The nearly six-hour St. Thomas Children’s Carnival Parade on Friday was a kaleidoscope of color, music and dance, with dazzling young royalty, infectious steel pan rhythms, towering moko jumbies, original choreographed routines and even a sprinkle of acrobatics keeping the energy high throughout the day.
Portable fans and umbrellas were essential companions for many in the crowd, with temperatures soaring in the late morning and early afternoon, though the sweltering conditions didn’t appear to dampen the spirits of the young performers. Even in their full costumes — some even incorporating traditional face masks — they enthusiastically executed their routines, becoming a welcome distraction for eventgoers.
Their excitement was rewarded from the very start with an upbeat brass and drum routine from this year’s Children’s Parade Grand Marshal, the Ivanna Eudora Kean Music Department. Led now by Monet Davis, Shamoi Rogers and Anthony Nibbs, the department has evolved over the past 30 years, when its students first began participating in Carnival. Under the direction of former director Dionne Donadelle, now the Director of Music Education for the V.I. Education Department, the Dynamite Rays began consciously looking at marching band formations and composition and has hit its stride under Davis, a celebrated composer and director of the V.I. National Guard’s 73rd Army Band.
The Kean team was honored with a special presentation in Post Office Square, flanked by Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., Lt. Gov. Tregenza Roach and Senate President Novelle Francis.
“Welcome to Rays Country,” Kean Principal Sally Petty called out to the crowd as she stepped up to the microphone on Friday. “It is an excellent day and year in the Virgin Islands, as we recognize the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School Music Department.” Petty thanked the school’s families and students for their support as the school “continues to set the standard for all that takes place in education.”
St. Thomas’ Petite Princess and Junior Miss, along with the royal court from many elementary, middle and high schools followed closely behind on the route, which winds up from the west through Post Office Square. Under the blazing sun, their crowns sparkled fiercely as they walked and waved gracefully.
“I’ve always loved performing, and showing the community what I have to offer was exhilarating,” Junior Miss Ne’Keya Fraser said when asked about her favorite part of Carnival. “And I’m so excited to be part of the parade, to come up with the court, and to help warm up the crowd for what is always such a wonderful day of performances.”
One of the first to start the day was the Charming Twirlers Majorettes, whose costumes, according to organizers, paid tribute to “Majorettes Past, Present and Future.”
“We always try to put something together that’s representative of us, so you’ll see our majorettes dressed today in traditional costume, from the boots to the tassels,” Nicole Friday, one of the Charming Twirlers’ coaches, said. “We also have four sections, from our toddlers to our advanced division, and we’re excited to showcase all of their talent and just ‘wow’ everyone with our performances.”
Clad in purple, the St. Thomas Majorettes took their routine a step further, weaving — as they do each year — acrobatic performances in their routine.
“You can always expect amazing, amazing talent from our young ladies — and they practice so hard, putting in a lot of blood, sweat and tears to make it possible,” Mekiya Thomas, one of the group’s original members said. St. Thomas Majorettes was established in 2006 and after graduating college in 2020, Thomas added that she couldn’t wait to get back and pay it forward as one of the group’s intermediate trainers.
“We’re so excited about our theme this year,” Thomas shared. “We’re doing a cultural tour, with each of our three sections representing a different island with a unique song. We really love it.”
One of the middle entries for the day, the Show Stoppers Dance Group also had unique costumes for their sections, with each representing a different gemstone.
“Rubies, sapphires, emeralds — all of the costumes are bright and vibrant, in keeping with our ‘Xotic Gems in Paradise’ theme,” organizers said. The group, a frequent award-winner for the Children’s Parade, has been training from August, generally only taking a few months off before starting again. That’s the secret to flawless execution, according to organizers, who also noted that each section was headed by a queen, bedecked in feathers and glittering crystals.
“We start from age two, and run through age 18,” organizers added. “And we give every student who wants to be with us the opportunity to do so — this year, we even have two students from St. Croix, and we’re really excited about that. But even more exciting is always having the chance for our students to show off their hard work, and to have fun playing mas. It’s the best part of the season.”
And of course, what’s a parade without bands? This year’s parade had lots of them, including the award-winning Rising Stars Steel Pan Orchestra and the seasoned Love City Pan Dragons, along with Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School’s Burning Blazers orchestra.
“It’s definitely been a labor of love,” BCB assistant principal Kifani Hendricks-Carey said while bumping along with the band, which has been sidelined for a few years due to the lack of a trolley. The band is rebuilding and though their numbers are small with 18 students, the sounds coming from their pans were strong.
“We’re small in number but mighty in music,” Hendricks-Carey said. “And we’ve been preparing. As we’ve been trying to get going again for years now, many of the students have never been in a parade or on a trolley, so they didn’t know what to expect. But they practiced hard, and they’ve done it. We’re really excited and extremely proud of them.”
For additional interviews, photos and spotlight performances, visit our Virgin Islands Source Facebook page. Our gratitude to Firstbank for sponsoring our coverage this year, along with the Cardow Jewelers team for their support along the route.
