Paraiso School of Samba: 10 Years of Paraiso, for N.H.C 2011



Comissão de Frente



Paraiso School of Samba is a dance percussion band that have been parading the streets of Notting Hill for 10 years now, and with that in mind Paraiso’s theme for Notting Hill Carnival 2011 is ‘10 years of Paraiso.’ Last year Paraiso were voted by judges to be the best large band on the road and the best Samba band, which in my opinion makes them the 2010 band of the year, and this was not the first time for them either they first did the damage in 2005 the first Samba band in the then 41 year history of the N.H.C. to do so.




Penta



Passista (male)



This year Paraiso celebrate 10 fantastic years of existence in the Notting Hill Carnival,10 meteoric years when you look at the track record in comparison to that of West Indian Bands some of which have a much longer history.

Paraiso also boast on their site a fantastic claim

“The newspapers voted overwhelmingly for Paraiso - 80% of all carnival pictures in the national and London papers were of Paraiso”






The Voice 2009.



The London Paper 26 Aug 2008



So if one Samba band can claim 80 percent of carnival coverage by the press , who gets the other 20 percent?

There are lessons to learn people.



My question is what exactly are the West Indian based bands learning if anything at all?



Wire-Bending, a dying art

INTRICATE: Jeffers with his piece, “Wire Bending Dying”.

Claude Swami Jeffers was literally bearing a cross when he came into the Express recently.
His elaborate wire structure “Wire Bending Dying” was not only visually compelling, but spoke in volumes of a practice that could be lost in time.
As the president of Swami Design Workshop, Jeffers has been making costumes and doing wire-bending for the past 20 years. 
He recalled: “I grew up in a mas camp and panyard, so to speak; St James Tripoli. Then I migrated and was part of the Labour Day Parade [in New York] for many years. I came back to promote wire bending because it is a dying art.”
Jeffers, creator of the first costume museum in Brooklyn, said this unique, cultural art form should be preserved, developed and promoted. 
It is the foundation for creating big mas costumes and should be taught in schools and costume design centres. We want a wire-bending centre in Belmont as a pilot project for the artistic and creative youths in the area. We need a wire-bending competition to promote this (it).”
He said he has spoken to several Government ministers about getting a project off and running but so far nothing has been done.
“This project I envision is about creating wire-benders and costume designers for the future of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival culture. I have sent my proposal to the Ministry (of Arts and Multiculturalism] who in turn sent it to NCC, who in turn sent it to the NCBA and [nothing happened).”
Jeffers hopes that a large corporate entity could assist him in giving back to the culture of this country.
“If government is slow in acting, I believe a company could take up the cause.”
He believes he is the best wire-bender in the land and is hoping to encourage youngsters to take up the craft.
Of his piece, “Wire Bending Dying”, he explained that the pregnant woman on the cross symbolises that even though wire-bending is a dying art form, there is the possibility of rebirth.
“It does not have any religious ties to it,” he stressed.
Jeffers is no stranger to the foreign press and has been photographed with several dignitaries including Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. 
“I believe that the time has come for us to have a centre where artistic youths could come and learn crafts. There are people right now who can make mas for the next few years, but I am thinking 20 years from now.”
Jeffers can be reached at 492-4880

By Sateesh Maharaj 

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LONDON SCHOOL OF SAMBA: NHC 2011, "Ze Malandro and the Forty Thieves"



designed by Fred Turka.



The London School of Samba’s presentation for Notting hill carnival 2011 is called the ‘Ze Malandro and the Forty Thieves’ the launch was on the 8th of May, but details on the theme and the designs are available on their website.

The theme is a fantastic one, influenced by stories such as ‘The Arabian Nights’, Sinbad the Sailor Aladdin and Ali-Baba and the forty Thieves, this story according to LSS is

“the tale of Zé Malandro, who, straight from the backstreets of Rio de Janeiro, finds himself lost in a world of exotic spices, colourful silks and Islamic astrology. Intricate geometric patterns, hourglasses and magic lamps lead the imagination to desert sands, oasises , nomads and minarets, viziers, genies in bottles, flying carpets, scimitars, Djinn, beautiful princesses, riddles, and hidden treasure”



Baianas



With 26 years of history in the N.H.C it seems like it was not until the late 1990’s that the samba schools started making a serious impact on the streets of the Notting Hill Carnival now you can’t google Notting Hill Carnival and not see photos of the samba schools dominating at least the top 10 spots in images, like I always said you can’t beat the Brazilians at their own game. The profile of the Samba Schools are undoubtedly on the rise as the creativity and numbers of mas bands seem to be on the decline for various reasons.



Take a look at some the sections, the designs by Marianne & Nicola of Vortex Creates there is much more to their mas than the minimal formula even we are still minimising on.



Comissão de Frente



Indios

Mestre Sala and Porta Bandeira

Last year with their presentation of ‘Gods Myths, and Monsters’, the LSS came second in the Samba School category and 4th overall, and that’s out of 42 bands according to their website, truly a force to reckon with.

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Band Launches on the way

With bands kicking of Notting Hill Carnival with some early launches it seems like the rest of the fraternity has been caught sleeping without a clue. But it seems like all that will change come this weekend when both Burrokeets in East London and Geneses in West launch their 2011 presentations on the Fri 27th and Sat 28th respectively.

Genesis will be presenting ‘Myths and Treasure beneath the sea ‘at the Blag Club 222 Kensal Road W10. Judgeing by the flyers Genesis seems to upgrading their look and approach to mas lets see how they handle the theme this year.

Burrokeets will be on the 27th of May at the ‘So Nice Bar’ 883-887 Lea Bridge Road London E17 9DS. The flyer does not mention the name of the presentation, but by the look of the flyer it’s going to be another ocean theme. I cant wait to see the approach of these two established bands.

UNSTOPPABLE: Culture Unleashed. The Addicted Mas Section for N.H.C 2011

The Specialist Entertainment  Mas division ADDICTED  have released their second  promo video clip giving us a look at the theme behind the mas and from here it looks HEAVY!
check it out...


The Addicted mas section presents 'Unstoppable: Culture Unleashed'.
This video clip highlights the journey carnival culture has taken from the West coasts of Africa, to the Barrack yards and streets of Trinidad and Tobago, to the streets of Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove West London , England.
It also gives just a glimpse of what West Indians faced before Carnival was introduced to the British society.

From Africa, to slave ships, to Emancipation.
From Immigration, to Social Rejection, and open aggression.
A CULTURE IS UNLEASHED
From Police oppression, to cultural proliferation.
Carnival culture is...
UNSTOPPABLE.
For more info contact the Addicted Team at specialistevents@gmail.com

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FIRE IN BABYLON Official Trailer

a must see

R.I.P. Allyson Hennessy:

Allyson Hennessy.

If you were growing  up in the 80's like me, and went to a Juniour Secondary like me (evening shift), Allyson Hennessy would have been of your morning Monday to Friday before you went to school, on the morning programme Community Dateline. Watching her on TV every morning befor I went to school she was almost to me, a member of the family, a familier face and voice that filled the house after everyone else went to work leaving me at home alone.

When  she was not informing me on what was going on in Trinidad during the week she was for me  the voice of Carnival , adding another dimension to the Kings and Queens , or Pan sides, as they crossed the Savannah stage, I felt I could at times close my eyes and see the mas through her commentary, up to this year I admiringly watched her. If Trinidad ever had a Queen of Telivision for me it was Allyson Hennessy.
I had the oppertunity to meet her a couple of times outside Smokey and Bunty as an adult, my impression of her was that she was as nice in person as she was on TV.
Thanks for the memories Allyson Hennessy you were the best that ever did it.
Rest in Peace.

Allyson Hennessy

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Hidden Transcripts: The Black Super Hero series parts 8.5 and 9

Okay so we had a little break from the series but now its back. So sit back, relax, and take a learn...Once again think storyline and themes, and messages...

DUTCH ST MAARTEN CARNIVAL 2011 Parts 1-4

I like the vibes so I'm posting it.

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