Joe Andrade

Bahrain, May 22: Karnataka Social Club took off with its inaugural programme to induct the newly elected executive committee members for the year 2014 together with the Prince and Princess Contests for members’ children at the Baan Saang Thai Restaurant in Adliya recently. It was an evening spent worthily in the company of members’ families and friends where members’ children from the ages of 4 to 12 romped the stage, dressed in their very best with grace and poise showcasing their personality and demeanour to vie for the coveted princely crowns laid out for them each year!

The programme was capably presented and organized by the newly inducted executive committee under the leadership of president Vincent Sequeira assisted by the ladies wing of the Club. Entertainment secretary Millard Rodrigues compered the programme welcoming the audience and kicking-off the session by inviting member couples to shuffle with their steps on the floor for the first novelty dance to the tune of lively music from DJ Francis Lobo spinning the discs. There was a lucky early bird arrival prize that went to Richard and Grace Pais while the lucky novelty dance prize was hooked by Maxim and Felicita Sequeira, both couples being veteran members of the Club.

The honour of introducing the newly inducted executive committee to the general members went to Maxim Sequeira and indeed he did it in his inimitable style beckoning each one of them on the stage to the tumultuous applause of the audience. The good spirits of the new executive committee was given more fuel with the significant opening of a champagne bottle and the toast of “Cheersssss”!

The newly introduced and inducted honorary executive committee members with their roles in the leadership order are:

Vincent Sequeira – President
Sebastian Alva – Vice-president
Conald Veigas – General secretary
Sandra Alvares – Assistant general secretary
Millard Rodrigues – Entertainment secretary
Ramdas Salcar – Assistant entertainment secretary
Sunil D’Souza – Treasurer
Jerome Pinto – Assistant treasurer
Vinay Sequeirs – Sports secretary
Gilbert Sequeira – Administrative member

The immediate-past president Herald Botelho was thanked and invited on the dais along with the past / outgoing committee members and appreciated for carrying on the KSC flag high in 2013. The past committee members were symbolically presented with a rose bouquet each in appreciation and acknowledgment of the good work they had done in 2013 and befittingly applauded. It was then time for the president Vincent Sequeira to address the gathering and thank the members for their participation, encouragement and support to the Club programmes. Past president Herald Botelho was also given the privilege of addressing the gathering, followed by little children performing a filmy dance number.

It was then time for the Prince and Princess Contest to begin for two age groups each for boys and girls, that is, 4 to 8 years for the Little Prince and Little Princess crown and for 8 to 12 years the Prince and Princess crown. Sydney Correa compered the competition, inviting, introducing and encouraging the children on stage. The competition among the little children brought in a bit of nostalgia and ecstasy from the audience with a lot of encouragement and applause from them as DJ Francis spun the right romping ramp music for the children’s walkathon on stage. The little ones eagerly show-cased their charm, elegance and colourful attire besides confidently walking and posing with grace on the ramp showering flying kisses to the audience. The little contestants dressed and performing at their best gave the judges a hard time to select the best among the two categories of girls and boys. The three judges for the Contest were Reeva Pinto, Rajesh Prabhu and Gustav Furtado.

The stage was then set for member’s teen children to perform a filmy dance session to the thrill and joy of the audience who were glued to their seats for over 20 minutes. Rheanna, Annika, Clita and Rachel danced vibrantly to the musical fusion-mix Hindi filmy number choreographed by expert Natasha Salcar.

The stage was then occupied by five of the energetic members of the Club, viz Sydney, Sunil, Hillary, Vinay and Alwyn who danced to glory to the tune of the famous “Lungi” dance fusion-mix number to the roars and applause of the audience. And yes, they all danced wearing the world-famous “lungis” in typical Indian style!

The winners of the contests were then announced and crowned.

The winners in the children’s category are:

a) Age group 4 to 8 years - Girls

KSC Little Princess 2014 Winner: Echelle Sequeira
KSC Little Princess 2014 Runner-up: Delisha Fernandes

b) Age group 4 to 8 years – Boys

KSC Little Prince 2014 Winner : Vian D’Souza
KSC Little Prince 2014 Runner-up: Joswin D’Souza

c) Age group 8 to 12 years – Girls

KSC Princess 2014 Winner: Nikitha Fernandes
KSC Princess 2014 Runer-up: Michelle D’Souza

d) Age group 8 to 12 years – Boys

KSC Prince 2014 Winner: Steve D’Souza
KSC Prince 2014 Runner-up: Rowyn Fernandes

All the winners were congratulated, sashayed and honoured with attractive gifts to take home. All the young contestants participating in the Contests were given consolation prizes.

With the conclusion of the contests, it was time to call for the sumptuous dinner buffet relished by all. An enjoyable evening indeed for the children spent in the company of parents, friends and well-wishers in a typical family atmosphere that KSC is known to provide years since. There seemed no end to the music as the audience, young and old were on the floor thereafter to dance to the scintillating numbers spun by the untiring DJ Francis who had his family hired too as professional photographers for the day!

It was a memorable evening with an audience of over 125 members and their children cheerfully spending their time wining, dining and dancing until the programme concluded.