Top performances from Sandals, Beaches properties compete in Ochi
Sandals/Beaches team put on a great show, well produced, full of the talents of their staff at what was called Encore, at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios on Friday evening, August 29.
Seventeen staff members of the Sandals and Beaches properties across Jamaica participated in dancing, singing, instrumentals and modeling contests. The crowd, the largest contingent from Sandals Grande Ocho Rios staff and supporters loved the vocalists especially those who went for high and long notes.
The competition started dramatically with a young woman from Beaches Negril, Neisha Jones doing a Tina Turner number, ‘What’s Love Got to do with it’ . Her high skirt and sexy moves, imitated and dramatized the priceless Tina legs and thighs, and the voice did no disfavor either. She was good, confident and cocky with her Tina Turner mass of hair. There was, too, a sweet rendition of Billy Paul’s, ‘Me and Mrs Jones’ by Oshane Wynter, who was soulful and easy but neither of those won.
The winner in the female vocal segment was a local woman, Taneisha Thompson of Sandals Grande Riviera – who did ‘One night only’. She arrived to the most thunderous cheers of the night and didn’t disappoint, her outfit showing a little too much.
WINNERS
The male category was keenly contested especially between Wynter who did the Billy Paul number and Andre Palmer of Sandals Grande Riviera who did Ben E King’s –‘I Who Have nothing’. Dramatic and feeling, Palmer won.
One huge crowd favourite who did not win was Crystal Murray of Sandals Grande Riviera. How she didn’t win is a mystery and really stunned the crowd. Her pieces were well designed, she had a natural allure and carried herself well, with a kind of saucy demeanour. The way Ms Murray popped her glasses, threw a wink at the judges and held her head high, showed a natural winning talent. The winner here, though, was Shadeky Mitchell of Beaches Negril. Tall and with a good carriage, Mitchell’s beach wear wasn’t spectacular, a cut out piece and, though more flambouyant, her evening wear was a blow out dress with a huge train that she discarded for part of her walk down the catwalk. However, she was composed and confident.
The dancing was great too, for men and women competing together. One of the dancers, Oshane Griffiths told a story with his addiction to the bottle but a livelier set by Scion Derby of Sandals Montego Bay won the day with his acrobatics, including a few flips, using only a hat as his prop. The ladies were also dramatic and even more spectacular in one case, with one of the bigger contestants doing a brave piece with splits and a revealing back throw that drew gasps.
MALE MODEL
The women raved for the second male model to appear in bathing trunks. Carl Spence was ripped and strutted the stage, soaking up the lights and the cheers. But the diminutive Junior Brown of Beaches Ocho Rios, didn’t seek to show too much physique who won. When he returned in a well fitting white three-piece suit as his evening wear, the crowd loved him.
Jolon Jones of Sandals Royal Caribbeanwon the instrumentals, with his key board drama.
The hand of Weston Haughton, entertainment consultant to Sandals — and who possibly has had more shows than any other person doing hotel entertainment — was everywhere to be seen on the show and set. The emcees Shanna Walsh and Richard were good but perhaps should have left the stage during performances. The crowd was appreciative, almost raucous at times, for the event under the big tent
Joel Ryan, Sandals Group entertainment manager acknowledged several Sandals and Beaches top managers at the event.
Sandals Resort Entertainment in conjunction with the sports clubs put on a well-executed show with a lively backdrop.
On September 20, at Sandals Whitehouse, the winners will line up against the winner from the other countries where Sandals and Beahces resorts operate.
