These were among the memorable elements of an entertaining pageantry of masquerade dancing and imagery at the National Competition at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice on Sunday afternoon.

In the presence of a large and appreciative crowd, judges scrutinised seven bands for their music, footwork, costumes and representation of the spirit of masquerade, but they delayed announcing the official results at the end of the programme.

The competition held in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) for the first time ever, began at 14:00 hrs and lasted for four hours.

The dancers in the main exhibited great talent, flexibility and enthusiasm in the execution of the traditional steps such as `Woman Going to Market', `Scottish Highlander' and `Stumble and Back Walk'.

The `Bam Bam Sally', `Long Lady' and `Mad Cow' costumed dancers elicited the noisiest responses of appreciation from the crowd.

`Bam Bam Sallies' danced by `females' (some of them endowed with suspiciously broad shoulders) was a major crowd pleaser, closely followed by the whirling, spectral and sometimes trancelike antics of the `Long Ladies'.

`Mad Cow' dancers, also highly popular, doubled for crowd control, making sudden lunges at the encroaching crowd of mainly young children, sending them screaming and scattering towards seating areas and parents.

The intensity of the musicians in dishing out the heady music and rhythms of masquerade was another highly appreciative feature of the competition.

Several members of the audience expressed satisfaction with the level of entertainment produced by the bands.

Noting that masquerade has been dormant in West Berbice and Region Five for the past 25 years or more, some expressed the hope that the glimpses and images offered would help to revive interest and participation in this historical art form in this part of the country.

Convenor of the Competition, Mr. Raymond Cummings also expressed satisfaction with the way it had unfolded, particularly in relation to its congruence with the planned schedule.

Judges included Director of the National School of Dance, Linda Griffith, Director of the National Dance Company, Vivian Daniels and Instructor at the National School of Dance, Sarah Lee Mendonca.

Regional Executive Officer of Region Five, Mrs. Pamela Rockliffe assisted in the distribution of prizes.

`Hopetown Ramblers' a band from Hopetown, specially put together for the event in Region Five, won noisy support from their home crowd but not much else.

Leader Oscar Harlequin said that though the band failed to win any prize the members were happy and energised by their participation.