An explosion of joy and energy is what you experience at every concert and performance. A riot of colors and creativity is what you view at the parade on Festival Day. Exhaustion and drenching sweat are what you feel after J’ouvert morning, international flag night, and the last “Jump Up.” Such is the experience one gets at Miami’s annual Caribbean Carnival Festival held every year on Columbus Day weekend.

If you have never attended a carnival festival in Miami or your home city, then you are missing out on one of life’s great treats. Each year Miami welcomes thousands of people from every island of the Caribbean, countries from the tip of South America, and yes, even a few Americans into their city for music, parades, and kinetic concert performances. It is a celebration of all things Caribbean, and a gaggle of fun.

Created originally in Trinidad and Tobago, carnival focuses on the music form known as Soca; a fast and joyous form of music from the islands that extol the virtues of dancing, togetherness, and the all important “whining” of your waist. The festival is celebrated in all major cities, but Miami’s is one of the most anticipated.

This year the bonus of celebrating the 50th anniversary of Trinidad’s independence added extra “oomph” to the parties and events. Once again Machel Montano, known as the King of Soca, performed in the city at concerts: “Girl Power,” “Rave” and at the Sunday Parade. Machel is one of the biggest and most beloved soca artists. His performances leave thousands covered in sweat from concerts that last two hours, and push people to dance, jump and wave the flags of their country’s origin.

Being in the crowd at carnival can be intimating for the uninitiated. Party goers, often called revelers, love to dance, while gyrating their waists against each other. Once the song ends, the person up against you is likely to disappear instantly, as they move off to another reveler to dance with. If they are not “whining,” as they call it, then they are responding to the singer’s calls to jump and down, and wave their flags. It is fun, intoxicating without the alcohol needed, and as mentioned, tiring. Concerts typically go from 9pm to 4 or 5am. The day of the Parade, you follow along large trucks blasting soca music and trail after parade goers who are dressed in bright costumes. The Parade leads into the fairgrounds where each “Band” is judged for their costumes, and then prepares for the closing night concert. Performances this year were given by Machel Montano, Patrice Roberts, 10 year old sensation Devin, and others.

Miami carnival is both a celebration of the last carnival event held in the U.S. for the year and a warm up for the grand daddy of all carnivals held in Trinidad in February. If you have never been to one it is great fun for the family, or as way to relieve stress and strain from perils of work. Be sure to look for it in your city, or to attend it in Miami next year. It is guaranteed to be hot, fun, and a grand experience.

Image Courtesy of  Vania Andre

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The death of two 18-year-old boys, while partying at the end of August, was reported by the National Police in Getafe, Madrid. Another boy was hospitalized. After the investigation, police concluded that the boys died due to an overdose of a new drug composed of alcohol, speed, and a plant called Datura Stramonium.

The consumption took place in a remote and derelict old monastery where an underground rave party was taking place. Some thought that a 23 year-old male, nicknamed Cabe, must have been involved in the partiers’ deaths. According to party-goers, Cabe had offered free samples of his homemade drug to people.

As Cabe reported to the police “We [Cabe and his girlfriend] handled it for free to lure people to try it and open new markets.” Both Cabe and his girlfriend were arrested and charged of offense against public health and negligent homicide. Three days after Cabe’s public statement and arrest, an unrelated group of adolescent, intrigued by the media coverage of the incident, decided to experiment with the same toxic plant just for fun.

But the euphoria caused bizarre behavior of the boys.  Witnesses reported that one of the guys, at night in the middle of a crowded street, started to suffer hallucinations, was incapable to focus his vision, and was moving his arms as if he was trying to catch something in the air. He was unable to answer questions and only murmured indecipherable words.

A girl observing the scene decided to call the emergency service with her cell phone. Unfortunately the operator on duty did not believe her claims. It took the girl several calls to get an ambulance to come to the scene. Upon arriving, the ambulance was unequipped to care for the drugged up boy and drove him straight to the hospital – the boy was in a deep coma.

Datura Stramonium is an ancient plant with very toxic seeds and leaves that contains atropine, a drug with a wide variety of effects. Among others it can be listed as: delirium, hyperthermia, tachycardia or photophobia. There is not a maximum dose per person because it depends on the physical characteristics of the consumer so any quantity can be lethal.

The plant is also known as devil´s weed, devil´s trumpet, moonflower or Jamestown weed. Many are questioning whether the media should raise alarm concerning this drug. Last time there was a similar reported case in Spain, was during 2004 in Valencia; a Danish man was offering a beverage made from Stramonium to whoever wanted it and five people consumed the dangerous substance.

A week later, four more were intoxicated during a Gay Pride Parade due to the same media luring effect.

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As Labor Day Weekend marked the unofficial end of summer, millions of participant and spectators celebrated in Brooklyn during the annual West Indian American Parade & Carnival. The Labor Day Carnival Parade is an outdoor festival that highlights the cultures of nations across the West Indies.

The 2011 West Indian American Parade & Carnival took place on September 5 and showcased a day packed with music, dance, and international cuisine The show stopping performances during this year’s 43^rd annual parade was one of the biggest ever seen in Brooklyn. The parade route ran along busy Eastern Parkway.

With a combination of many Caribbean cultures coming together for the parade, this yearly festivity is one of the largest cultural events in all of New York City. The celebrations began in Brooklyn a few days prior to the main parade that took place on Labor Day. Countries including Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados were represented, along with a variety of other Caribbean nations.

The original West Indian American Parade & Carnival started in Harlem in the 1940’s, but was then moved to its current home in Brooklyn in the 1960’s. Remaining on the same route, Eastern Parkway annually lights up with the sights and sounds of the Caribbean.

The parade gets its foundation from the traditions of carnivals throughout the Caribbean, where bright costumes and days of exciting music fill up the streets in preparation for Lent. Although this custom has been redirected towards the time around Labor Day, the beauty of these cultures are still a yearly tradition in Brooklyn.

The parade’s signature theme is to bring out the unique cultural traditions of each country through ornately colorful floats that make their way down Eastern Parkway. Thousands of participants dressed up in vibrant costumes and danced atop the decorated floats. The colors of the rainbow were displayed on Caribbean influenced designs, and often included large headpieces flanked with feathers.

Months of preparation go into the designs of the f loats and costumes to make the West Indian American Parade & Carnival one of the most detailed and radiant festival throughout New York City. Along with the sights of the parade were the distinct sounds of the festival. Caribbean music was played throughout the duration of the parade.

Everything from Jamaican reggae to Trinidadian calypso could be heard along Eastern Parkway. One of the highlights of the parade was the abundance of steel drums. Many groups skillfully playing the steel drums performed and competed for the title of the best steel drum band of the year.

The energetic music from guitars, drums, congas, and other instruments got the massive crowds dancing their way through the parade. The tastes of Caribbean cuisine were also a main event during the parade. As is true for many cultures around the world, food is one of the main examples of how uniquely different these countries can be.

Local cooks and chefs came together to serve plates of delicious food from their home countries. Vendors lined the street selling dishes of oxtail, jerk chicken, coconut bread and fried plantains, among many other choices. The array of cultural cuisine was astounding and was a great display of the local food in the Caribbean.

Over three million people enjoyed this year’s West Indian American Parade & Carnival. A large population of New York City inhabitants comes from Caribbean nations. The parade was bursting at the seams with excitement and pride in their distinct cultures.

The annual parade brought participants and onlookers dressed in costumes and with painted faces to Eastern Parkway, and enjoyed a weekend long celebration of the Caribbean.

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Thousands of talented performers and excited spectators gathered in Edinburgh, Scotland for the annual Fringe Festival.

The three week long festival took place in August and celebrated a multitude of performing arts. Everything from dance shows, concerts, comedic acts, musicals, and exhibits were performed during the Fringe Festival, making it one of the most popular creative arts festivals in the world.

The festival started in 1947, the Fringe Festival has grown tremendously since its original showcasing of just eight theater groups. The festival now welcomes thousands of acts who want to share a message with their audience.

Concerts are one of the main attractions at Fringe. Throughout the duration of the festival, hundreds of musicians lit up venues across Edinburgh with catchy tunes and had crowds singing and dancing.

Singer Adriana Spina performed at the Acoustic Music Centre at St. Brides, singing songs from her latest album entitled “Never Coming Home.” Spina performed at Fringe in the past, but 2011’s festival was the biggest so far.

The Cast, a Scottish band also took the stage at Fringe. They have received positive acclaim from UK’s popular band, Oasis. The Cast performed at The Edge Festival at HMV Picture House and was a crowd pleaser. Coming together with Fringe and the Edinburgh Comedy Festival, The Edge Festival brought over 40 musical performers to the stage, including Panic! At The Disco, Wiz Khalifa, and Jimmy Eat World.

Comedy shows throughout the three week run of Fringe were constantly bringing laughter and a light hearted atmosphere to the city. The Seven Deadly Sings  told jokes through musical comedy on topics including classical musician Beethoven and contemporary artist Elton John.

Comedian Juliet Meyers brought her stand up comedy routine entitled “Juliet Meyers: I’m Not Sparticus!” to the stage. She has received positive reviews by BBC and was one of the highlights in comedy during Fringe.

The Fringe Festival had shows for everyone, no matter what age. Children’s events were widely available throughout the festival. Children were able to watch a show called “Through the Looking Glass (And What Alice Found There),” a playful revamped performance of the classic “Alice in Wonderland.”

In an interactive dance lesson, children and parents were able to attend Flamenco for Kids, where they were able to learn and dance the flamenco. Children were encouraged to put on costumes and play instruments; a fun activity for the whole family. Dance performances were not limited for children. There was a variety of exceptional dance acts showcasing their talents at Fringe.

Migrations Cirque was one such act who danced across the stage at Gryphons Venues at The Point Hotel. Migrations Cirque is a collaboration of international dancers from places such as Germany, New York, and Hawaii. The show offered spectacular dances, movements, and sounds through an inspirational piece of work.

Swimming With My Mother was another dance performance that told the story of a mother and son relationship. Danced to the soundtrack of music from Nat King Cole, the duet piece was a favorite at Fringe.

The capital city of Scotland was bursting at the seams with creative talent during the month of August. The volume of performances made for one of the largest performing arts festivals in the world. The festival was easily accessible to the public as many performances were free. The annual Fringe Festival did not disappoint and was an exciting experience for people of all ages.

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Tango Buenos Aires started on August 16 and continued until August 30. The event showcases the distinct style of tango dancing.

The signature dance style of South America’s Argentina is undeniably the passionate tango. Professional dancers and lovers of tango head to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the annual Tango Festival and Dance World Cup.

With strong cultural importance and a rich history, tango has been a staple in the Argentine heritage and is close to the hearts of locals. Guided by passionate music and close body movements, tango is often synonymous with the country’s culture. The August festival brings tango enthusiasts through a journey of showcases, classes, documentary films, concerts, conferences and parties, all in celebration of the beloved dance.

Spectators and participants can enjoy a full schedule of activities during Tango Buenos Aires. A popular event spanning the duration of the festival is the interactive dance tango classes. Classes are available in different levels, including beginner, intermediate, and advance. Beginner classes are given for free, while all the courses available are taught by highly respected tango masters.

Coming from a host of different dance schools, these instructors bring with them expert knowledge and a genuine desire to spread the love of dance.

With venues throughout the city of Buenos Aires, performances happen nightly. Many performances are free and open to the public, giving people easy access to the cultural festivities. Famous dancers and choreographers, including special guests Ana Maria Stekelman and Maria Nieves, perform in pieces that illustrate the intense emotions and dance steps associated with tango.

Performances range from showcasing individuals to larger company performances, providing audiences with a wide variety of tango dances to enjoy. International dancers perform in the annual Dance Festival and World Cup, participating in activities that are present during the Tango Buenos Aires Festival. Competitions are held in the categories of Salon Tango and Stage Tango.

Participants are judged by professionals to determine the champions. Competitions are also held in the milonga scene as well. Milongas are essentially dance clubs in the neighborhoods of Buenos Aires where tango is danced on a regular basis. Locals often gather in milongas to express themselves through the language of dance.

Located in the Centro Municipal de Exposiciones, milongas and parties are held throughout the Tango Buenos Aires festival. Live music from orchestras and DJs are played while anyone from the beginning to advanced levels of dance are welcome to step onto the dance floor. Over 400 couples dancing in the World Cup of Dance lit up the dance floor during a welcome ball, kicking off the Tango Buenos Aires festivities.

Documentary films are also a part of Tango Buenos Aires. This years films aim to analyze the way in which tango has changed over recent years. Because tango is often considered to be an important component of Argentine culture, these documentary films showcase how the style of dance has continued to reinvent itself throughout the years, while still remaining true to its roots.

Like many of the performances and concerts, the films shown at Tango Buenos Aires are free of charge. The abundance of tango activities occurring through Tango Buenos Aires is a great chance for visitors and locals to immerse themselves in the passionate dance style.

The celebration of tango as a natural treasure makes the two week festival an exciting way to dance into Argentine culture.

Anibal Trejo / Shutterstock.com

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