One of the worst, says Yahoo Latoya's costume criticised

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO produced one of the worst costumes in the recently concluded Miss Universe pageant.

According to Lawrence Yee, Senior Content Producer, (Front Page), Editorial Producer (Yahoo! Sports) and Programming Manager at Yahoo!, Woods' costume is one of the top 20 worst costumes. The review was posted to Yahoo TV yesterday at 4.24 a.m. and can be viewed at http://tv.yahoo.com/slideshow/603/photos/1.

"Miss Trinidad & Tobaga (sic)-Clearly, "understated" isn't part of Latoya Woods's vocabulary," Yee said in his review of Woods' costume.

Woods' costume was titled "Calypso" and was designed by Tribe's Monique Nobrega and independent designer Douglas John. The fabric was hand painted by local designer Heather Jones.

"What does the website mean by that?" Tribe bandleader Dean Ackin queried when the Express contacted him yesterday.

"If they mean overstated, then they are criticising Trinidad and Tobago, they are criticising our people and they are criticising our culture. This comment comes from a random website and not from an official Miss Universe pageant source, therefore it should not be taken seriously. The website does not know about us as a people or our country," he added.

Local franchise holder Ian Lee said that directors of the pageant commended the costume, adding that Yee's comment was "random and contrary".

The unranked list included USA, Zambia, Turkey, Switzerland, France, Japan, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Kosovo and Spain.

The Express was told that Nobrega was out of the country when Tribe's office was contacted yesterday. A number given for John who is in the country, was out of service.

It was Woods' costume that wowed Sports Minister Anil Roberts into donating $100,000 to her on behalf of his ministry to cover her expenses earlier this month.

Woods failed to make it past the first round of the contest on Monday night, which was held at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Jimena Navarrete, 22, of Mexico, took the crown, while Jamaican Yendi Phillips placed second.

Woods, a 24-year-old psychology student at the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT), wore an evening gown made by international designer Emelio Sosa of Project Runway.

She is due to return home on Sunday.

SOURCE

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Remembering Aaliyah

Aaliyah Dana Haughton (B16/01/79-D25/08/2001)

It was nine years ago today that while playing mas somewhere in the Portabella  area of the Notting Hill carnival the news of the death of R&B princess Aaliyah died in a plane crash started sweeping through the streets. The news sobered me up instantly, and as we toasted to her life and looked at posters of her album on walls in the area, news of her passing put a damper to the celebrations for me as once again the fragility of life and how suddenly we can loose it became clear.

RIP Aaliya, and thank you for the music.

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Carl Gabriel's Carnival art features at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5

The works of Carl Gabriel are being showcased in a one man exhibition the departure building of Heathrow Airports Terminal 5. Heathrow is expecting 840,000 passengers to pass through its doors during the August bank holiday weekend.

This piece(untitled) is the latest of the Carl Gabriel collection . 

This exhibition is testament that London sees Carnival as not exclusively as a Caribbean festival in London, but an integral part of London’s 21st century multi cultural identity,
Heathrow spokesman Malcolm Robertson said the airport aimed to provide their passengers with an "immediate sense" that they have arrived in London.
"Bringing the Notting Hill Carnival to international arrivals is one way of doing just that,"
I managed to get exclusive photos of the two pieces just after they were installed at Terminal 5 during the early hours of Sunday morning 23rd.

This piece that was designed as a challenge trophy is used as the logo
for the NHMBA 

The pieces will be on display till the weekend of the bank holiday (29th of August) and will be seen by thousands of passengers during this week (terminal 5 handles about 70,000 passengers a week) giving Notting Hill Carnival and the art of mas a massive international audience.
Another first for Carnival and another first for Carl Gabriel who in my opinion is without a doubt the worlds leading exponent in the carnival tradition of wire bending.

Carnival artist/Masman Carl Gabriel with his latest work that he describes as "An exercise in shade, form, and texture".  

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Showtime gone GREEN for Carnival 2011

Green’ mas from Showtime for Carnival

SHOWTIME Trinidad will launch its Carnival band and Eco-Drive on Sunday at Club Zen, 8-11 Keate Street, Port-of-Spain, from 6 pm. Their Carnival 2011 presentation is 007 Colours of Green: Our Mission, Save the Environment.



A Showtime media release explaining the philosophy behind the presentation states: “Trinidad and Tobago has recently experienced some of the most unusual trends in the weather. We are by no means unique as countries across the Caribbean have also experienced extreme weather conditions.
“Meanwhile, countries from the rest of the world have also had erratic weather patterns. Patterns that include extreme heat, cold, flooding and tsunamis, just to name a few. This has a great impact on ecology, food security, bio-diversity loss through the extinction of species and energy dependence for countries in the medium to long-term. Projections from the scientific community also predict that some countries will be more negatively affected by the effects of global warming than others.


“Unfortunately, developing countries like Trinidad and Tobago are most vulnerable to these effects, and as such, the need to address this issue is a matter of urgent concern. Although home to about 1.2 million people, Trinidad and Tobago has registered one of the highest levels of greenhouse emissions in the world per capita.

“Showtime has seen the need to increase knowledge about the effects of global warming. In addition, the need to get every citizen to understand their personal responsibility in mitigating the effects about this phenomenon is critical. We will use our 2011 Carnival Presentation as a platform to:


• Increase awareness about global warming, but also to improve individual action in this area.


• We will also develop a television programme educating the public about the environment and a recycling pilot project initiative.


• Upon entry at our Carnival Band and Eco Drive Launch, which is now being dubbed “The Green Carpet Initiative”, you will be asked to sign a scroll to pledge to reduce your carbon footprint.”

The mas band has already started an environmental drive and assisted in Sand Splash, a beach clean-up at Mayaro Beach last June 6. Officials say their aim is to “re-ignite and re-introduce the tradition of social consciousness in the Carnival space”.
source

Dream Team launches The Art of Dance

Stephanie Legall models one of the costumes

for Dream Team’s C2K11 presentation—The Art

of Dance. Photo: Kyron Grandison

Saturday will see one of Trinidad’s highest energy Carnival bands launch its production for Carnival 2011—The Art of Dance—which focuses on some of the most exciting dances worldwide, all of which are performed here in T&T. Dream Team, in its short history, has been able to capture the true spirit of Trinidad Carnival with presentations that pay tribute to T&T’s various cultural backgrounds, living in harmony. Communications executive director for the band Pat Garcia-Sumadh said, “Trinidad Carnival is now capturing one of the largest viewing audiences worldwide, therefore it’s important that we showcase the most positive attributes of our twin-island state, dance being one of our passions as a multi-culturally united people.” She further explains that dance in many forms has been adopted by the progressive youth of T&T, as a means of self-fulfilment amongst other talents. Sections for The Art of Dance include Latin Fever (Salsa); Soukouss (African); Chinese Fan Dancers (China); Chutney Bacchanal (Trinidad); Dancers of the Nile (Belly Dance); Rio Rio (Brazil); and, Fire Dance (Caribbean).


A total of 12 sections will form the presentation The Art of Dance for Dream Team Carnival 2011. The band launch is being hosted with a grand costume presentation and party at the secured grounds of the UWI Social Club, Agostini Street, St Augustine. Garcia further explained, “our database has revealed that approximately 50 per cent of our masqueraders come from the east, central and south, so with this in mind we have decided to “level the playing field” by expressing our appreciation to those loyal supporters and host our 2011 band launch at a more centrally located and convenient venue. “Additionally, Dream Team has a fast growing number of masqueraders’ participation from UWI, Costaatt, UTT, Mt Hope Medical faculty and Roytec.


Students from these institutions are entitled to complimentary entry to the event before 11 pm, using their student identification cards, as proof.”

All previous Dream Team masqueraders are also entitled to a complimentary ticket for this launch, which can be collected directly from their section leader, or at the band house, anytime during the hours of 3 pm to 6 pm. Dream Team’s band house and office is located at 76 Picton Street, Newtown, and its hotlines are 756-2449, in the north; and, 680-0076 in the south. Advance tickets are available at the band house during the above hours and at the venue on the day of the launch from noon to 6 pm. Gates open at 10 pm, with the costume presentation at 11.30 pm, and Garcia added, “after which we party until the wee hours of the morning with some of T&T’s finest club and radio DJs, living up to our signature status of ‘energy in motion’ both for this launch and on the road for Carnival 2011.
SOURCE

Notting Hill Carnival 2010 starts early

Notting Hill Carnival will have an earlier start this year so the organisers can bring an end to festivities before nightfall.

This year's carnival on Sunday and Monday August 29 and 30 will start at 9am and finish at 8.30pm, with the earlier start designed to ensure that all floats pass the judging point in time to before dusk.

A residents' information bulletin has been distributed to homes in the areas affected by Carnival.

It can also be downloaded from www.rbkc.gov.uk/carnival. Alternatively, pick up a copy from your local library or the Customer Services Centre at the Town Hall in Hornton Street

The Jean Alexander interview

T&T cultural ‘ambassador’ Jean Alexander.

Photo: Glenville Ashby

We sometimes forget the dedication, foresight, and managerial skill needed to successfully coordinate an event as complexed and grand as Labour Day Carnival in Brooklyn. We savour the festivities, participate and revel in every moment. But behind the scenes are the less-sung heroes that made it all happen. Brooklyn’s largest ethnic event, which attracts more than two million people is upon us. It is only fitting that the tireless work of Jean Alexander—a true cultural ambassador of the Caribbean is recognised.

It is long overdue.

T&T Guardian: Your name has become synonymous with the Labour Day celebrations. Tell our readers a little about your work. JA: Well, I am the Director of Marketing and Public Relations. I started 34 years ago with the West Indian American Day Carnival Association, initially writing press releases. My role expanded to writing to corporations for funding.

T&T Guardian: I am sure getting sponsors must be one of the most challenging jobs, especially in this economy.

JA: Over the years the economy has fluctuated, and we as an organisation that depends on sponsorship from businesses, have done our best to weather the storm. For example, although many are saying that the worst of the recession is over, sponsors are still complaining about budget cuts...and that affects us. This year we got some funds from the state, but no help from the city

T&T Guardian: To successfully put together a show as spectacular as the weekend event, and then the grand finale which is Monday Mas, what are some of the figures we are looking at? JA: Jean Alexander: Expenses from August to September is over a million US dollars. Insurance for Carnival Monday alone is US$100,000. Then we have prize awards and then appearance fees for big names like Machel Montano. With just about US$300,000 from sponsors, you have an idea of just how tight things are…but we are still around. On Thursday of that big weekend we have a benefit with proceeds going to Haiti. Wyclef Jean and Kevin Little are expected to perform. They will not be charging an appearance fee but we still have to cover their expenses.

The New York Labour Day carnival parade
 makes its way along Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn.

T&T Guardian: One criticism of WIADCA is that it is a Trinidad “ting.” This has come from many of the neighbouring Caribbean islands. How do you respond to such charges? JA: Well, the parade was started by Jessie Waddle, a Trinidadian in the 1920s in Harlem, where she brought the costumes and parade to the ballrooms. She was later given a permit to bring it to Lenox Avenue, also in Harlem. In 1965, it was moved to Brooklyn, spearheaded by another Trinidadian. So, we have been at the helm of the parade but we have, and I have personally, attempted to make this reflective of our Caribbean diversity. I have interacted with Caribbean Consulates throughout the years, inviting them to showcase their culture. I will continue to do so. Further, there are now more non-Trinis who are members of the Association than ever before. This is a step in the right direction.

T&T Guardian: You have been a true cultural stalwart. What drives you?JA: Carnival is in my blood. I remember being offered the Assistant Commissioner of Immigration position under Rudolph Giuliani, at a time when I needed the money. I was told that I would have to give up this position, which mind you is non-paying. It was a difficult decision but I could not give this up.

T&T Guardian: What is the future of West Indian mas in Brooklyn? JA: We are seeing a high level of dedication to the art form. There have been complaints that the art is dying with so many skimpy costumes out there. But this is not necessarily so. At the Caribbean American Center of New York, where I am executive director, we hired Neville Martin to run a programme on the art of costume making. In fact, it was more than that. It was really about the vision behind making a mas band—creating, researching, and designing. It was very well received. 

T&T Guardian: Do you have any particular message for the people here, and in T&T? JA:I would really like to see the Caribbean governments make better use of the exposure that comes with being part of Labour Day Carnival. Last year we began streaming, and there was great feedback from places like Sweden, Belfast, and Japan. It’s time for our governments to recognise this incredible potential.

Editor’s note: Glenville Ashby is a New York correspondent and columnist for the T&T Guardian.

source

KANYE WEST: POWER

21 Questions with Crystal Aming

I value loyalty in both my male and female friends Crystal Aming is the daughter of Carnival great, Neville Aming. In 2011 she will celebrate a decade of solo Carnival design with her designs being part of Young Upwardly Mobile Adults' (YUMA's) Carnival 2011 presentation — Zodeak. A proud mother, Aming hopes to pass on her creativity to her loving son who, along with her father, continues to be her source of inspiration. In addition to Carnival costume design, Aming also flies with Caribbean Airlines and freelances in costume design for other events. Most recently, one of her designs helped international model Daphne Narveaz, who also modelled for YUMA, cop a final spot in a swimsuit competition in Las Vegas. Crystal took a few moments out of her hectic schedule to answer this week's 21 questions.

1. What quality do you like most in women?

Confidence... Not to be confused with arrogance or ignorance.

2. Your happiest moment?

The first time my son said "Mummy I love you" without me saying it to him first.

3. Your secret fear?

Shouldn't that be kept a secret?!?  Hahaha!

4. Which living person do you admire the most?

My mummy... Her humility & selflessness is amazing. I love you mummy.

5. What quality do you value most in your friends, both male and female?

Loyalty.

6. What is your greatest extravagance?

Shoes

7. The place you would most like to visit before you die?

Tahiti... & I have to be specific... One of those glassbottom bungalows in the middle of the ocean... With the right company of course.

8. What is your favourite journey?

The one I walk every day ... Motherhood and the creative process.

9. What advice would you give to people wishing to enter your field?

As a Cabin attendant — there is an entire world out there... Go see it and as a designer — be inspired by any & everything & go for it!

10. What is your current state of mind?

Anxious and focused — The reveal of our 2011 costumes is August 8th (today). I'm focused on showing our work to the world!

11. What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Stupidity or close-mindedness.

12. What is your greatest joy?

My son Shine... Can you tell I love my son.

13. What is your biggest turn-on in a man.

Apart from the physical attributes, I'd have to say conversation and humour... He has to stimulate me mentally and make me laugh.

14. What is your guilty plessure?

Did I mention shoes already?

15. What is your lowest depth of misery?

Being broke

16. What is your pet peeve?

Bad manners

17. What do you get complimented about the most?

My smile or my skin... People seem to love my complexion.

18. When was the last time you cried?

A few days ago... I need a good cry every now and then... It's my cleansing.

19. What was the first thing you did this morning?

Hit my snooze button like three times.

20. What do you consider your most cherished virtue?

My generosity... Nothing is ever too much for me to give.

21. If you had one personal wish which you alone can benefit from hence world peace etc is not applicable?

To win the lotto... That would be so liberating!


source

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Notting Hill Carnival moves Panorama from Hyde Park

This year's Notting Hill Carnival steel band competition will not be held in Hyde Park due to a lack of funds

Organisers said the Panorama competition on 28 August would be held in Horniman's Pleasance Park instead.

Carnival director Chris Boothman said this would make it more difficult to find sponsors for the contest.

 

The Panorama, which began in 1978, is one of the biggest steel band competitions in the UK and is held in the run-up to the parades.

Mr Boothman said: "Its been a really tough year in terms of trying to get money out of people and we have had a grant aid cut which means that Panorama can't take place in Hyde Park.

"But despite that we are still looking to forward to putting on one of the best carnivals there's ever been.

"The problem would be that having it on the street we are not going to be able to showcase in the way it deserves and we may not be able to raise the kind of sponsorship on the back of it as we should."

Early start

About one million people are expected at Europe's biggest street party which is held over the August Bank Holiday.

More than 50,000 drummers and dancers in elaborate costumes will participate in the parade on 72 floats

The street party began in 1964 to showcase Caribbean culture.

For the second year running the parades will begin at 0900 BST with the last float crossing the judging point by 1830 BST.

Music will also be switched off within two hours of the last float to prevent revellers from "lingering in the area".

The timings were brought forward after revellers clashed with police in 2008.

The carnival has also asked members of the public to volunteer

source

Some more CHAOS for Notting hill Carnival 2010

ADDICTED PRESENTS: CHAOS from MAS ASSASSIN on Vimeo.
Addicted  the carnival division of Specialist ent  present CHAOS  on the road with Cocoyea, Notting Hill  Carnival 2010.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER SEE THE WEBSITE CLICK HERE

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CHAOS on the streets for Notting Hill Carnival 2010

Specialist Entertainment’s Carnival division Addicted have revealed their costumes for the section ‘Chaos’, which will be part of the Cocoyea 2010 presentation ‘Confusion.’  

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

The synopsis of the section reads as follows,S

"In Greek mythology, chaos is the embodiment of the void that existed before order had been imposed on the Universe. Out of the swirling mas of chaos, everything else appeared: 
day, night, light, shade and air. In effect, chaos is the birth of order.
It is through Cocoyea’s 2010 presentation of Confusion, that Addicted has chosen Chaos 
as its theme of choice for Notting Hill Carnival 2010."

As a Socalicious Soldier  and a Strictly regular  the Specialist Ent vibe is my kind of vibe and now, with this vibe transported to the streets of Notting Hill, the Assassin may be forced to cross the barriers and participate for carnival 2010! 

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