~ Karabana ~: Errol Achue Mas Toronto

Showing posts with label Errol Achue Mas Toronto. Show all posts

Saturday, May 07, 2011

Mas Toronto's "Mas in Atlantis" a Carnival Mythology

We made the long trek out to Pickering to check out Mas Toronto's presentation of "Mas in Atlantis, a Carnival Mythology". The trip was well worth it, we were not disappointed. We saw lots of familiar faces in the crowd, as well as a couple of other band leaders, and the atmosphere was pretty chill, like old friends getting together after a long winter. Luckily we didn't pull the West Indian time thing, because they started right on time at 10:45pm.

The band volunteers were friendly and welcoming, and after the presentation they were signing up interested masqueraders and they were even giving out a good soca mix CD from DJ SMS. The costumes were quite nice. There was a noticeable contrast to last year, where more sections have embraced large feathery head pieces and the bikini and beads thing... I guess you give the people what they want. They still maintained some more traditional elements like the "sailorish" bell bottoms, and they had some beautifully decorated corsets for the ladies who are looking for some coverage. The models could have been coached to spend a little more time (pause & pose) down at the foot of the stage (where most of the photographers were gathered), but they did make up for this after the presentation when they mingled with the crowd and there was lots of opportunities for pictures.

The sections are First People of Atlantis, Ocean Warriors, Bacchanal People, Children of Calypso, Pan Jumbies, The Eruption, Rant & Wave, Sirens of the Deep, Waiting in Limbo.

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Heroes - Mas Toronto

The second launch we attended last night was Alicia and Errol Achues Mas Toronto Presentation of Heroes. Thanks Courtnay!

This was held at Embers banquet hall, it was really good that they used a higher elevated stage, it was much easier for those in the back to see the costumes. Also, after the presentation, the models hung around and there was ample opportunity for picture taking.

There are a lot of pretty interesting costumes to choose from, and as a man, I appreciate that some of the mens costumes looked pretty cool and weren't just an afterthough.... I know, I know Carnival is about WOMAN. Onto the pics...

Arc Angels
(Karabana's favourite picture)

Avatars

Beast Masters

This Shadow Lord was very theatrical

Fire Starters & Guerilla Infantry

Jeanean

Arc Angels & Wind Walkers

Beast Masters

Fire Starters & Shadow Lords

www.mastoronto.com

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Bacchanal in Barrie?

~Caribana 40th anniversary~

This was an especially fun Caribana for us as our two carnival friends joined us on the road. It's always sensational having people play mas with us for the first time... it's never their last!

It was also a memorable Caribana with the newest It band, Toronto Revellers, who I suspected would dethrone Carnival Nationz, winning large Band of the Year, leaving CN in 3rd place. Saldenah, who held the title 15 times, took second place. Errol Achue's Mas Toronto placed 4th, and Marlon Singh's Callaloo placed 5th.
Newcomer Dexter Seusahai's Tribal Knights, the band I said to watch, did in fact take the small Band of the Year.

The usual complaint from some of the 1.5 million spectators was that there was a long wait between the bands. With 25,000 masqueraders and 3 bands not making it to the parade route, it's no surprise. This appears to be an issue every year, something hopefully that will be improved upon.

If you can't get enough carnival, up next is Caribfest, Barrie's first Caribbean styled Carnival this Saturday, September 1. This all day carnival will be held at the Barrie Event Centre starting at 10 a.m. It will feature Caribana costumes, a parade and a dance on the grounds of the Event Center. Reggae, soca, steel pan, chutney and tassa bands will be performing.

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I want to thank all my Caribana friends and bloggers who gave this blog over 3000 hits! This blog will be on hiatus until Caribana 2008, so until then, it's back to MocaGyrl.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Las Lap

Down de road, down de road, down de road, down de road, down de road, down de road now... the Las Lap!!

You have to go to the bottom of the post & come up to the top to view in the right order, the pics were uploaded start to finish, which ends up being the reverse on blogger, lol.

but 1st things 1st:
my fabulous fuschia mas shoes kicked ass in Hamilton too, TAKE DAT!