The St Andrew-based Ardenne High School has taken home the Marcus Garvey Award for Excellence in the Performing Arts for the fifth consecutive year. Each year, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, (JCDC) an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, awards this prestigious trophy in recognition of the school or group that has earned the highest level of achievement in the performing arts competitions, which covers dance, drama, music, speech and traditional folk forms.

The Excellence Awards Ceremony for the Performing Arts was held at the Little Theatre in Kingston recently. Several preparatory, primary, and high schools from across the island received awards for their performance in the National Finals.

Ardenne contended with four other schools, Black River High Performing Arts Society, the Immaculate Conception High School, John Rollins Success Primary, and Herbert Morrison Technical High School - for the top prize, which is given to the school or group that amasses the most awards during the competition.

This is Ardenne's sixth time taking home the award.

Dr Delroy Gordon, executive director of the JCDC, stated in his opening remarks that the Marcus Garvey Award encourages young people to aim for excellence and is an appropriate avenue to continue Garvey's legacy.

"Over the years, the National Festival of the Performing Arts has unearthed some of Jamaica's most talented entertainers, writers, broadcasters, and orators and has fostered a sense of cultural development in all participants who have graced the JCDC stage," Gordon said.