|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
Arts Teacher at Angels Academy Stacey Adderley shows Arts and Craft Officer in the Department of Culture Ellery Deveaux a number of pieces by her students at the Marsh Harbour, Abaco, school during the recent E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival adjudications of the island. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)
|
Marsh Harbour, Abaco, The Bahamas – As the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival recently began its Abaco adjudications, residents were happy and excited that it is giving Abaconians a change to showcase their talents.
Founder and Administrator at Every Child Counts (ECC) Lyn Major said that it was wonderful that the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival adjudications came to the school.
The first time we entered was last year and it was a really neat experience for the kids and I think it really helps them with their practicing music and art and they look forward to this time,” she said. “It is just a great experience.”
The mission of the special school is to provide an alternative education for children with learning, developmental or physical disabilities (regardless of financial, family or social restraints) to maximise each child's ability to become a productive, successful and independent citizen.
ECC Art teacher Nicole DeNardin said that entering the National Arts Festival is “a really good thing for the school because we have a lot of talented children”.
Every Child Counts student Ronel Escarment proudly holds his adjudication form after a strong performance, during the recent E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival adjudications at the Marsh Harbour, Abaco, school. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)
|
“It is really nice to see them show off their talents, especially since we are so proud of them,” Ms. DeNardin said. “We are happy that other people can see that, too.”
Adjudicators also visited Angels Academy, a school showcasing talent for the first time in the Festival. Director Shelley Roark and Arts teacher Stacey Adderley both said that it was great taking part in the adjudications and their students enjoyed presenting their talents through choral verse speaking and the visual arts, especially in stop-motion animation.
Man-O-War Cay Primary School students add motions to their performance, taking advice from Music Adjudicator Elizabeth Thornton, after their recent performance at the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival Abaco adjudications, on that island. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)
|
Man-O-Cay Primary School Principal and Upper Primary School teacher, Kellie Janes, said she is very proud of the students performing that day.
“I am thrilled and proud seeing our students perform so well,” she said. “We had a great time getting the students ready to perform their songs and we are happy that the Festival is here today.”
– Every Child Counts students perform as a choir, during the recent E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival adjudications at the Marsh Harbour, Abaco, school. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)
|
P
arent Mandy Sands agreed and said she was “so impressed” with the students on the island singing in the Festival.
“I though they did wonderful,” Mrs. Sands said. “This is my daughter’s last year (Katie Sands) and that is why I am here to see her perform … It’s an emotional thing, you know?”
Ms. Carol Weatherford, who teaches music at the school, said that it was wonderful tradition for the students to perform in the Festival and they need to take part in it.
Director of Angels Academy Shelly Roark (standing right) and Arts Teacher Stacey Adderley look on as Drama Adjudicator Valentine Maura (seated right) judges their students’ performance, during the recent E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival adjudications of the island. Also pictured are the Festival’s Organising Secretary and Senior Cultural Affairs Officer at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Keva Cartwright and Cultural Affairs Officer Alfred Dean. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)
|
“I think we still need the National Arts Festival because it is a tradition and that is one of the important things on this island,” she said. “They pass all the information on so that different generations know it; so it is wonderful.”
“I think that the National Arts Festival is a great idea because the students get to practice and learn more,” said Mrs. Cindy Weatherford, mother of Britanny, who lead her schoolmates in a fun version of “I’ve Been Redeemed.”
– Every Child Counts students beat a rousing drum piece, during the recent E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival adjudications at the Marsh Harbour, Abaco, school. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)
|
“I love music and having the National Arts Festival around that long (over 50 years) gets them to realise that it’s a part of us as Bahamians,” she added.
“I think that it is a great tradition and should be maintained for the future,” Principal Janes noted. “It is a wonderful thing to inspire the Arts.”
“There is no way to celebrate our culture like the National Arts Festival,” Mrs. Sands said. “That is why it is so important.”
MAN-O-WAR CAY, Abaco, The Bahamas -- Man-O-War Primary School students
sing a fun version of "I've Been Redeemed", in the New Life Bible
Church, during the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival Abaco
adjudications, on April 1, 2014. (BIS Photo / Eric Rose)
|
MAN-O-WAR CAY, Abaco, The Bahamas -- Music Adjudicator Ms. Elizabeth
Thornton gives pointers to Man-O-War Primary School students after
giving them their score, during the E. Clement Bethel National Arts
Festival Abaco adjudications, on April 1, 2014. (BIS Photo / Eric
Rose)
|
MARSH HARBOUR, Abaco, The Bahamas -- Students at Angels Academy in
Marsh Harbour, Abaco, perform a piece on Junkanoo as a choral verse
speaking group, during their first time in the E. Clement Bethel
National Arts Festival Abaco adjudications, on April 1, 2014. (BIS
Photo / Eric Rose)
|
© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
