Santo Domingo here he comes! Twenty-three-year-old Jimmy Homer of Mt Lambert, if all goes as planned, will be the first Trinidadian to represent his country at the 7th annual Mr Handsome International 2003 in the Spanish isle come October. He wants to win the title and do “something for his country”.

His masculinity would remain in tact since, “it’s not a beauty pageant”, he assured and the trip would mean one more experience to add to his journal. From among numerous applicants, Jimmy was chosen by a panel of judges to take part in the event. It must have been his candor, delivery and past modest performances on the stage, he gathered, that impressed the judges. Franchise holder for the show in Trinidad is CSM Promotions. They have met with little success in fielding male representatives for international shows like Mr Handsome International (which matches Miss Universe status), in previous years. Funding and the drive on the competitor’s part to follow through were greatly lacking. Ever since the show’s inception in 1996, TT has chosen and groomed delegates, all of whom never got the chance to participate in the finals of the competition.

So, should Jimmy make it to Santo Domingo this year, he would make history. Not only that, he would have to compete with over 50 delegates from countries including Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Mexico, USA, Canada, Japan, China, France, Antigua/Barbuda and Jamaica. Merit is mainly based on talent, personality and presentation while little focus is paid to muscularity and looks. An average height of 165cm is required. Wear must be all black. When he saw the newspaper ad that “called all males 18-25 to represent Trinidad…” he said: “I told myself you have to be real handsome and I said of course, I am handsome.” He didn’t give it a second thought. He updated his portfolio and thereafter, began his quest for fame. Actually, two years before, he’d secured eighth place in the Carivog Male 2000 finals. That bolstered his eagerness. Jimmy has some experience in acting and dance and has chosen to perform a dance to one of calypsonian-turned gospel singer Ella Andall’s tunes. He’s undecided on which he should choose. Jimmy grew up with his aunts Gloria Butcher and Diane Homer in San Juan who were involved in the arts. Diane was a former queen and member of the San Juan Folk Theatre (Best Village group). “She used to drag me along wherever she went and I always used to go and watch her dance and one day she said why don’t you join. I never saw myself doing what she did but then I decided I’d try it. One of the tutors asked me if I could beat the drum and I said ‘no! I’d rather dance and act’, and he said we have a spot for you. I got the role for one of the main characters — the son who was always in trouble, never listening to his mother, always liming with the boys. I was the one on the lookout for the boys robbing the store and eventually got caught,”

Jimmy related. He was now a member of his aunt’s dance group. He tried to avoid wearing the dance leotards and doing the routines that required he go without shirt. He recalled: “I used to dance in vest or jersey while all the other guys were bare back. Now it’s no problem.” Best Village, he said, opened his eyes to a “different thinking”. Jimmy’s very optimistic going into Mr Handsome International. “I’m not like those contestants in the beauty pageants who go for the fun and experience. I go with a winning attitude.” Maybe it’s the cut-outs in his eyebrows or his trademark smiling countenance that will gain the judges nod. However, Jimmy believes that his “nurturing personality” from visiting children’s homes when in confirmation class, years ago, is a crucial factor. The day-time kitchen assistant at Joao Havelange Centre of Excellence and bartender at at Cabin night club, Arouca recalled visiting a children’s home in Diego Martin and inspired by what he saw, asked one of the caretakers to return. He did, and coincidentally, some ten years later when competition points were based on visiting homes based on the premise: “the true Carivog male — males that really care, who respected himself and cared for family, friends”, Jimmy found himself in familiar territory. Going to the gym is not an option in preparation for the event. “I told myself I’ll get a little more size. I’ll do four laps around the savannah at least once a week.” He’s had his share of modelling, although he placed a big question mark before a modelling gig while at YTEPP, Barataria Comprehensive School fashion show. “It occurred to me that guys who model…hmmmpf! (He didn’t say that they’re presumably gay.) That’s not me. But then, out of the blue, I volunteered.” He’s out-ruled the clich?s, the stereotypes about men entering shows of that nature. All that matters, he said, “If I’m to win, I’m to win. I just want to represent my country.”

It is quite refreshing to see three healthy young men involved, not in cricket, football or even basketball but in hockey on a national level. Soon these ex-Queen’s Royal College classmates will be off to the Pan American Games, proudly representing Trinidad and Tobago.

Skipper Kwandwane Brown, 26 years old, is no stranger to the game having been most instrumental in helping Notre Dame dethrone the Defence Force as champions in 1997. That year, he earned the title of “Player of the tournament” in the Men’s Open Division at the Colfire Invitational Indoor Hockey Championships. There was no stopping for this dedicated player who moved from National under-19 skipper to captain of the senior squad and by whose efforts was spotted by a member of a British club and was offered a scholarship at London Metropolitan University. Here, Kwan was recently named “Player of the year” in England, winning the University League and moving his team from 1A2 Division to the Premiership League, the highest hockey level in England. He was not alone to accomplish this feat — playing along with him were his teammates and friends from back home, 25-year-olds Brian Garcia and Nigel Providence. It is indeed a tale of friendship and love for your countrymen, for no sooner had Kwan obtained his scholarship, he was busy recommending his friends and also dedicated hockey players for the same.

Kwan started his Law Degree in 1998 at London Metropolitan University, with Brian following in his footsteps one year later and Nigel, who was recovering from an injury, joined them last year. Nigel, however, is pursuing a degree in Marketing and will probably focus on Events Management; Brian is looking to practise Law and Kwan’s interest is in Immigration Law. When asked how they felt about getting a scholarship that takes care of their tuition and accommodation, Brian replied, “I felt ecstatic, getting to study and play hockey at the same time, in one of the best leagues in Europe… it was like a dream come true.” Nigel felt that his family was proud of him and that “after all these years that they can see the rewards coming from hockey.” After all, they both testify to “spending more money on hockey than getting from it” and also to Kwan being instrumental in getting them involved in hockey from the start. Nigel attested to the fact that he was a football player and Kwan invited him to play hockey. At first he didn’t like it, being the goalkeeper and having all these balls coming at you, but when he wasn’t the goalie and was hitting out shots instead he began to love the game. The boys are cooking up a storm, literally — university hall mates have to feed themselves; so they cook pelau, lentils…anything, everyday. While they’re away they miss traditional Sunday lunch, going to the beach, wearing less clothes and the sun, generally. But they’re here now and preparing themselves for the Pan American games next week in Santo Domingo. Last year, the Trinidad and Tobago National Hockey Teams (both male and female) brought gold from the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) games in Puerto Rico of which Kwan and Brian were midfielders.

This year, with the three friends playing in the Pan Am Games they are hoping to be successful, since these games are a qualifier for the World Olympics. “There is no greater feeling than playing for your country” was Nigel’s comment and it is the wish of both Brian and Nigel to do exactly what Kwan did, return from time to time to strengthen the national team and offer life-changing opportunities to other young hockey players. This year, two more Trinidadians would be picking up hockey scholarships at London Metropolitan University. When asked whether they are mentors to our youths, Brian replied, “Maybe, mentor is too strong a word…inspiration to young people and letting them know that apart from playing sports, the school part is also important.” The boys have a packed schedule in London; from classes, to cooking to training to coaching the University’s team and also playing for different clubs. The future looks bright for the friends, for within the next few years, with more exposure and international experience, who knows? Hockey might fare better than cricket or football internationally. The boys are looking forward to seeing corporate sponsorship locally, since hockey needs specialised equipment, a widening of the catchments areas, like taking hockey to primary schools and greater press coverage for the sport. Hopefully, we could start the ball a rolling with Newsday’s photographer, Sheldon Brathwaite going to the games. Although, Sheldon will not be officially working as a photographer there but, would you believe, goalkeeping for the very team? So we look forward for more press coverage as we continue this saga on the QRC friends. All the best to these industrious players, in drama we say “break a leg” but we wouldn’t want you to take that literally now, would we?

At the Mastana Bahar’s auditions last Sunday in Rousillac, the name Shalene Fazia School of Dance was announced and everyone looked back to see a bunch of girls dressed in beautiful pink and blue oufits, gracefully mounting the steps leading to the stage before a crowd of thousands at the Rousillac Community Centre. The last girl to mount the stage was dressed in a purple shalwar chameez outfit. She was Shalene Fazia Polo, 22, who stunned the audience with her intricate dance moves on stage as she attempted the East Indian dance, “Dupatta.” Fazia led the group making different dance patterns on stage.

Music filled the community centre, as the audience took in this exciting performance by this young lady and the members of her group. The young boys in the audience whistled when Fazia made her way off the stage. Fazia looked like a Bollywood star who just dropped out off a Stardust magazine in her elaborate costumes and heavy eye make-up. No one would have guessed that this young lady was responsible for choreographing, tutoring, designing costumes and applying make-up for all these young women who came from the Rousillac area. She worked for 12 hours a day for two months to get the girls ready for the stage. Yet on the day of the competition she was composed and very patient, after all the hard work. She is like a walking studio, getting this big group ready to perform before thousands of people.

Wiping the perspiration off her face she smiled lightly as she spoke about her involvement in dance. “My life is centre around dance. It is a full time profession and it takes deep concentration and many hours of hard work,” she said. She noted that choreographing an East Indian dance item is difficult, because the words from the songs are in Hindi. “I have to first find out the meaning of the song before I could actually put the various steps to it. And I spend a lot of time experimenting with the steps before I could arrive at the one that should be used in the dance,” she said. Fazia started dancing eight years ago with the Shri Devi Dance Company led by Ria Soodeen of Vessigny. She studied dance for five years before she went on a tour of Guyana, Suriname and New York with the group as a back-up dancer. She noted that Ria was an excellent teacher because she often lectured to her students on the importance of discipline in the group. “I have great respect for Ria. She was a perfect tutor and I am now implementing all that she taught me, now that I am a tutor of dance,” she said.

Two years ago Fazia decided to try her hand at choreographing and it paid off. Her own styles are different from that of her teacher. She has a style that is uniquely Fazia — full of vigour and zest. Among the different types of dances, she really enjoys doing film songs and chutney songs. “The people of this country enjoy these types of dances and this is why I concentrate on these two types,” she said. Fazia is married to her childhood sweetheart, Dave Polo. Her husband of fourteen months supports her in her chosen career. He is quick to assist her in the household chores when she is busy choreographing and designing costumes. Although she is married, Fazia’s parents, Farida and Rafique Mohammed, support her in every step she takes as a tutor. They both encourage and advise her about dealing with the parents of the students of her class. Fazia told People that she doesn’t regret marrying at a young age. “We both love each other and we got married. I am more settled now that I am a married woman,” she said. Her husband is always there for her, she added. For the future, Fazia would like to perform on international stages throughout the world. She would also like to go to India and visit the Bollywood set.

The hip-hop trio “Spotrushaz” must be the most modest guys in the entertainment business. Five years of performing for “free”, flouting comments suggesting they convert to singing soca and rising above all potential “brickwalls” were just dark clouds before their silver lining. That lining—a record deal with one of the largest independent hip hop labels in New York — is “Protect-Ya-Neck” spearheaded by CEO and President John “Mook” Gibbons.

Protect-Ya-Neck, whose commitment is to “wholesome entertainment”, is aimed at using techniques in producing, marketing and promoting artistes without compromising originality, versatility and creativity. Artistes signed to that label include Wu-Tang Clan, Cappadonna and Rakewon. Wade Christian (aka Tim Starr), Nigel Telesford (Blonde Dangerous) and Kwame Williams (Fire) currently signed a one-year deal for the production of an album and video. “It’s good news,” said Nigel. “We’ve been jilted when our previous manager ran away with our money; fellas were hating on us, but the work has just begun. Anybody in the music industry will tell you that this is just the easy part.” They’re currently in the studio at Caribbean Sound Basin under the guidance of manager Richard “Rich Nice” Marshall working on material to fill their 14-track slate. Two underground singles, “Go Ahead” and “You” are already “blowing up” radio stations in New York, according to latest news posted on the label’s website www.protect-ya-neck.com. Their first official release “True Soldierz”, perhaps the single to determine the trio’s worth, is out in local record stores. It’s a collaboration with Jamaican dancehall artistes Mega Banton and Ricky General.

They are no “50 cent”, and don’t even try comparing them to their peers of that genre, but the trademark delivery and lyrical content are far from inimitable. The frequent gunshot sounds, calls of gangsta and the general storyline — life on the streets strike the chord of hip-hop styling. The Trini accent is not lost, however. But their climb on the hip-hop ladder took Kwame to the US, handing out demo tapes of the group to record producers and hip-hop artistes and meeting with indifference. “I remember listening to the radio stations for when the DJ would announce when an artiste would be autograph signing at the malls. Yuh hear Jay-Z would be in Macy’s, or Shine distributing free CDs,” and Kwame was there. “When I got down to where Shine was, I met Harve Pierre/Vice President of Bad Boys Records (P Diddy is President) and I asked him for his autograph and, right after handed him a demo tape. He took it and just threw it into his car. We never heard from him.” That was “no sweat!” “If you let these bad experiences take you off of your path, that means you’re never really meant to do what you’re doing. We’re hard-headed and if we’re blocked at all corners we’ll start all over or just go up,” he said pointing upward. The 24-year-olds are “homeboys” from St James and like any Trini “youth man”, liming on the block is where one is taken through the initiation process of  life. For Spotrushaz, that meant a life in music.

Nigel and Kwame were former classmates at Fatima College. At that time Nigel was into rock and listened to bands like “Offspring”, “Green Day” and “Nirvana” — “I guess that was teenage angst, teenage rebelliousness,” he said. “I wasn’t into the hardcore stuff”, but ‘was’ into clubbing and ‘head-banging’ and everything else that came with it.” Kwame, however, was on a totally different plane. His initial love was rap. “Ever since I was 11 or 12 I wanted to be a rapper,” Kwame said, but his focus then switched to academics and becoming a doctor up until he failed physics and chemistry exams at CXC level. He delved into business but somehow, found himself back into music. Wade, a former Mucurapo Senior student, was the intermediary in pulling the guys together to test out their singing skills. They joined the group BTC, but when the group’s direction became uncertain Kwame, Nigel, Wade and Khel Frampton formed Spotrushaz. After playing around with a few names like “Menace to Society”, “Spotrushaz” was the only name they agreed on.

A fifth member, Richard Rajkumar aka “Chromatics”, joined the group. The five-member clan enjoyed work on a number of tracks including “Blood Seed” and “The Anthem” which featured Bunji Garlin. They also composed the tracks “Incredible”, “Gonna” and “5 am”, the latter written at 5 in the morning. The group has worked with producer Giandre Diaz of 161studios and Sel Construction who gave them their first launch at a sound clash at Harvard’s Club called “The Swarm”. They have also done opening acts for several events, including “Naughty”, By Nature’s Smooth Summer Concert billing. “We were fresh, new, we didn’t know how to work the stage, or the mic, but when we saw how Naughty did it, we were humbled,” said Nigel. At last year’s concerts, they were also opening acts for “Fire On The Beach” at the Cove, Chaguaramas, featuring American rapper Ms Jade and Sean Paul in concert at Mobs II. “This performance came on the heels of performing at Emancifest in Tobago at the request of the Tobago House of Assembly. The response to our performance was so good that I think when we came back home, we got swell-headed and complacent,” said Kwame. “So our performance at Mobs II didn’t come off as planned and that gave way to rifts in the group.” Richard and Khel left the group and Nigel, Wade and Kwame persisted in their initial campaign to reach grammy status. “We had to regain self-confidence after the show,” Nigel told People. Kwame added: “We had to believe in us again.”

This July, Spotrushaz was able to secure a spot at “Emerge”, at Pier 1 which featured BET’s host Tiffany. Last Saturday, the group performed at “The Resurrection”, radio DJ Jus Jase’s “Club Friends”, Chaguanas and have been booked for “Hip-Hop and R&B Thursdays”. It’s one step at a time, Nigel revealed. “We’re working out the kinks. We’ve reached this far, ain’t gonna let anybody stop us now… Rap is a way of life. People watch it on BET and don’t respect and appreciate it. But we do. We’re good at what we do and we are from Trinidad.”