Written by: Sandra L Blood bloodsandral@yahoo.com
The much-anticipated three-night preliminary round of the PanoGrama 2022 virtual competition started on May 6 at 8pm with T&T’s Déja Cain and ended on the 8 at 9pm with T&T’s Shaquille “Flago” Forbes. From the 24 pannists representing nine countries – USA, France, Canada, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, St. Lucia, St.Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, and T&T – 20 advanced to semifinals.
Founder and CEO of PanoGrama Entertainment, Nevin Roach and co-host Aundrea Wharton, brought the house to order. The PanoGrama official anthem, For the Love of Pan, written and composed by Barbadian Mark Forde, was delivered by reigning champion, Keishaun Julien. Securing the top three positions were USA’s T&T-based David Yundi with 87 points for his rendition of Pan In A Minor, Canada’s Gabiel Chartrand with 85.3 for Love in Porto Fino, and a tie between France’s Mathieu Borgne with Happy and T&T’s Shaquille Forbes: Hips Don’t Lie, with 85.
Also making the cut, placing ninth amassing 78.3 for rendition, Love Nwantiti, was first-time PanoGrama competitor, Belizean Alexander Evans who sent a warning before the prelims that, “Belize is here,” and opening-act Cain, twelfth, with 77.3 for September. Cain, one of three females in the competition and one of two as semifinalist, also opened with an impressive fashion statement of a highly-burnished, multi-coloured, skin-tight, halter bell-bottomed jumpsuit. Many other competitors also stepped up to the wardrobe plate decked off in tuxedo, to national wear, to top hat, to costuming, to impressive ambience.
The diverse genres of selections to be of own arrangements, were to not exceed 4min 30sec and not shorter than three minutes. Adjudicators, T&T’s Prof Liam Teague but substituted for prelims by Grenada’s Andy Chichester, Dr Mia Gormandy-Benjamin and adjunct professor Victor Provost, with other substitute judge being T&T’s Ojay Richards, were tasked to look at introduction and ending (10), variations (50), execution (25) and overall performance (15) to a maximum of 100 points, but competitors would receive an average.
Among the distinguished prizes are an all-expenses-paid trip to the Bahamas for the overall finalist, courtesy Bahamas’ Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, and Best Dressed and People’s Choice of US$300 each, courtesy Kenrick Noel. PanoGrama Entertainment wishes to thank all its sponsors, and other kind-hearted people who contributed to a successful first round of competition. Semifinal is carded for the 29 at 8pm.
Semifinalists:
1. David Yundi (USA) – 87.0
2. Gabriel Chartrand (Canada) – 85.3
3. Mathieu Borgne (France) – 85.0
3. Shaquille Forbes (T&T) – 85.0
5. Hanif Goodridge (T&T) – 83.3
6. Tevin Shockness (T&T) – 80.7
7. Christopher Neale (T&T) – 79.7
7. Malik Smith (Antigua & Barbuda) – 79.7
9. Alexander Evans (Belize) – 78.3
10. Jaron Woodsley (T&T) – 78.0
11. Aquila Pereira (T&T) – 77.7
12. Déja Cain (T&T) – 77.3
13. Jamel Cadette (T&T) – 76.3
14. Olivier Wiren (France) – 76.0
15. Emmanuel Joseph (T&T) – 74.7
16. Marcus Prince (T&T) – 74.0
17. Al Alexander (St. Lucia) – 73.3
18. Maurisha Potter (Antigua & Barbuda) – 72.0
19. Simeon Superville (T&T) – 71.7
20. Mikiel Smith (Grenada) – 70.7
