Despite the persistent rainfall, there was no stopping the party as ‘Carnival’ was at the centre of this Birmingham Festival 23 day of fun. With events on the main stage in Centenary Square washed out, The Rep theatre took centre stage as Karine Annick - aka Black Rose Yogini – got everybody into the party mood.
And boy, was it time to party! From Calypso to Classical the ACE Dance & Music academy got all on their collective toes as three different generations of its current incumbents, and alumnus, brought the best of Soca as the pulsating rhythms of Trinidad within the four walls of the iconic venue, bringing a collage of colour and dance, amidst the incessant weather outside. With great defiance, there was no stopping the Festival.
And more was to come as the mass choir led by Black Voices and Dutch marching band, Eternity Percussion, was set to bring all to a close for the day, with their mesmerising intercultural fusion of music and dance, the awe-inspiring Mast Qalandar Dancehall Mashup, directed by Associate Artist Mukhtar Dar.
There was no stopping this 9th of ten days of B,Fest 23, so, no matter what, no matter where, the party will go on. It’s a festival… THE Festival!
