Standing Ovation for Jubilee Village

Davina Henry, Staff Reporter

Like our ancestors of old, rain could not dampen the spirits of those who turned out to celebrate the nation's Emancipation Day at the Jubilee Village, housed at the National Stadium.

The intermittent showers did little to quench the anticipation of the crowd who remained seated under umbrellas while the show went on.

The Jamaica Military Band opened the show and delivered a powerful set. Jazz aficionado Seretse Small also got the crowd amped up.

Though, it was the Hartford Cultural Group from Westmoreland which had the audience screaming and singing along. The group danced the gerreh, much to the delight of the audience. Even the children began imitating the moves and sounds.

The best performance of the night went, however, to the actors. Leonie Forbes, Joan Andrea Hutchinson, Winston 'Bello' Bell and Alwyn Scott delivered an extract from Old Story Time.

The extract proved to be too short for the audience, who begged for more when the actors departed from the stage.

The Jamaican Folk Singers, celebrating 45 years, thoroughly entertained the crowd. Children and adults alike jumped on their feet and danced around to songs such as Peel Head Johncrow, Me Nuh Drink Coffee Tea Mango Time and Come We Go Down.

By this time, the rain had eased up and the sounds of vuvuzelas and horns heralded the songstress Tessanne Chin to the stage. With songs such as Messenger and Hideaway, the crowd clearly enjoyed her performance.

The audience was also entertained by reggae singer Duane Stephens, the Jamaica Youth Chorale, the National Dance Theatre Company, and Fab 5, who closed the show.

'Standing Ovation' had something for everyone. It invoked memories of the past while showing the promise of the future.