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By JOYCE SHELBY
MllY NEWS STW WHITER
Sixteen-year-old Bennge Charles of Flatbush says she
has always enjoyed hearing her parents tell stories of their
homeland, Haiti.
"They are long, emotional stories about our ancestors and how they
worshipped," Bennge said. "I really enjoy them."
Tomorrow, Bennge will do dances reflecting some of what she has
heard. And for the first time in the history of the West Indian
American Day Children's Carnival, Haiti will be represented by two
children's dance troupes.
Along with 34 other youngsters between the ages of 2 and 17, Bennge
will dance with the newly organized Feet of Rhythm Kids.
The Children's Carnival includes a 10 a.m. parade, which starts at
Kingston Ave. and St. Johns Place, and a competition afterward on
the grounds of the Brooklyn Museum.
For the parade and the competition, the Feet of Rhythm Kids will
wear top hats and black and purple outfits, and carry long sticks to
portray.the Haitian folk-loric god Guede, a protector of children.
Bennge said, "We'll do rara, petrow and other Haitian
dances. It will be fun."
The Children's Carnival was |
designed to encourage the next generation of revelers
for the West Indian American Day Carnival, which takes place every
Labor Day, but until recently, Haiti was not represented at the
event.
Danielle Vivien, a costume designer who lives in Flatbush, said,
"Every year, I would hear the Children's Carnival broad-cast on the
radio and the an-, nouncer would say what a shame it was there were
no Haitian kids there."
She decided she had to do something about that. Vivien or-ganized a
troupe of seven youngsters in 1997 and made cos-tumes.
"Now I have 40 children," Vivien said, "and I still make all the
costumes."
This year, her troupe, Bel Ti Peyizan ak Peyza'nn Lakay (Beautiful
Children Coming from the Countryside of Haiti), will wear native
costumes fashioned from Haitian flags.
Nadia Dieudonne, who founded Feet of Rhythm Kids earlier this year,
said having more youngsters representing Haiti at the Children's
Carnival was long overdue.
"For a long time, there's been such a negative connotation
associated with our traditions," Dieudonne said.
"Now we have a much better opportunity to expose children to our
history and culture.
"The children will do lively, vivacious dances," Dieudonne said, "
that will bring inspiration to people." |
