June 27, 2008 — For their efforts in preserving V.I. culture, WTJX Channel 12 and the Reichhold Center for the Arts were honored this year for the production of "A Playing Ring," picking up a Telly Award in the cultural category.
The announcement was made during a Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event Thursday evening, which was attended by various members of the community and representatives from both UVI and the station. For the past 30 years, the Telly Awards have honored the best local, regional, and cable television commercials and programs, along with the best video and film productions, according to the Telly Awards website.
The award-winning series "A Playing Ring" showcases the best of V.I. musical and dance tradition, said WTJX director Osbert Potter.
"This series was done in two parts, and it showcases a history of quelbe dancers and dances," he said. "WTJX was on board to videotape, edit and get the production ready for packaging. Since then, we have gotten numerous requests to air the production."
The series is meant to engage the entire community, said Reichhold's co-director Denise Humphrey.
"We're not looking at just the history, but learning about the people who were significant in creating that history," she said. "We're working on the fourth installment now, and hope to continue this for many years."
WTJX also received a silver Telly — which will soon be handed out during a similar ceremony on St. Croix — for its re-enactment of a serenade with Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights. The station picked up another Telly for "School Days are Happy Days," a weekend program that highlights the achievements of local schools and students.
"We actually take the camera with us into the classroom and try to capture those special times where the students are excelling at things," said WTJX director Osbert Potter. "There are so many negative things said about our students and schools, and this program tries to turn that perception around by showing the best of what's happening."
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