World Dance 2k6 this weekend in NY

The celebration is an effort to bridge the generation gap and ensure the survival of the culture of Carnival.

From noon to 6 pm there will be “It Takes a Village,” in the form of a family fun day, which features games, magic shows, characters, clowns, face painting and workshops in the arts of Mas making.

The main feature is the Mas Boutique, a trade and cultural event that brings all “mas productions” to one central location with the intent of showcasing sales of costumes and merchandise for the Labour Day celebrations. It targets members of the community who may not traditionally have access or knowledge of traditional mas camps, nor the time in their hectic schedule to visit these locations.

The long-term goal is to increase awareness and appreciation for the Caribbean culture. This innovation is an extension of shopping parties that have been successfully used to increase sales within the Brooklyn fashion industry.

The Mas Boutique will also facilitate the sale of wearable art and clothing by local designers as well as locally produced arts and crafts items.

With one week before the official end of summer and thousands of visitors already in the city for the Labour Day festivities, organisers are targeting an attendance of 6,000. The World Dance boutique will be one of the largest shopping fetes produced in Brooklyn. President Phil Benn of the organising outfit said that Hinsdale Avenue between Liberty Avenue and Atlantic Avenue will be closed to utilise that section for a “block-O” with community related events.

They also plan to include health screening, and introduce community groups and services to the families in attendance, as well as immigration and other community-related info centres, voter registration and political platform to all candidates. They are hoping to stage a book fair to highlight Caribbean authors, a youth steel orchestra, a live painting challenge with the resulting canvases being auctioned to an AIDS and domestic violence related charity in the community.

Patrons will have the opportunity to see the colours of the Caribbean, taste the flavours of its spices, and shop in the world’s largest shopping party. The World Dance 2006 celebrates Caribbean American Heritage, its African influences, and the Brooklyn flavour that makes the Eastern Parkway festivities truly unique.

Scheduled one week before the annual West Indian/American Day celebration in Brooklyn, the World Dance seeks to fill a void; creating a platform for family activities and cultural experience, while bringing together the mas camps and fashion boutiques scattered throughout the borough in what can be described as one final economic push and cultural pride rally.

More than 6,000 people are expected to circulate through the 12-hour event that features fashion shows by top Brooklyn designers, flag-waving contests, Robber speech, Kaiso and spoken word, dance exhibition, comedy, swimwear, body paint show, grafitti individual and group competition, celebrity performances, the Music Research Lab and various disc-jockeys.