Powerful performances for charity

The well-supported Powerful Women and Men Perform for Charity showed signs of maturity this year. At Sunday's staging, the acts were consistently of excellent standard. There was, too, a nice blend of the performing arts (dance, drama and music). But the strongest indication of maturity was the inclusion of powerful youth and a powerful and catchy theme song.

Aptly, the show began after the playing of Jamaica's National Anthem, with the powerful youths singing the theme song. The anthem was played by In2nation Band, led by Ewan Simpson.

Simpson and Oshin Levy of the group Levy's Heritage were credited for writing the theme song. They titled it 'I will'.

And so not surprisingly, Levy's Heritage the 2012 winner of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Gospel Festival were one of the groups of powerful youths to perform on the show. Oshin described her fist experience on the production.

"It was an amazing and humbling feeling. The experience was wonderful. The camaraderie among the cast was awesome, we were like family and so it was a great experience. I learnt a lot from the cast members, through rehearsals. I thoroughly enjoyed it and the experience will become memories that will last for a lifetime."

The other powerful youths were Jamaica youth ambassadors Sophia, Bryan, Odyane Haughton and Nicholas Kee, who delivered spoken words. Jamaica College and Seaforth High School bands rocked the house with mature performances. The Ashe Company celebrating 25 years, did so in dance and songs. Former Digicel Rising Stars winners One Third used the show to premiere their song Survivor.

The acts of the powerful youths were nicely placed among those of the seniors. They were just as entertaining and effective.

Among them was Blossom O' Meally with 'Since Mi Did Gawn'. Her performance was riotous. Subtly, she interweaved various social topics like the bills and travel expense of government officials and 'JEEP'. She left the audience with the word 'sinting'. Alas, they were not taught how to spell it.

On the flip side, Ali McNab and Carlene Davis' performance of Hallelujah was sobering and emotive. The song was dedicated to cancer survivors.

Showcase of culture

Jamaica's culture was also highlighted in folk dance choreographed by Patrick Earle and performed by some of Jamaica's top dancers.

The staple entertaining fashion show segment included designs by Courtney Washington, Shades of Africa and Dexter Huxtable.

Other standouts were Michael Abrahams with Support Your Youths. The First Responders (Private Jason Brown and Corporal Rosemarie Lee were attired in their respective uniforms. MCs Christopher Johnny Daley and Rochelle Cameron were exceptional in announcing the acts.

The 18th Powerful Women and Men Perform for Charity was presented by the Mustard Seed Communities, in association with the RJRGLEANER Communications Group. It is a major fundraiser for the Mustard Seed Communities projects.