LITTLE BAY, Montserrat – It was a small but colourful New Year’s Day parade to cap off two-weeks of revelry at the annual Montserrat Festival.
The more than 40 members of the Island Diva Mas made up for being the only adult costume troupe on the road with three brilliant sections themed ‘Take Flight’.
According to designer Sharlene Lindsay the three sections represented the popular Macaw, Hummingbird and the Scarlet Ibis. She noted that it was disappointing that there had been no other adult costumed troupes as this also eliminated the need for a competition to win prize money. Cash prizes is one of the ways groups are able to recoup some of the investment from entering costumes in the parade.
“We build all of the costumes locally but import everything. It is not a moneymaker but my business partner Jadine Greenaway and I are really committed to being a part of festival,” said Lindsay. Island Diva Mas first entered a troupe in the festival parade in 2010 and has steadily been working to improve the experience for all of their band members.
“We’re already working on next year’s designs and we look forward to being back on the road,” Soca diva Greenaway added.
The other adult groups on the roads were all T-shirt groups. The Emerald Fetters, Colour Madness and St John’s Guppy Dancers. St. Augustine Primary School entered Tings in D Garden and the Brades Nursery School’s troupe of toddlers to five year olds was called Colours.
Also on the roads were the female and male masqueraders, dance groups Spring Chickens and the Beanka Chambers Dancers; As well as individual costume pieces including one by designer Kirk Brade called Jam Steady.
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