Stopping traffic on Veterans Drive Friday morning was a small army of pint-sized Chinese, Mexicans, South Koreans, Ethiopians, Cubans, Hawaiians and Danes, all in native costumes. They were marching from Addelita Cancryn Junior High School to Emile Griffith Ballpark in the 9th Annual Cancryn Oral Reading Exchange (CORE) Book Parade.
The excited youngsters returned to the school to show their stuff, competing in skits depicting the day’s theme "A Celebration of World Cultures."
Parade organizer Wendy Diaz said each team was required to select a country or region, study its culture, food, clothing, mores, history, and to perform a skit from stories in their reading.
She said the ultimate performing goal is "Broadway," nothing less, along with a knowledge of and respect for language.
"By reading the books, the students become part of the story. Once they play a character, they will never forget," she said. "Their oratorical skills are most important."
The presentations, which took only two weeks to prepare, were elaborate and sophisticated, far beyond what might be expected of junior high schoolers. The China troupe, topped by exquisite hairdos featuring buns held in place by laqurered chopsticks, wore beautifully tailored red satin tops,
Diaz’s team H, Mexico, constructed a big menacing black bull out of masking tape, chicken wire and lots of sweat and tears, along with the help of art teacher Rita Gonzales.
So as not to neglect local culture, a troupe of tiny black Anasai characters from Ulla Muller Elementary School pranced along with their more senior performers. The "Anansis" almost stole the show with their highly spirited performance depicting traditional Anansi characters under the rousing encouragement of their teachers.
The youngsters sang, danced, and jumped up in perfectly organized chaos. They ended with a message for everyone. At the top of their young lungs, they shouted: "Learn to read, read, read; learn to write, write, write. There’s no trick to this. Turn off your cell phones and read, read, read."
The Muller youngsters, not officially in the Cancryn competiton, will get an honorable mention, said Nancy Christie, coordinator of media library services for the St. Thomas-St. John district, and one of the judges.
Diaz said the competition was "fierce." "We were here until 11 last night, parents, everybody is so committed." Her neat classroom was a jumble of Mexican hats, construction paper, quickly constructed cardboard dwellings, reflecting the effort.
Team China under the direction of Gladys Collins dominated the judging, taking first place, with Mexico coming in second. Christie said the China team took best costume honors, along with best oral presentation and best road performance.
They did a skit depicting a folk tale about a young man and girl in love and their perils at the whim of an emporer, with a backdrop of the Great Wall of China.
Team Mexico came in second, also taking honors for the most creative. The youngsters put on a lively performance from a Mexican fairy tale, "The Bear Prince," complete with a grumpy bear who becomes an enchanted prince.
Team South Korea took third place. Sheryl Tonge-George’s youngsters depicted characters from "A Single Shard," a story of a 12th century Korean potter. Augmenting the story were young ladies beguilingly attired in lavender robes with matching parasols.
The children bounded about the quadrangle most of the day, sometimes acting themselves, then listening respectfully to the presentations. The weather looked kindly on the performers, with the heavens letting loose a mini-monsoon right after the last performance, sending one and all happily scuttling to shelter.