Some of the participants in the Sts Peter and Paul's fashion and costume showcase at the preparatory school in St Andrew on Saturday. - Photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

THEY GOT off to a late start, facing technical glitches and moments of anxiety, as the children prepared for Saturday's first annual Traditional and Contemporary Costume and Fashion Showcase competition at the Sts Peter and Paul Preparatory School in St Andrew.

After finding the right groove, the show kicked off to a picture-taking start as parents, guardians and friends got out of their seats to snap photographs of every move their little darlings made.

Even though students and parents were entangled in the excitement of the day, the competition was a way of generating money to help persons affected by HIV/AIDS.

"We are hoping to raise some funds that we can share with children (who are) HIV positive," Delrose Burke, dance and drama teacher at Sts Peter and Paul Preparatory, told The Gleaner.

Burke said that for the first time, she has used traditional costumes to enhance contemporary designs. She explained that by using red, green, and gold or black, green and gold, she was able to come up with various designs.

Outbreaks of laughter

First up were the class-one students who, with a little pose here and a little dance there, were rewarded with clapping and irresistible outbreaks of laughter from the audience.

The students, dressed in costumes depicting Wild Indians, Pitchy-Patchy, Belly-Woman, Bush Doctor, Flower Girl, Red Set, Madame, among other characters, served as an appetiser for the class-two group that came after.

The students, ages six to nine, also decked out in traditional and contemporary costumes, were more than able to deliver on the pace set by their predecessors.

A striking pose of left hand on hip, and feet perfectly twirled one before the other, accompanying a broad smile by the pink princess, Tania Taylor, was met with haughty laughter from the crowd.

Sonia Kirkland, in the Belly-Woman costume, also sent the audience over the edge as she moved her belly and held her back.

Members of the crowd couldn't help applauding her perfect imitation of women in an advance stage of pregnancy.

Class three, ages nine to 12 years, followed next with head girl Mistelle Haughton and Bobbie-Gale Chong walking the runway and giving the audience a real taste of the red carpet.

Contestants in the various classes were awarded first, second and third places based on stage presence, performance, use of stage, communication, costume, style and visual impact.

shernette.gillispie@gleanerjm.com

Althea Williams puts on the finishing touch on her daughter, Lejhanna Williams.