we saw today was all that combined into one.?
Wesley College, with its established expressive arts programme and impressive steel band, has become a role model for other institutions. Today Principal Brenda Armstrong invited all students to find themselves through music, art and dance.
Brenda Armstrong, Principal Wesley College
?Arts and the expressive arts is a means of the development of self-actualisation. You as an individual become conscious of who you are, of who you can be, who you dare to be.?
Sharon Flowers is one of the driving forces behind the annual Children?s Festival of Arts. Many of those performers are all grown up and will be on familiar territory at the Bliss this week.
Sharon Flowers, Programs Officer, ICA
?It has been good. Out of fifteen secondary schools, eleven secondary schools sent in entries. And for the first time, we think that is good. The schools that did not send in entries are schools that do not have an expressive arts programme on.?
?Last year we only had maybe three or four high schools that took part. Ladyville Tech always, always took part in the Festival and they are good. Wesley College is another one with their steel pan and so I think tonight is going to be real good.?
Reporting for News Five, I am Karla Vernon.
The Secondary Schools Festival of Arts runs every night through Friday beginning at seven. A visual arts component is also currently on display on the second floor of the Bliss Centre for the Performing Arts. According to NICH, similar activities for secondary schools are taking place countrywide.
