Short Story
SGU Beat Monday Night Mas Band: 'State of Emergency'
Since St. George’s University’s resoundingly successful participation in the 2007 carnival festivities as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations, staff, faculty, students and members of the public alike have clamoured for a repeat…and so it was that SGU joined an exuberant throng of revelers for Spicemas 2011. The re-emergence of the University’s involvement in carnival is the brain child of its newly established Staff and Social Club, SGU Beat. As part of the Club’s objective to showcase the Grenadian culture by encouraging participation in the cultural art forms, SGU Beat offered the opportunity for both the SGU community and the wider public to play J’ouvert, Fancy Mas and Monday Night Mas.
SGU Beat revelers took to the streets early on the morning of Monday August 8, 2011 for J’ouvert. Band members, true to the J’ouvert theme ‘Orange Xpressions!’ jubilantly danced from morning to mid afternoon clad in orange T-shirts and covered in orange paint. J’ouvert was quickly followed by a breathtaking depiction of ‘Lost Treasures Beneath the Caribbean Sea’, as Fancy Mas masqueraders in jewel-themed ensembles created by the Commancheros and Associates mas band paraded the streets and mesmerized onlookers with their festive colours and expressive dance. After darkness fell, the crowd once again emerged for Monday Night Mas. An exhilarating kaleidoscope wowed observers of this event as the SGU band, one of the five bands which rallied for the coveted ‘2011 Monday Night Mas Band of the Year’, again took to the streets, this time under a ‘State of Emergency’. In the dim light of a young moon, flashing whistles, head lights, vests and batons created an air of joyful excitement. Carnival festivities culminated in ‘Last Lap’ on Tuesday August 9 when finally, the spent but happy revelers went home to rest and await next year’s celebration.
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Full Story
SGU Beat must be commended for the splendid job it has done in spearheading the carnival activities. In the months leading up to SpiceMas 2011, group members sacrificed and put a tremendous amount of effort into preparing a fun entertainment package for members of SGU and the public. In addition to participation in carnival, the group organized several fundraising activities including a family fun day, a luncheon, soccer tournament, raffles, parties and cruises.
SGU Beat president, Dwight McIntyre, commented: “We have exceeded our expectations and delivered an experience persons are sure to remember and anticipate each year. We guaranteed a ‘bigger and better’ season as opposed to 2007, which encouraged participation in all three aspects of carnival; and this has been the highlight of SGU’s participation. We had a great start with huge support from the SGU Community and this is the basis on which SGU’s participation in Spicemas was an astounding success.” The team wishes to express its heartfelt appreciation to SGU administration, members of the SGU Community and all others who have contributed to the success of the events with their unwavering support.
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