AMIDST MUCH jubilation on Wednesday afternoon at The Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Drive, Tivoli Gardens High School walked away with the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's Ivy Baxter Award for Excellence in Dance.
This award is given to the school or group adjudged to be the Most Outstanding participant in the Dance Competition at the National Level. Last year's winner was Lannaman's Preparatory School from Kingston and St. Andrew.
Tivoli Gardens High School became the winner of the award after they copped awards for Best Creative Folk Class 5; Best popular Dance Class 5; Best Small Group Class 5; Best Creative Folk Class 6 and Best Modern Dance Class 6.
Individuals from the troupe also won one-year scholarships to the Jamaica School of Dance, Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts.
Their dominance of the National Finals continued, when they were announced The Most Outstanding Senior group for the JCDC's dance competition in 2001.
As if not to be stopped, in the Studio Group category, they were awarded The Rex Nettleford Trophy for Excellence.
The Tivoli dancers, who won 14 gold medals at the Eastern Regional Finals held recently, picked up the top award for that region.
Jennifer Morgan, teacher and choreographer of the troupe, was compensated for her many years of dedicated service to the group when she won the Arlene Richards Plaque for choreography.
Although the National Finals was dominated by Tivoli High, other schools performed remarkably well. These included: Merl Grove High School - Best Popular Dance, class 4; St. Jago High School, Best Modern Dance class 5. Tamera Noel from St. Jago High also shared the award in the Best Solo category with Chithrah Sara Nathan of Glenmuir High School. The Arnett Gardens Dance Troupe won the award for Best Modern Dance in Class 6 while EXED Community College won awards for Best Small Group and Best Dance Kit. St Jago High School also won the award for Best Dance Drama and Jamm Production won an award in the Best Popular Dance class.
Recipients of dance scholarships to the Jamaica School of Dance included: St. George's Girls School, Lannaman's Preparatory School, Institute of Jamaica, Kingston and St. Andrew; Monsignor Colin Bryan Preparatory and St. Jude's Primary Schools.
Meanwhile, regional trophies were awarded to Parry Town Primary School, St. Ann; Alley Primary, Clarendon and Mount Alvernia High School, St. James.
The National finals began on schedule and the overall standard of the competition was high.