With less than a week before the start of the 57th Annual West Indian American Day Carnival Week in Brooklyn, the Family Life Committee at Fenimore Street United Methodist Church (FSUMC) in Brooklyn on Saturday ensured that the community and families were kept in the carnival spirit with mas, models, Jazz, sumptuous food and pure entertainment during the church’s second annual Block Party.
Wesley Millington, the Vincentian-born band leader and designer of the Brooklyn-based Mas Productions Unlimited made his costumes available to community kids to showcase his “Chromatic Kingdom” production.
“Mas Productions Unlimited appreciated the opportunity to showcase our designs for our Labor Day presentation for the second year,” Millington, who started working on costumes in his native St. Vincent and the Grenadines since he was 6, told Caribbean Life afterwards.
“It was very encouraging to see the young people, who participated, show such an enthusiastic interest in the presentation,” he added. “This is the main reason that we do what we do at this festival, to introduce a new generation to the culture, especially to see them light up on stage.
“We are looking forward to participating in the Fenimore Methodist Family Day next year, maybe with a slightly expanded investment,” Millington continued.
On Saturday, Mas Productions Unlimited featured the four sections from “Chromatic Kingdom”: Radiance, Guardian, Twilight and Goddess of Flight.
During the Junior Carnival Parade this Saturday, Millington said 20-25 masqueraders in each section will sway to Caribbean soca beats from DJ Dee, a member of Mas Productions Unlimited.
Last year, the band presented “Fusion” for Labor Day, “based on the blending and use of colors to create costumes,” Millington said.
The hard-working Marlene Ferguson, a retired registered nurse and chairperson of the Family Life Committee at FSUMC, also told Caribbean Life that family was the highlight on Saturday of the Prospect Lefferts Garden Community in Brooklyn that encompasses FSUMC.
“It was, indeed, a memorable event, filled with excitement and entertainment,” she said. “It brought neighbors together to enjoy a variety of activities, delicious food, live entertainment and the vibrant spirit of our community.”
Besides the mas presentation, Ferguson said a Jazz performance by Harlem-based, GRAMMY-nominated Jazz musician Jason Marshall was featured, which was made possible through the Prospect Lefferts Garden Association, the Black Party’s “proud sponsors.”
Ferguson said a fashion show highlighted “five vibrant models, displaying fashionable attires from France, Spain, USA and motherland Africa.”
She said “Coming from Paris” was the fashion coordinator, Jamaican-born Dianne Brown, who opened the show in sporting “Zara’s” khaki jumpsuit and black boots.
Brown, chairperson of FSUMC’s Higher Education Committee, returned to the stage in her next attire, a flowing black lace gown with matching pocket book.
Barbadian-born Sophie Eversley, FSUMC’s media communications director, showcased the motherland, Ghana, wearing a brightly colored shift dress and laced-up silver sandal.
“Her second attire dazzled the audience with a hot pink satin dress, with a bow draped on one side of the shoulder and asymmetrical frilled hemline,” Ferguson said.
She said Lady Linda Brown, a member of FSUMC’s Chancel Choir, represented the USA, “wearing a rich summer white dress, and her hair, cornrow-adorned with gold beads.”
“Hailing from Barbados and representing England was none other than Princess Harriet Gooding (another FSUMC member), with her English-style dresses,” Ferguson said. “She wore a white lace pattern dress. Her second attire was a colored net dress, matching hat, and waving her fan as she strutted along on the stage.”
Ferguson said the youngest model-in-training was “little Miss Kayden, who embarked on stage with her midnight blue dazzling dress and black shoes.”
In her second attire, Ferguson said “little Miss Kayden presented in J-crew hot summer shorts and a colorful checkered jacket.”
Guyanese-American Denica Beaton, a FSUMC alumni, narrated the fashion show, while DJs Deschelle Ferguson (Ferguson’s daughter) and Allister Aird provided soca music.
“As the chairperson of this memorable event, I am inspired to envision that day, when the street will overflow to capacity, and there will be a cultural display of every race, every color and every nation in ‘One Love’,” Ferguson said.
“Thanks to everyone who participated in such a memorable day – the dedicated committee members, participants, vendors, sponsors, partners, elected officials, volunteers, friends, and Pastor Roger Jackson and the officers and members of FSUMC,” she added. “I could not have done it without you all.”
