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dateline: UVI The monthly newsletter of The University of the Virgin Islands May 25, 2004 vol x, number 5 Starfest 10 started with a bang and ended with a bang, leaving audiences ask- ing what could possi- bly top this year’s per- formance. Starfest, the variety-styled show produced annu- ally by the University of the Virgin Islands Reichhold Center for the Arts, was held on May 8, 9 and 16. Starfest is so much more than a talent show – it is an entire production where ev- erything is at its best – from the performers, to the stage, to the lights. And the dancers can rival those of Las Vegas. Pop Diva Whitney Houston got favorable play as Kmisha Counts and Besha Liburd, the two open- ing acts, belted out some of her most popular tunes. A confident 11- year-old Ashlee Douglas took the stage, not missing a note as she sang the theme song from the Lizzie McGuire Movie. Douglas’ powerful voice was rewarded with rousing applause. Starfest 10 was dramatically improved by video biographies, portions of which were taken as the performers went about their day-to-day activities, which afforded viewers a glimpse into the performers’ lives. Soyika Richardson gave an enchanting performance as she executed complicated ragtime pieces on the piano. The white lights of the blue set design danced as she played. Richardson also played classical tunes to the audience’s delight. Guitarist Scott Fagan performed an original composition, “The V.I. Song,” as scenes and people of the Virgin Islands were displayed on a 50 by 24-foot screen. Things got hot as Attallah Bertrand performed Beyonce’s “Naughty Girl.” The performance was complete with caged dancers. Sold-Out Starfest 10 Wows Audience The Starfest 10 dancers performed a wide range of move- ments, including hip- hop, praise and wor- ship, disco and jazz – even breaking out into pantomime. The dancers were ener- getic and graceful. A moving gospel segment featuring Vietta Ann Hutchinson, Klint Constantine and Kareem Harrigan took the audi- ence into intermission. But it was the energy of the St. Croix Festi- val Road March Champs Xtaushun that brought the audience back af- ter intermission. A vigorous perfor- mance of the group’s calypso tunes set the pace for the second half of the show. The hip-hop segment that followed featured No Mercy along with chanter/rapper Lenea “Lady Souljah” Industrious. The male quintet “All the Way” was an audience favorite. Code Blue danc- ers drew gasps from the audience as they flipped, jumped and danced in a dynamic performance. Chronicling a decade of performances, highlights from pre- vious Starfests were shown on the screen between segments. The sold-out shows on May 8 and 9 prompted the Reichhold Center to hold an encore performance the following Sunday. Reichhold director and Starfest creator David Edgecombe fore- casts an even better Starfest 11. We’ll be waiting. Left to right: Ashlee Douglas, Starfest 10 Dancers and Besha Liburd perform. Bottom: the male quintet All the Way per- forms. Events Calendar May 25-June 6 Global Leaders Institute STT May 25-26 Student Affairs Workshop STT May 26, 27 Diversity Workshops STX May 27 NLM Workshop dateline:UVI 2 John Brewer’s Bay St. Thomas, VI 00802 GET CONNECTED TO UVI news, activities and accomplishments at . . . www.uvi.edu dateline:UVI is a production of the UVI Public Relations Office. Contact us by telephone at (340) 693-1056 FAX: (340) 693-1055 GET CONNECTED TO UVI news, activities and accomplishments at . . . www.uvi.edu Perhaps it was the colorful cos- tumes, the well thought out themes or the dance rou- tines. Perhaps it was a combination of all. No matter the rea- sons, the UVI fam- ily is celebrating be- cause its floupe in this year’s St. Tho- mas Carnival Adults’ Parade won first place and its 4-H troupe in the Children’s Parade won second place. The floupe in the Adult’s entry was themed “Knowledge, Culture and More for Carnival 2004” and de- picted the various cul- tures that contributed to the knowledge of the region. Red raffia skirts and beaded red neck pieces depicted the Dogons of Mali, white togas and purple and gold gladiator costumes depicted the Greco-Ro- mans and orange and black skirts with the match- ing triangular neck pieces depicted the local Tainos. On the float was a brain that symbolized knowledge. The Cooperative Extension’s 4-H won double accolades. The 4-H’s Monetrick Olive and Kahlid Blyden won the Junior UVI Wins Big at St. Thomas Carnival Top: Adults Parade. Left to right: An “African” troupe member. Miss UVI Alba Harrigan. A “Greco-Roman” reveler. Bottom: Childrens’ Parade. Left to right: A student from the Family Life Center Pan Panthers performs. A 4-H reveler makes her way up the road. St. Thomas Carnival Junior King of the Band Kahlid Blyden. Queen and King of the Band, respec- tively. Olive’s cos- tume portrayed a fan dancer. Rose pat- terned lace, fabric trimmed with frills, and gold lame made up Olive’s 4-foot high and 8-foot wide fan costume. Blyden’s cos- tume portrayed Pancho, a little Mexi- can boy who stands to guard the sign (South of the Border) be- tween North and South Carolina. Pancho’s magical hat grows larger and larger as the sun gets hotter. Blyden’s golden costume was 8 feet wide. UVI’s Family Life Center Pan Pan- thers gave impressive performances in both the Pan Jamboree and the Children’s Parade. Photos Courtesy of Gary Metz and Dale Morton.