Doha: MCC’s 7th Annual Talent Competitions Wind up on Promising Note

Pics by Melwyn Fernandes & Renwick D’Souza
Media Release

Doha, 23 May 2011: Talents without a proper platform are just like the light kept under the bushel.  Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC), Qatar seems to have understood this age-old saying much before anyone else in Qatar. The annual talent competitions being organized by MCC are a perfect witness to this adage. For the last seven years, MCC has been providing perfect platform to the young and old by organizing talent competitions for the Mangaloreans residing in this tiny oil-rich country. With every passing year, it has succeeded in drawing more and more support from all quarters and has become one of the most-awaited annual events in Doha among the Mangalorean Konkani-speaking community.

 

The huge popularity of MCC’s annual talent competitions was seen again on Friday May 20, 2011 evening at the Ashoka Hall of Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) here. It was the third and the final phase of the 7th annual talent competitions and Fancy Dress, Mad Ads and Dance competitions provided a perfect platform for children as well as elders to exhibit their talents.

 

The final phase began with the prayer lead by Jane Pinto which was followed by a formal welcome by MCC president Richard D’Souza. Glany Fernandes then introduced the judges for fancy dress and Mad Ads Arun D’Souza and Reema Sequeira to the gathering. Fancy Dress competitions were held for children upto 6 years. The theme for the competition was ‘Nature’ and the toddlers who participated in the competitions just provided a perfect start for the evening. The innocent kids did remarkably well by walking on to the stage and evening and even speaking a few lines fearlessly. While the efforts put in by their parents were all seen, it was the execution by these children that took everyone by surprise.

 

The fancy dress competition was followed by Mad Ads competition. It was another novelty that was being introduced for the first time by MCC. The competition meant only for the teens brought forth some excellent yet hidden creative ideas of Doha’s youngistan. The contestants came up with some brilliant ideas and promoted their products to the jam-packed audience at the Ashoka Hall. The keen interest shown by Doha’s Gen-X in Mad Ads might have surely emboldened the organizers to come up with some more novel and creative competitions in the coming editions.

 

At the end of these competitions both the judges were invited to the stage and were presented with mementos by MCC president Richard D’Souza.  Judges commented that they were impressed with the creativity that was put up by the little kids and suggested the organizers for the mad ads to give a shorter duration to the participants to put their ads.

 

With this the stage was all set for one of MCC’s most popular talent competitions, the annual dance contest for children as well as adults. Right at the beginning Namitha D’Souza introduced judges of the evening Alwyn D’Souza, Dimple Fernandes and Chaitali Shetty to the audience. As the judges took their coveted seats, Ashoka Hall went into perfect silent, perhaps in anticipation of the exhilarating moments that were to come. And the audience were right. The contestant in all the categories dished out exciting and invigorating performances. The nimble-footed, elegant children as well as the expressive and charming elders left the audience spellbound with their captivating performances. The solo and duet for the children as well as the elders brought forth a few ‘jhatkas’ to the tunes of some of the grooviest Bollywood numbers.  The group dance was strictly for the Konkani songs and again the contestants stole the limelight with their enchanting performances.

 

 

Dance judges were also presented with mementoes by the President and were asked to share their thoughts.  All judges were happy with the performances and congratulated all participants for their hard work and commented the quality of the performances was really superb and mentioned that they would love to see many more adults participating in the forthcoming competitions.

 

The success of the evening was very much evident as the audience was seen glued to their seats to the end, providing encouragement and support to the contestants as well as to the organizers.  The evening was sponsored by Mr. Arthur Mendonca to whom we are very grateful for his support.

 

As the MCC cultural secretary Reena Castelino announced the winners, the hall burst into celebration. The children and their proud parents indeed had fabulous time during the evening and MCC  committee member Roshan Pinto proposed vote of thanks to all those who made not only the evening but all three phases of MCC’s 7th annual talent competition a huge success.

 

Gladson D’Almeida the compere for the evening left the audience spellbound with his remarkable oratory skills in Konkani and English.

 

Riana Pinto conducted the lots while Prashanth D’Silva and Jessy Mendonca took charge of the registration desk.  Ryan Renjar and Sushma Fernandes were the time keepers while Glylon Rodrigues managed the sound.  Sabinash D’souza, Sunil D’silva and William Lobo were the volunteers at the stage.  Melwyn Fernandes was the official photographer of the evening.

 

With this it is curtains on MCC’s 7th annual competitions. Going by this year’s response, it is quite sure that the coming years will be much more promising and entertaining for all.  The organizers take this opportunity to thank the sponsor Mr. Arthur Mendonca, all participants, parents, choreographers, volunteers and all community members for their active participation and for encouraging their children in showcasing their talents

 

Results are as follows:

Fancy Dress Competition Results:

Upto 6 Years:  (Theme: Nature)
 
1st place: Ashral Rithika Castelino (Tiny drop of Water)
2nd place: Suzanne Fernandez (Little Bird)
3rd place: Aston Joel D’Souza (Spider)
Consolation Prize : Anwil Steve D’Souza (Garbage bin)

 
Mad Ads Competition:
 
9-18 years Group Category:
 
1st place:   Sana Britto & Group:  Rupal Aroza, Shawn D’Souza, Melroy Crasto, Melanie Crasto & Ruth Quadros
2nd place:  Erwick D’Souza & Group: Merwick D’Souza, Ralph Fernandes & Ryan Fernandes
2nd place : Arnon Pinto & Group:  Viola Pereira, Riona Gonsalves, Christopher Pinto, Alron   Rego & Vanessa Shingare
 
Dance Competition Results:

6 - 9 years: Solo:
1st place: Krisal Olivera
2nd place: Rhea Alvares
3rd place: Clarina Pinto
 
9 to 12 years: Solo:
 
1st place: Candida Rodrigues
2nd place: Adlene Jessica D’Souza
3rd place: Gishal Cordeiro
 
12-18 years: Duet
 
1st place:  Richa Alvares & Megan D’Souza
 
Above 18 years: Duet
1st place: Prabha Rego & Naveen D’Souza
 
Upto 9 years: Group:
 
1st  place:  Lionel D’Souza & Group: Joel D’Souza, Gareth Rodrigues, Lara D’Souza, Anika Quadros & Clarina Pinto
2nd place:  Ashleyn Castelino & Group: Ashral Castelino, Jade Mascarenhas, joshua Mascarenhas, Ronson Fernandez & Nikita Rego
3rd place:  Rhea Alvares & Group : Saloni Lobo, Reona Lobo, Melissa Bothelo & Kristle Olivera
 
9 - 18 years: Group:
 
1st  place: Elreena Pinto & Group: , Richelle Andrade, Jessica D’Souza, Nadine D’Souza, Anushka Fernandes & Joylyn D’Mello
2nd place: Viola Pereira & Group:  Arnon Pinto, Riona Gonsalves, Christopher Pinto, Alron Rego & Vanessa Shingare
 
 Above 18 Years: Group:

1st  place: Laahra Mangalurachi Group: Shalini Monthero, Eva Wilma Pinto, Della Rego, Nina Fernandes, Daphne Lobo & Maria Violet Fernandes