The SPARK Schools Festival of Dance hosted its Grand Finale in a vibrant celebration of creativity and culture.
For the first time, both primary and secondary school students shared the stage in what organisers described as a reimagining of a long-standing tradition.
According to the National Dance Association of Trinidad and Tobago President Alette Liz Williams, the event’s evolution is part of a broader goal supported by the Ministry of Education, as the festival was originally known as the Secondary Schools Dance Festival.
“We’re trying to tap into the talents of students at a younger age. So primary schools, for the first time, are performing with their secondary school counterparts.”
The performances were carefully segmented to showcase the different age groups. Ms. Williams said the festival also aligns with the national curriculum, encouraging students to embrace local and international dance styles.
“We want the students to be able to honour, practise, and enjoy dancing our local art forms while they explore all of the other types of art forms in hip-hop and contemporary and all of these things.”
The festival, which began in 2011, paused during the pandemic.
“We had to reimagine it, rebrand it, and reintroduce it to Trinidad and Tobago. So we want to definitely give honour to the schools that would have participated when it was in the version that it was before.”
Participation is open to all schools, and the Association President is calling on teachers and principals to get involved. She’s also encouraging teachers to look out for future announcements on the Association’s website.
“SPARK is open for all schools, private, public, anyhow you have it; we want your students to participate. And we want the schools to be able to have their names up on the screen, get those trophies, get those mentions, and have those bragging rights.”
But Ms. Williams admits more support is needed to grow the competition.
“It is very challenging because we are a volunteer-led executive with volunteers who are here supporting us with their talent and time, and we just want to be in a better position to acknowledge what we do, what they do, and to up the ante on the entire championship.”
In the 5–8 Primary School Female Solo category, first place went to Mia Achat Ali, and second place went to Maya Rubiz.
In the Primary School Female Solo 9-plus category, first place went to Amaliya Bhagwandas of Cedar Grove Private School, and second place went to Reneece Phillip of Santa Flora Government Primary.
In the Primary School Group category, first place went to Cedar Grove Private School.