• Home
• /
• Entertainment

DANCING WITH ‘SPRING’ IN THEIR FEET

With a record 5,000 people attending the event, Spring Fiesta 2005 proved to be one of the best among its predecessors. As visitor Ajmal Sharaffudin put it, the event was “Great, simply great”.

Better organisation, a larger number of categories to compete in, greater responses from schools and colleges, and the theme — Conservation of the Environment, all contributed to a successful event. The event kicked off with the Poster Making competition on the ACD premises that, as Laura Fernandez, member of the ACD organising committee said,“...were done very well, it showed that the children really were aware of environmental problems we are currently facing and how important they are.”

The boys of the Abu Dhabi Indian High School bagged the first prize for Poster Making, followed by students from Dubai Gem School that also won second prize in the quiz that was held the next day. The Abu Dhabi Indian High School were overall winners in the school category, winning first prize for group singing and the quiz and second prize for both the Eastern and Western Dance categories.

The Indian High School (IHS), Dubai was not too far behind, claming the second overall winner trophy as theirs. IHS won first prize for Western dance and second prizes for group singing and the awareness walk. The girls of the Cambridge High School strutted their way to winning first prize for the Awareness Walk on the school level. The girls of Ibn Seena High School received rip roaring applause and a standing ovation for their spectacular performance in the Eastern dance category that won them first place.

The colleges, although less enthusiastic, performed brilliantly. ACD won the overall trophy, bagging first place in the Eastern Dance, Battle of the Bands, and Awareness Walk categories. ACD also won second place for the War of the Djs, beaten by Emirates Aviation College in that category. BITS Pilani were pronounced second overall winner after winning first place in the Western Dance category and second place in the Eastern Dance category; sharing that place with the American University of Dubai.

BITS Pilani also tied second place in solo singing with Troy University that did well for themselves by also winning second place in Western dance. SZABIST cinched first place for solo singing, MAHE Manipal won second place for Battle of the Bands and Preston University, Ajman walked away with second prize for their stunning performance in the Awareness Walk category. Participants were overwhelmed by the competition yet displayed brilliant performances in nearly all categories.

The theme of conservation of the environment was received well by the public and participants alike and messages of conservation were displayed clearly via the Awareness Walks. Nadeem Khatri, a participant, said, “The competition has proved to be tough but the experience has been worthwhile. It's been fun and I'm looking forward to next year.”

The organising committee was optimistic about the turnout of the event. Owais Kazi, president of the ACD student council said, “The youth of Dubai don't think much about the environment. If we make the first steps to be more environment friendly, it is sure to encourage others. We feel the message has been conveyed.” Viral Bharat, marketing head at ACD, felt that the event was, “...creative, colourful, and happening. The fiesta provided one stage with a difference: innovative ideas were reflected and the participants learnt the importance of clean competition and team spirit, mingling with diverse cultures at the same time.”

What is an event without a compere? This year's Spring Fiesta hosted Sarah Jane Dias, Channel V VJ, popular for her show Gorgeous and Channel V on the run. A VJ, actress, singer and model, Sarah Jane is a woman of many talents. Having grown up in Muscat, Sarah Jane willingly accepted ACD's invitation to compere this year's fiesta, saying, “The gulf is truly home to me and I'm looking for work in Dubai so I can make Dubai my base.”