Cultural talents and splendid costumes were displayed as the V.I. Carnival Committee presented Cultural Night and King and Queen of the Bands at Lionel Roberts Stadium on Wednesday.
Majorettes, cultural dancers, a marching band, clowns, Zulus, Indians – adults and children confirmed that culture is very much alive in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Milo’s Kings, known for their cultural sound, provided musical entertainment throughout the night.
The Ivanna Eudora Kean High School’s “Dynamite Rays” marching band and dancers started off the night with an energetic routine.
The Charming Twirlers, dressed in silver and red, amazed the audience as they skillfully performed with fire batons. Not to be outdone, the St. Thomas Majorettes thrilled with their energetic tribute to Butch “Bes’ Ah Dem” Roberts, a music icon in the Virgin Islands. They were dressed in shimmering black outfits with neon pink and green.
There were also two groups of young cultural dancers, namely the Holy Family Youth and the Joseph Gomez Cultural Dancers. Both groups of children displayed their skills and proved that the traditional quadrille dance will be kept alive in the United States Virgin Islands.
The Bertha B. Boschulte Ballroom Dancers gave Cultural Night a twist as they performed their ballroom routines to the delight of the crowd.
The Cultural Dolls segment was equally entertaining as individuals of all ages modeled and danced in Cultural/National Wear. The three charming and petite category winners of The Best Dressed as a Doll Contest displayed their costumes.
The 2012 V.I. Carnival Prince and Princess also danced on stage in colorful madras outfits.
Representatives from Dominica, the British Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia and the U.S. Virgin Islands made presentations – all decked out in the National/Cultural outfits of their islands.
The 2012 V.I. Carnival Queen and two members of her court also appeared in their cultural costumes.
The second half of the show featured the King and Queen of the Bands Competition, and although the participants were few in number, they were large in splendor and performance.
Nine-year-old Junior King, Jonorie Benjamin, from the University of the Virgin Islands 4H Program, displayed his costume called “Rainbow of Cultural Fun.” Junior Queen, seven-year-old Raynel Maynard, representing the same troupe, wore a costume called “Rainbow Colors.”
The Queen of the Band winner was Tanisha Libert, representing the Euphoria Troupe. Her crowd-pleasing costume, titled ‘Dancing Queen of Euphoria,” featured large white feathers adorned with glittering pink, purple and silver. Her costume was sponsored by Tunick Insurance and A9 Trucking.
The King of the Bands was won by Troy Titley, representing the Party Hardy Troupe, in his menacing costume titled “King Scorpion.”
The runner-up, George Lewis, represented Party Lovers Troupe in a glittering and sparkling costume called “Fireworks over Charlotte Amalie.”
The “mini explosion” of Clowns, Zulus and Indians rounded out the night of culture and splendor. Master of ceremonies George Silcott kept the audience laughing throughout the night.
