Queen’s Park????

As part of its continued efforts to promote the use of Queen’s Park, the National Conservation Commission (NCC) will this month be hosting Barbados’ own version of the popular television reality show ???Dancing with the Stars’.

???Dancing under the Stars’, which is slated to come off on Friday, November 20, beginning at?? 8:00 p.m., will see eight ??local celebrities paired with professional dancers??from the Bailamos, Genesis and Rondwin dance clubs. They are expected to serve up an exciting potpourri, including the Waltz, Salsa, Jive, Rhumba and Cha Cha Cha. The Barbados National Ballroom Dance Club is also expected to perform on the night.

According to officials from the NCC, the local ???stars’ have been sent to these three clubs, where their professional partners have been putting them through their paces.??They stress, however, that it is not a competition.

Special Projects Officer with the Commission, Ricardo Marshall, said the overall response has been very positive.

"One can expect to see a number of local celebrities showcasing their dance prowess under the stars in the salubrious, aesthetically pleasing grounds of Queen’s Park," he promised.

Patrons will have the opportunity to showcase their own dance moves following the show, and they can also look forward to an after-show lime, where refreshments will also be on sale. MC’s for the evening will be Ken Husbands of Voice of Barbados and Jewel Forde of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation; while Historian Trevor Marshall will provide a live commentary on the dances.

NCC Chairman, Tyrone Lowe, who has expressed excitement about the upcoming event, said Barbadians could look forward to other innovations during the Christmas season.

In addition to the traditional performances by the Royal Barbados Police Force Band on Christmas morning, Mr. Lowe added plans were also on stream for the staging of choir festivals, including performances by a 100-voice chorale.

The events are part of a year-long celebration in honour of Queen’s Park’s 100th anniversary, which was observed in June this year. Members of the public are invited to celebrate with the NCC by attending these free activities.

According to the NCC, from the 1930s and 1940s, Queen’s Park began to move away from its elitist origins to become a "people’s park", and subsequently became a venue for creative expression. In light of this, the Commission is seeking to revive interest in its use as a mecca for cultural and recreational pursuits.

cgaskin@barbados.gov.bb

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