Scotiabank dance final in demand

The National Cultural Foundation again welcomes on board Scotiabank as the principal sponsor of the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) Performing Arts category of Dance.

Mrs. Andrea Wells, the NCF’s Chief Cultural Officer (CCO) speaking to the audience of media personnel, Scotiabank staff and customers in the banking hall of the institution’s Haggatt Hall branch said, “The growth in the quantity and quality of Dance as seen at NIFCA over the years, has made tickets for the finals night some of the most sought-after for the season.”

She continued, “The Foundation acknowledges Scotiabank’s partnership in delivering an evening of outstanding entertainment that some consider a high point of the season.  Thank you for joining with the NCF to deliver an evening of excellent dance performance to the Barbadian public.”

Those performers who advance to the final in this competition, would have successfully completed a nonpublic preliminary judging process back in September, where the best entries were selected to face the public and a second round of judging in the two recently concluded weekends of semifinals.

The NIFCA Dance Final is then a culmination of not only an intense competition period, but another public showcasing of the results of months of training, rehearsal and refinement to present each entrant’s very best to a panel of discerning judges.

Mrs. Wells remarked that, “This recognition of the Finals as the opportunity to reward the results of the process, gives insight to the core philosophy of NIFCA: where the process is the most important part of the Festival.”  Unlike other competitions where the prizes are the sole focus she noted that, “Within this National Festival, the process begins with the entrants and the NCF’s investment through various workshops and regular training sessions. This development continues throughout the NIFCA season, and success comes to those who most rigorously apply the judges’ critiques and work effectively with the technical team to present the best standard of their work at the Finals.”

For many entrants, NIFCA is their first exposure to a structured performance setting, so things like the preparation and presentation of more professional biographies, understanding the importance of technical rehearsals and working with a performance team towards a goal of excellence is an education that rounds off their understanding of the industry.  Those who follow these artists carefully from the semi-final to final stages often comment on the growth and improvement of the acts over the NIFCA period.

Many of the pieces moving forward to the finals feature creative presentations of themes that are relevant to contemporary Barbadian life. This year’s entrants have endeavoured to present topics to further the national conversation on matters such as child abuse, gender awareness, and racism.  That creativity also finds inspiration in subject matter that ranges from science to science fiction.

In concluding her remarks, Mrs. Wells promised the public a line of performances at the Scotiabank NIFCA Performing Arts Final which will include great costuming, edgy presentation and experimental storylines that will keep audiences at the edge of their seats.  With the performers utilising various genres of dance such as afro-caribbean, ballroom, contemporary and liturgical, the NCF’s CCO says there’s something for everyone!