Kendea Jones

Scores of students packed the Bob Martinez Gym for the Florida Caribbean Student Association Annual Talent Show, hosted by UT’s Caribbean Student Association.

Featuring dance routines from many schools including Florida Atlantic University, Florida A’M University, Florida International University, Barry University, and Florida State University, the show featured a very diverse cast of performers and performances.

According to the show’s coordinator, Keno Johnson, contestants were judged on creativity, coordination, stage usage, and timing. All of the groups danced to a variety of Reggae dance hall and Soca music. Johnson felt the show was a success.

“Everyone who came up to me gave me and A+ on the show,” he said. “It was a great show, the performances were short but sweet and everyone had a good time.”

Afterwards five men came forward with different flags representing different Caribbean islands. A change of clothes and the ladies were back again with other flags. Some of the flags included Trinidad, Jamaica, and the Virgin Islands. A few minutes later all of the performers came forward with cards spelling the word “Caribbean.” The crowd roared with applause.

“It was enjoyable,” said Zoe Sweeting, a freshman at UT. “It was really nice to see various styles of music and dance come together positively on UT campus displaying unity.”

The performers weren’t the only talent at the show. There was also a performance from Peter T, a reggae performer from Miami, and Chris and Part II, an Orlando-based reggae group.

One group performed a skit with robbers followed by a dance to the popular reggae song “Ghetto Story” by Baby Cham.

The group also had lively costumes of red, green, gold and black – colors that are known to represent the Caribbean.

The overall winners of the

night, Barry University, had a performance filled with a number of different dances that wowed not only judges, but the crowd as well.

“I think that it just keeps getting better each year,” said Bianca Bethel, an FAU student. “There is always a surprise and I really can’t wait until next year.”