The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) is now accepting entries for the 2023 staging of the National Festival of the Performing Arts Competition. The categories for entry submission are Dance, Deaf Dance, Drama, Music, Speech and Traditional Folk Forms. The competitions, which will return to full face-to-face engagement, are open to community groups, youth clubs, schools, church groups and individuals of varied ages.
Acting Executive Director of the JCDC, Mrs. Marjorie Leyden-Kirton, expressed her excitement for the upcoming Competitions. She said, “JCDC’s 2023 competitions will be nothing short of spectacular. It is the Commission’s 60th Anniversary, so all our programmes will take on an extra flair. I encourage Jamaicans from every district, community and town across the island to use the Competitions as a launch pad for their personal and professional development.”
She further explained that she is particularly looking forward to the return of the Deaf Dance Competition which has not been staged since 2019 because of the pandemic.The Deaf Dance Competition encourages the hearing impaired community to develop their sense of rhythm and communicate their feelings through dance.
Following the submission of entries, competitors will be invited to attend Brush Up Workshops. These workshops will give entrants the opportunity to present their potential performances to JCDC specialists and other resource persons for on the spot feedback. Workshops will be held island-wide for each subject area from Monday, January 16, 2023 to Thursday, February 16, 2023. Parish schedules will be posted on the JCDC website.
Mr. Andrew Brodber, Director of Arts Development and Training at the JCDC, highlighted that the Brush Up workshops will substitute for Parish Auditions which was usually the first stage of elimination for the programmes. After the brush-up workshops, participants will compete at the Parish Finals and based on positive results, compete at the National Finals in Kingston.”
Persons interested in entering the National Festival of the Performing Arts for 2023 are encouraged to contact their nearest JCDC office or visit the JCDC website at www.jcdc.gov.jm for entry forms and further details. Information is also available on the JCDC social media pages.
