Secondary school students recently benefitted from a mask-making intensive as part of The Alwin Bully Foundation Inc. and Kaz Kweyol Productions Ltd. ongoing training program focused on the art of building sennse costumes. A press release by the organizers describes the initiative as presenting a distinctive opportunity for students to delve into mask-making, which is integral to the vibrant sennse costumes in preparation for the upcoming Mas Domnik celebrations, scheduled for March 3 and 4.
On February 18, 2025, nearly twenty students and their teachers from St. Martin Secondary School, Convent High School, and St. Mary’s Academy participated in an immersive, day-long workshop at the Windsor Park Stadium. The session featured renowned mask-making experts from Martinique, Jean-Luc Toussaint, and Vanessa Guy, who shared their skills and knowledge with the participants.
Mr. Toussaint expressed his admiration for the students’ rapid acquisition of skills and their evident enthusiasm for the craft, saying, I liked the energy of the young people who participated in the workshop, it showed that they have what it takes to lead in the preservation of this important part of Dominica’s carnival culture”. He encouraged the youth to cherish their cultural heritage and to diligently pursue the art of mask-making and the traditional masquerade forms integral to the carnival.
This training workshop is just one part of a comprehensive six-Saturday program focused on designing and constructing sennse costumes. Participants gained valuable techniques for creating masks that accompany these costumes, emphasizing the importance of utilizing local materials and appropriate design methods to produce masks that embody the culture and distinctive characteristics of traditional masquerade figures.
The collaboration between the Alwin Bully Foundation Inc. and Kaz Kweyol Productions Ltd. aims not only to teach the art of sennse costume-making but also to foster a deeper understanding of the preservation of carnival culture in Dominica. By engaging young people in these traditional practices, the training program seeks to ensure that the rich heritage of masquerade forms remains a vital component of Dominica’s lively and unique carnival celebrations.
Great!!!