Club Hosts Caribbean Splash

Lowell Lecture Hall exploded with a burst of excitement and energy on Friday night as dancers, poets, and musicians performed for the third annual Caribbean Splash, a variety show put on by the Harvard Caribbean Club.

The show featuerd a selection of energetic acts, chosen to give the audience a taste of Caribbean culture, according to Caribbean Club President Alexander C. Paddington ’07 and co-director Paula-Raye C. O’Sullivan ’06.

“The show started three years ago and the main purpose was to show Caribbean culture and show the presence of the Caribbean Club on campus,” Paddington, a native Trinidadian, said. “This show allows us to show our culture through dance, through music, through poetry, through all different aspects of Caribbean culture.”

For Paddington, the highlight was when the Dorchester based Dis-N-Dat Steel Pan Band got a small group of audience members out of their seats and dancing. “With the Dis N’ Dat band, I think the crowd really appreciated their performance. It was great to see a number of people dancing on the floor and having a great time.”

The show also included a jazz quintet from MIT, an original song, “Lipstick on my Pillow,” and a three-part fashion show featuring sequins, flirty skirts, and plenty of skin.

The final performance of the evening came from the Caribbean Club Dance Troupe (CCDT), who combine hip hop and traditional Caribbean dance moves.

Troupe director Ayodola A. A. Adigun ’06 said she thought the Troupe pulled off a highly-recognizable performance. “The girls in the Troupe are the epitome of well rounded dancers. If you see a girl dancing by herself in a corner, not caring what others think of her, or if you see a group of girls at a dance party causing a scene on the dance floor...4 letters come to mind...CCDT.”

An unexpected highlight came when some members of the CCDT put together an impromptu competition challenging audience members to mimic the moves of a CCDT dancer. The house exploded into hoots and cheers when freshman Durrell B. Robinson ’08 not only copied his dancer’s booty-shaking to perfection, but threw in some moves of his own.

“The second before it was my turn... I was wondering what she was going to make me do. I saw the look on her face and knew she was up to something. When I saw her, it was like we were gambling. “Ok, I see your booty shake... and I’ll raise you a split and handstand!” he said.

Despite the generally up-beat feel, the night also showcased more somber spoken word performances from Toussiant Losier ’04 and former Caribbean Club President Kara Lee ’04, that drew attention to some of the injustices that plague the Caribbean.

According to Paddington, the club is very focused on working to combat problems in the region, such as poverty and disease. Last December, the Club held a book drive and sent over five boxes of books to rural villages in Jamaica, and they hope to send five members to Trinidad this summer to teach in a home for children with HIV.

While Paddington said he hoped the club will send aid to Caribbean communities, he was also proud of making a splash at home by bringing Caribbean culture to the crowd.

Audience members like the booty-shaking Robinson said they enjoyed the show.

“C-Splash was a blast! I felt it was well done overall, and I look forward to next year,” he said.