The stage at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) was on fire on Saturday 10th August, 2019 as fourteen (14) incredible young women vying for the coveted title of Miss La Reine Rive commanded the stage with performances which included African and East Indian-styled dances, songs and dramatic theatre pieces.
One of the performances drew howls and guffaws from the audience as Seychelle Ross representing the North West Laventille Cultural Movement depicted a socouyant woman. The audience were reeling in astonishment with the appearance of local television personality Ian Alleyne as he interviewed ‘The Buck’ portrayed by Janine Sobers from Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors. The Tobago representatives were not to be left out as they made their presence known through their renditions.
The highly anticipated ‘Empowered 14’ also shared their passion for the communities they represented in the self-expression category. The backgrounds of this year’s crop of young ladies range from university student, entrepreneur, manager, junior accountant, nurse’s aide and working professionals or a combination of those designations. The ‘Empowered 14’ contesting for Miss La Reine Rive are: Avanelle Keshwar- Waterloo Secondary School; Shiniqua Williams- Curepe Invaders Performing Company; Janine Sobers- Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors; Seychelle Ross- North West Laventille Cultural Movement; Rovena Beharry- Satya Drishti Spiritual & Sporting Group; Chyvonne Nurse- Malick Folk Performing Company; Aliah Shelomi James- Sangre Grande Recreation United Sports Club; Kenthia Roberts- Rg’s Musical Production & Services; Rianna Haniff- Navadurga Dance Company; Dishaana Sewdass- Princes Town Theatre Workshop; Kelsie Robley- Sisters In Culture; Kareena Ganesh- Soledad Ramleela Committee; Kadisha Kent- The Tobago Drama Guild and Shalini Juteram- Prema Shakti Dance & Theatre Productions
On Saturday 24th August the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition will crown a new Miss La Reine Rive. Tickets for the show are available three (3) hours before the show at the NAPA box office. The Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition falls under the purview of the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts. For more information and schedule updates visit cdca.gov.tt or the Ministry’s Facebook page.